[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 166 (Tuesday, December 4, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2197]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 2299, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND 
               RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2002

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. DOUG BEREUTER

                              of nebraska

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, November 30, 2001

  Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, this Member rises in support of the 
conference report for H.R. 2299, the Transportation appropriations bill 
for fiscal year 2002.
  This Member would like to commend the distinguished gentleman from 
Kentucky (Mr. Rogers), the Chairman of the Transportation 
Appropriations Subcommittee, and the distinguished gentleman from 
Minnesota (Mr. Sabo), the ranking member of the Subcommittee for their 
hard work in bringing this conference report to the Floor.
  Mr. Speaker, this Member certainly recognizes the severe budget 
constraints under which the full Appropriations Committee and the 
Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee operated. In light of these 
constraints, this Member is grateful and pleased that this legislation 
includes funding for several important projects of interest to the 
State of Nebraska.
  This Member is particularly pleased that this appropriations bill 
includes $1.5 million for preliminary work leading to the construction 
of bridges in Plattsmouth and Sarpy County to replace two obsolete and 
deteriorating bridges. The request for these funds was made by this 
Member as well as the distinguished gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Terry) 
and the distinguished gentlemen from Iowa (Mr. Ganske and Mr. Boswell).
  The agreement leading to the funding was the result of intensive 
discussions and represents the consensus of city, county and state 
officials as well as the affected Members of Congress. The construction 
of these replacement bridges (a Plattsmouth U.S. 34 bridge and State 
Highway 370 bridge in Bellevue) will result in increased safety and 
improved economic development in the area. Clearly, the bridge projects 
would benefit both counties and the surrounding region.
  This Member is also pleased that the conference report includes $4 
million for Nebraska's Intelligent Transportation System (ITS). This 
funding, which was requested by this Member and the distinguished 
gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Osborne), is to be used to facilitate 
travel efficiencies and increased safety within the state.
  The Nebraska Department of Roads has identified numerous 
opportunities where ITS could be used to assist urban and rural 
transportation. For instance, the proposed Statewide Joint Operations 
Center would provide a unifying element allowing ITS components to 
share information and function as an intermodal transportation system. 
Among its many functions, the Joint Operations Center will facilitate 
rural and statewide maintenance vehicle fleet management, roadway 
management and roadway maintenance conditions. Overall, the practical 
effect will be to save lives, time and money.
  This Member is also pleased that the conference report includes $1 
million for a Highway 66 bypass south of Louisville, Nebraska. This 
project, which has the support of the Louisville mayor and city council 
as well as the Cass County commissioners, would provide significant 
safety and economic development benefits for the area.
  The conference report also includes $325,000 requested by this Member 
for the construction of the 1.7-mile Lewis & Clark bicycle and 
pedestrian trail on State Spur 26E right-of-way, which connects Ponca 
State Park and the Missouri National Recreational River Corridor to the 
City of Ponca. This trail will play an especially important role as the 
area prepares for the bicentennial of the Lewis and Clark Corps of 
Discovery expedition and the significant increase in tourism which it 
will help generate. The approaching bicentennial represents a 
significant national opportunity and it is crucial that communities 
such as Ponca have the resources necessary to prepare for this 
significant commemoration.
  The trail will provide the infrastructure necessary to improve the 
quality of life by providing pedestrian and bicycle access between 
Ponca and the Ponca State Park and increases the potential for economic 
benefits in the surrounding region. The trail addresses serious safety 
issues by providing a separate off-road facility for bicyclists and 
pedestrians.
  It is certainly important to note that this conference report 
includes $1.6 million for the Antelope Valley Overpass in Lincoln, 
Nebraska. This bridge is an integral piece of a comprehensive plan to 
revitalize downtown Lincoln that has emerged from a partnership between 
the City, the State of Nebraska, and the University of Nebraska-
Lincoln. The funds would assist with the design and right-of-way phase 
of a bridge that would span railroad tracks. This funding will 
supplement the $5,625,000 which this Member had successfully sought in 
the 1998 TEA-21 legislation.
  In addition, the conference report includes $200,000 to study the 
feasibility and fiscal impact of the passenger rail project between 
Lincoln and Omaha, Nebraska. The metropolitan areas of Omaha and 
Lincoln are becoming increasingly integrated. The fringes get closer 
together every year and the inter-city highway commuter traffic is 
increasing significantly. The growing congestion will only get worse in 
the coming years. A far-sighted approach is necessary to address the 
needs of commuters and others using the corridor. The proposed study is 
a necessary component in this process. It would examine such important 
issues as travel patterns, ridership potential for rail service and 
cost evaluations.
  Adequate funding is clearly needed to make this study and the overall 
project a reality. A feasible transportation alternative for the 
corridor would hold the promise of increased economic development, 
improved air quality and safety and decreased congestion.
  The conference report also includes $1 million for preliminary 
engineering for the replacement of U.S. Highway 81 bridge at Yankton 
between Nebraska and South Dakota. This funding will be helpful in 
replacing an important bridge across the Missouri River. This funding 
supplements the $1.125 million this Member successfully sought in the 
1998 TEA-21 legislation.
  Finally, this conference includes $1.1 million for rail research to 
be performed jointly by UN-L and Marshall University in West Virginia. 
The funding will be used for safety research projects in the areas of 
human factors, equipment defects, and train control methods.
  The University of Nebraska-Lincoln is well qualified to conduct this 
research. It has the necessary expertise in the area of transportation 
safety to provide meaningful research which will improve railroad 
safety. In addition, the nation's two largest railroads have a 
significant presence in Nebraska (one has its corporate and working 
headquarters in Omaha) and the state currently is traversed by the 
busiest railroad corridor in the world which move vast amounts of 
western coal to much of the rest of the nation. This funding will 
greatly contribute to safer rail operations throughout the country.
  Mr. Speaker, in conclusion, this Member supports the conference 
report for H.R. 2299 and urges his colleagues to approve it.

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