[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 74 (Thursday, May 14, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Page S2935]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. TILLIS (for himself, Mr. Burr, Mr. Kaine, and Mr. Warner):
  S. 1348. A bill to amend the Intermodal Surface Transportation 
Efficiency Act of 1991 with respect to high priority corridors on the 
National Highway System, and for other purposes; to the Committee on 
Environment and Public Works.
  Mr. TILLIS. Mr. President, I am introducing the Route to Opportunity 
and Development Act of 2015, which would amend the Intermodal Surface 
Transportation Efficiency Act, ISTEA, of 1991 to begin the process 
toward eventually making the Raleigh to Norfolk Corridor in North 
Carolina and Virginia part of the Interstate system, and to help fully 
upgrade the corridor to interstate standards. My colleagues, Senator 
Richard Burr, Senator Tim Kaine, and Senator Mark Warner have agreed to 
cosponsor the bill. In addition, Congressman G.K. Butterfield has 
introduced a companion bill in the House of Representatives.
  The Route to Opportunity and Development Act of 2015 would designate 
the following as high priority: the Raleigh-Norfolk Corridor from 
Raleigh, NC, through Rocky Mount, Williamston, and Elizabeth City, NC, 
to Norfolk, VA.
  If the Raleigh-Norfolk corridor becomes part of the Interstate 
system, it would connect vital centers of commerce in the Raleigh and 
Norfolk/Hampton Roads region. Raleigh and Hampton Roads are two of the 
largest east coast metropolitan regions served by a single primary 
interstate route and this act proposes a second primary interstate 
route for the two areas.
  This act helps advance the North Carolina Department of 
Transportation's Strategic Transportation Corridors Vision, which aims 
to provide North Carolina with a network of high priority corridors to 
promote economic development and enhance interstate commerce. It is 
also an important part of the future vision for transportation in the 
Commonwealth of Virginia. Federal High Priority Corridors are eligible 
for Federal funds to assist states in the coordination, planning, 
design and construction of nationally significant transportation 
corridors for the purposes of economic growth and international and 
interregional growth.
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