[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 14]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 19103]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          EARMARK DECLARATION

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. CHARLES W. DENT

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 23, 2009

  Mr. DENT. Madam Speaker, pursuant to the House Republican Leadership 
standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information 
regarding projects that are listed in H.R. 3288, the Transportation, 
Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 
FY2010:
  Bill Number: H.R. 3288, the Transportation, Housing and Urban 
Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, FY2010, Account: 
Federal Highway Administration, Surface Transportation Priorities, 
Title: Larry Holmes Drive Traffic Calming, Legal Name of Requesting 
Entity: City of Easton, Address of Requesting Entity: 1 South Third 
Street, Easton, PA 18042, Description of Request: This funding will be 
used to improve the traffic flow and safety of a Delaware River 
waterfront gateway between Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The project 
will enhance access to one of the only remaining steel truss suspension 
bridges in the nation near the City of Easton's National Register 
Historic District. These modifications will reduce vehicular speeds and 
benefit local economic development by allowing disabled pedestrians and 
bicyclists to more easily access adjacent trails and parks, and the 
city's downtown area.
  Bill Number: H.R. 3288, the Transportation, Housing and Urban 
Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, FY2010, Account: 
Federal Transit Administration, Alternatives Analysis, Title: Lehigh 
Valley Bus Rapid Transit Analysis, Legal Name of Requesting Entity: 
Lehigh and Northampton Transportation Authority (LANTA), Address of 
Requesting Entity: 1060 Lehigh Street, Allentown, PA 18103, Description 
of Request: This funding will be used to conduct an analysis of the 
feasibility and components of a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) program along 
high density transit corridors within the Lehigh Valley by the Lehigh 
and Northampton Transportation Authority (LANTA). The investigation of 
BRT service is an outcome of a regional transit development planning 
process designed to establish a long term vision for regional transit, 
as well as short range development priorities. LANTA's service 
expansion effort will be focused, to a significant degree, on improving 
job accessibility. This is needed to support economic development and 
job growth within the Lehigh Valley, one of the fastest growing areas 
in the northeast region. This analysis is an essential part of a 
project development effort that could lead to a future comprehensive 
project.
  Bill Number: H.R. 3288, the Transportation, Housing and Urban 
Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, FY2010, Account: 
Federal Transit Administration, Buses & Bus Facilities, Title: Lehigh 
Valley Hybrid Transit Bus Purchase, Legal Name of Requesting Entity: 
Lehigh and Northampton Transportation Authority (LANTA), Address of 
Requesting Entity: 1060 Lehigh Street, Allentown, PA 18103, Description 
of Request: This funding will be used to support the purchase of heavy-
duty, hybrid powered transit buses for the Lehigh and Northampton 
Transportation Authority (LANTA). The buses will replace vehicles 
purchased in 1998 in order to continue LANTA's expansion efforts. 
Service expansion over the last 10 years has been supported through a 
combination of timely bus fleet replacements and fleet expansions, 
resulting in an 80% increase in ridership, with 51% of those riders 
using the system to access jobs. An active service and equipment update 
program is necessary to support the demand to improve services in the 
growing Lehigh Valley region.
  Bill Number: H.R. 3288, the Transportation, Housing and Urban 
Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, FY2010, Account: 
Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Economic Development Initiatives 
(EDI), Title: Souderton Train Station and Freight Buildings 
Restoration, Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Borough of Souderton, 
Address of Requesting Entity: 31 West Summit Street, Souderton, PA 
18964, Description of Request: This funding will be used to renovate 
and restore the interior and exterior of the historic Souderton Train 
Station and two adjacent freight buildings by the Borough of Souderton. 
Souderton is one of at least seven communities with rail buildings 
built at the turn of the 20th century to accommodate freight and 
passenger service on the Quakertown-Stony Creek line. With an active 
effort being made to return passenger rail service to the existing 
line, which currently handles a large amount of freight traffic, these 
local facilities are being restored throughout the region. The 
buildings in Souderton reflect the history of communities that 
blossomed around rail lines and will serve as a warm welcome to 
residents using this line when passenger service is restored.
  Bill Number: H.R. 3288, the Transportation, Housing and Urban 
Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, FY2010, Account: 
Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Economic Development Initiatives 
(EDI), Title: New Bethany Ministries Building Rehabilitation, Legal 
Name of Requesting Entity: Episcopal Ministries of the Diocese of 
Bethlehem, Address of Requesting Entity: 333 West 4th Street, 
Bethlehem, PA 18015, Description of Request: This funding will be used 
to rehabilitate a building into a community asset where low-income, 
mentally disabled and homeless people will receive groceries, meals, 
financial case management, used clothing, and a variety of emergency 
walk-in services. The upper floor will be transformed into safe and 
secure single room occupancy units of case-managed housing for low-
income mentally disabled or chronically homeless adults.
  Bill Number: H.R. 3288, the Transportation, Housing and Urban 
Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, FY2010, Account: 
Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Economic Development Initiatives 
(EDI), Title: Sunnybrook Historic Revitalization, Legal Name of 
Requesting Entity: Sunnybrook Foundation, Address of Requesting Entity: 
50 Sunnybrook Road, Pottstown, PA 19464, Description of Request: This 
funding will be used for the preservation and revitalization of a 
historic ballroom, a National Historic Register site, which will be 
used by the community for seniors and youth programs. The funding will 
also advance the completion of a conference center and performing arts 
venue to bolster regional tourism. This project will benefit the 
greater Pottstown area by providing a modern facility for community 
activity and enhancing tourism in the region.

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