Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the FAST Act, the long-term highway funding bill, by a vote of 359-65. The overwhelmingly bipartisan supported bill will bring billions of dollars to West Virginia for greatly needed highway and infrastructure projects. The U.S. Senate will be taking up the bill tomorrow and should be on the President's desk for his signature tomorrow night.
We'd like to thank each member of West Virginia's Congressional delegation for voting in favor of this bill: Rep. Evan Jenkins, Rep. David McKinley and Rep. Alex Mooney.
Below you will find a press release distributed by Congressman Jenkins' office that provides further detail on the bill's passage and also the estimated amount of funding West Virginia will receive from this legislation over the next five years. This is a major win for our industry and our state!
Press Release from Congressman Evan Jenkins
REP. JENKINS: HIGHWAY BILL IS A VICTORY FOR WEST VIRGINIA
“West Virginia will have the funding, certainty and tools needed to move forward on long-term highway projects.”
WASHINGTON – U.S. Representative Evan Jenkins (R-W.Va.) voted yes today on a landmark, five-year highway bill that will bring billions of dollars to West Virginia to rebuild our roads, complete highway projects, repair bridges, and improve rural transit programs – all without raising the gas tax.
The U.S. House of Representatives voted 359-65 today to pass the FAST Act, the conference report for the Surface Transportation Reauthorization and Reform Act. The FAST Act, which works out the differences between the House and Senate’s highway bills, now goes to the Senate for passage and to the president to be signed into law.
“Everywhere I go in the Third District, I hear about a road that’s unsafe, a highway that’s incomplete, or a bridge that fails to meet safety standards. We need roads that will bring jobs to southern West Virginia, safe bridges for drivers, and highways that connect rural communities and open up new corridors of commerce.
“The FAST Act is a crucial piece of legislation that will invest billions in West Virginia’s infrastructure across the state without increasing the gas tax. Congress has not passed a multi-year highway bill in a decade, which has tied the hands of our state highway departments. Roads are not built overnight – they require years of planning and consistent, reliable funding. This bill provides just that.
“West Virginia will have the funding, certainty and tools needed to move forward on long-term highway projects like King Coal Highway, Tolsia Highway, Coalfields Expressway and Route 10 just to name a few. Instead of making spending decisions in Washington, this bill gives money to the states to decide which projects will be built and prioritized. I know the people of southern West Virginia want to see highway dollars invested in their backyards, and I will be fighting for these projects and for the Third District to receive its fair share,” Rep. Jenkins said.
Rep. Jenkins is a member of the House Appropriations Committee and serves on the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies Subcommittee.
Rep. Jenkins is proud to support the FAST Act and its investments in our transportation future:
* Provides nearly $2.5 billion in transportation funding for West Virginia over five years.
* Strengthens and secures the future of the Highway Trust Fund without raising the gas tax.
* Allows states to use federal funds for local bridges, many of which are in rural areas.
* Boosts dedicated bus funding by 89 percent over five years, helping our rural transit programs.
* Increases funding for highway-railway grade crossings.
* Improves safety standards for both new and existing railroad tank cars.
For more about the FAST Act, please click here.
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Annual Federal Highway Administration Formula Apportionments to West Virginia
FY 2015 (current baseline) - $421 million
FY 2016 - $443 million
FY 2017 - $452 million
FY 2018 - $462 million
FY 2019 - $472 million
FY 2020 - $480 million
TOTAL: $2.314 billion in spending for WV roads and highways over the five-year FY 2016 – 2020 period
Mass Transit Formula Funding Under the FAST Act for West Virginia
FY 2015 (current baseline) - $24.8 million
FY 2016 - $25.8 million
FY 2017 - $26.2 million
FY 2018 - $26.7 million
FY 2019 - $27.8 million
FY 2020 - $28.3 million
TOTAL: $134.9 million in spending for WV transit and buses over the five-year FY 2016 – 2020 period
