NEBRASKA NEEDS A MAJOR NORTH - SOUTH HIGHWAY

Those of us who lived in a time before there was an interstate highway remember how much longer it took to drive east and west in Nebraska. We also saw the remarkable growth of cities all along the I-80 corridor after it was built. Growth and prosperity have always followed major transportation routes whether they were rivers, railroads, or highways.

We need a major north - south route that will boost travel and trade along its north – south route just as I-80 has done for cities along its east – west route.

Heartland Expressway is a Priority

The Heartland Expressway is one of 80 federally designated high priority corridors that will provide multi-lane divided highway access between Rapid City, South Dakota and Denver. It will follow Interstate 76 to eastern Colorado where it joins Highway 71 and the Ports to Plains corridor at Limon, Colorado. In Nebraska it will generally follow Highway 71 through Kimball north to Scottsbluff with a spur into Wyoming and on U.S. Highway 385 through Alliance and Chadron to the South Dakota border.

The Heartland Expressway is centered at the heart of the Great Plains International Trade Corridor, a proposed four lane artery that will connect the metropolitan cities and regional trade centers of the Great Plains from our northern border to our southern border.

An Investment for the Future

Recognizing the significance of this expressway, I have been working for years to secure additional federal transportation dollars through earmarks. A total of $21.5 million in earmarks requested by members of Nebraska’s Congressional Delegation were included for the expressway in the 2005 federal highway bill. In order to utilize this funding, the state has to provide a 20-percent match of approximately $4.3 million. Unfortunately, the state hasn't provided those funds to date. I hope it will. As the funds sit in federal coffers, the buying power of each dollar is diminished with time.

The Heartland Expressway is vital to the long term economic health of Western Nebraska. It will provide economic stimulus not only in Western Nebraska but throughout the state as a whole. Accessing these federal funds could stimulate the economy and create jobs in the short term. It takes more than Chimney Rock on the state quarter to bring about this economic stimulus. Investments need to be made in rural areas and with minimal cost to the state.

Road to Riches

The sooner we get this border to border highway built, the sooner rural Nebraskans who previously have not had a major trade corridor will begin to benefit economically for the Heartland Expressway truly can be a road to riches that will make it easier for Nebraskans to get their products to market.

The Heartland Expressway will help bring the Good Life to all Nebraskans while helping to preserve our rural communities and rural way of life. You can learn more about it and see a map of the Heartland Expressway at www.heartlandexpressway.com.

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	Column	March 17, 2008
NEBRASKA NEEDS A MAJOR NORTH - SOUTH HIGHWAY Those of us who lived in a time before there was an interstate highway remember how much longer it took to drive east and west in Nebraska. We also saw the remarkable growth of cities all along the I-80 corridor after it was built. Growth and prosperity have always followed major transportation routes whether they were rivers, railroads, or highways. We need a major north - south route that will boost travel and trade along its north – south route just as I-80 has done for cities along its east – west route. Heartland Expressway is a Priority The Heartland Expressway is one of 80 federally designated high priority corridors that will provide multi-lane divided highway access between Rapid City, South Dakota and Denver. It will follow Interstate 76 to eastern Colorado where it joins Highway 71 and the Ports to Plains corridor at Limon, Colorado. In Nebraska it will generally follow Highway 71 through Kimball north to Scottsbluff with a spur into Wyoming and on U.S. Highway 385 through Alliance and Chadron to the South Dakota border. The Heartland Expressway is centered at the heart of the Great Plains International Trade Corridor, a proposed four lane artery that will connect the metropolitan cities and regional trade centers of the Great Plains from our northern border to our southern border. An Investment for the Future Recognizing the significance of this expressway, I have been working for years to secure additional federal transportation dollars through earmarks. A total of $21.5 million in earmarks requested by members of Nebraska’s Congressional Delegation were included for the expressway in the 2005 federal highway bill. In order to utilize this funding, the state has to provide a 20-percent match of approximately $4.3 million. Unfortunately, the state hasn't provided those funds to date. I hope it will. As the funds sit in federal coffers, the buying power of each dollar is diminished with time. The Heartland Expressway is vital to the long term economic health of Western Nebraska. It will provide economic stimulus not only in Western Nebraska but throughout the state as a whole. Accessing these federal funds could stimulate the economy and create jobs in the short term. It takes more than Chimney Rock on the state quarter to bring about this economic stimulus. Investments need to be made in rural areas and with minimal cost to the state. Road to Riches The sooner we get this border to border highway built, the sooner rural Nebraskans who previously have not had a major trade corridor will begin to benefit economically for the Heartland Expressway truly can be a road to riches that will make it easier for Nebraskans to get their products to market. The Heartland Expressway will help bring the Good Life to all Nebraskans while helping to preserve our rural communities and rural way of life. You can learn more about it and see a map of the Heartland Expressway at www.heartlandexpressway.com. ###