Spokane, WA- Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05) delivered the keynote speech at the Federal Transportation Report at the Lincoln Center today. In her speech, she focused on local transportation priorities, including the North Spokane Corridor, I-90, the US 195 Corridor Interchange, US 12, and the Spokane Transit Authority.

“Infrastructure development is a vital component to Eastern Washington’s economic future,” said Rep. McMorris Rodgers. “We need more roads, bridges, and highways to accommodate the growing and changing needs of our community. On a federal level, we need to pass a long-term transportation bill that extends the span of funding from several months to several years – reducing the uncertainty currently felt by contractors, small business owners, and local governments. On a local level, we need to establish funding priorities, knowing that the budget climate in our nation’s capital has changed, and new funding mechanisms – including private-public partnerships – may be beneficial going forward.”

On Apr. 7, 2011, Rep. McMorris Rodgers coordinated and attended a meeting between 30 community leaders and U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood about Eastern Washington transportation priorities.

On Apr. 12, 2011, Rep. McMorris Rodgers continued advocating for those priorities by submitting written testimony to the House Highways and Transit Subcommittee as part of their drafting of the Surface Transportation Reauthorization Bill.

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