[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 89 (Tuesday, June 15, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Page S4940]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. BARRASSO (for himself, Mr. Conrad, Mr. Crapo, Mr. Risch, 
        Mr. Johnson, Mr. Thune, Ms. Murkowski, Mr. Begich, Mr. Sanders, 
        Mr. Tester, Mr. Dorgan, Mr. Enzi, and Mrs. Shaheen):
  S. 3485. A bill to amend title 23, United States Code, to improve 
highway mobility in rural States for the benefit of all States; to the 
Committee on Environment and Public Works.
  Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, I am pleased to join my colleague Senator 
Barrasso in introducing the Rural Mobility and Access for America Act.
  The transportation challenges in rural States are unique. In my State 
of North Dakota, we have more miles of road per capita than any State 
in the Nation. There are more than 11,000 miles of highway in North 
Dakota, which translates into approximately 166 miles of road for every 
1,000 people in North Dakota. We have a very large road network with a 
small population base to support it. In fact, North Dakota only has 16 
people supporting each lane mile of Federal-aid road. The national 
average is 129 people per lane mile.
  Highways in North Dakota and other rural States connect the Nation 
and help ensure the effective movement of people and goods across the 
country. Today, the highways in the western part of my State are being 
impacted by a rise in truck traffic as a result of the oil boom 
occurring from the development of the Bakken formation. Our roads and 
highways are seeing a dramatic increase in trucks that are transporting 
supplies to the oil fields or oil to gathering lines.
  The agriculture industry is also reliant on a strong, nationally 
connected road network to move products and services. Approximately 69 
percent of the goods shipped annually from North Dakota are carried by 
truck. Significant and growing agricultural businesses throughout my 
state rely on the road network to receive raw goods and transport their 
finished products to market.
  In addition, we have a large percentage of truck traffic that crosses 
our state. Sixty percent of the truck traffic does not originate or 
terminate within the state, but it still has an impact on our highways. 
In the next 10 years, commercial trucking in North Dakota is expected 
to increase by 42 percent.
  Discussions surrounding the reauthorization of the highway bill have 
focused on congestion and the needs of large metropolitan areas. Some 
of the proposals being advanced shift money from the traditional 
highway formula programs to set-asides for large metro areas. However, 
maintaining a nationally connected system requires substantial 
investments in highways in and across rural areas as well.
  It is important that our transportation policy continues to recognize 
the importance of investment in rural States, like North Dakota. The 
bill I am introducing with Senator Barrasso makes certain rural States 
are not left behind. Under this proposal, if a metro mobility program 
is included in the highway reauthorization, a corresponding rural 
program would be funded at a level equal to \1/3\ of the amount 
provided for the metro mobility program. The funds would be distributed 
evenly to the 18 States that qualify under our bill, and the States 
could use the funds for any of the eligible uses under the Surface 
Transportation Program.
  Our bill provides an important balance to make sure our roads, both 
urban and rural, get the support necessary to maintain a nationally 
connected system. I urge my colleagues to support it.
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