South Bend, IN – Today, Congressman Joe Donnelly hosted House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman Jim Oberstar at the Studebaker National Museum in South Bend for a discussion with local leaders on transportation infrastructure issues, including legislation currently in Congress and initiatives that Congressman Donnelly and Chairman Oberstar are working on.
“I’m pleased to report that Indiana leads the nation in the number of highway miles and bridges improved as a result of Recovery Act funding; however I know there is much more to be done,” said Donnelly. “Communities in north central Indiana are facing budget constraints, and this vital maintenance and investment in our current infrastructure will keep travelers safe and put people to work while we develop Indiana’s transportation network for the 21st century economy. I was pleased that Chairman Oberstar had the opportunity to share his expertise with many of our local leaders on this subject. I believe they received helpful insight into what our communities—and our country—can expect in the future for our transportation infrastructure.”
“Joe Donnelly has made a real difference for the people of Indiana, creating jobs and making lasting infrastructure investments that will pay off for decades to come,” said Chairman Oberstar. “It’s certainly no coincidence that Indiana leads the nation in the number of highway miles and bridges improved. When we started working on the Recovery Act, Joe came to me to make sure Indiana received its share of funding to assist local communities in their time of need.”
“We are honored and pleased that the Chairman of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure the Honorable James Oberstar, chose to visit the Michiana area,” said Sandra Seanor, Executive Director of the Michiana Area Council of Governments. “Congressman Oberstar has been a strong advocate of improved infrastructure, multi modal investment and regional planning. We are especially hopeful that the Transportation Re-Authorization bill, as it focuses on sustainability, transit and infrastructure includes recognition of the importance of regional cooperation and equity for large urban, small urban and rural partners. As the Recovery Act process demonstrated, local governments working regionally and cooperating in both urban and rural areas successfully moved projects to construction, building and repairing infrastructure and putting Americans back to work.”
During the discussion, Congressman Donnelly and Chairman Oberstar discussed many topics with attendees, including the importance of surface transportation reauthorization, federal grants for transportation projects, the future of high-speed rail, and the importance of the U.S. 31 corridor.
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