Facebook Twitter Email
THURSDAY, MAY 15, 2003

The Bush administration is proposing to spend $300 billion on the reauthorization of the federal transportation bill.

The Safe, Accountable, Flexible and Efficient Transportation Equity Act of 2003 (SAFETEA) includes $245 billion for highways and $55 billion for mass transit. The numbers are less than the amounts sought by members of Congress, both Republican and Democrat.

Indian Country roads are allocated a percentage of the federal funding. Of the 55,000 miles of highways that run through tribal lands, more than half are unpaved, according to federal statistics, and of the nearly 750 bridges, about a quarter are deficient.

Get the Story:
Bush Offers Highway Bill (The Washington Post 5/15)

Relevant Links:
TEA-21 Reauthorization - http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/reauthorization
Tribal Transportation, DOT - http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/natvamrc/index.htm

Related Stories:
Advocates seek boost for Indian Country roads (03/28)
Rahall: The Indian agenda in the 108th Congress (01/08)
State disputes 'illegal jurisdiction' of tribe (10/10)
Bill to double reservation road funds (09/24)
Federal appeals court affirms tribal authority (8/15)
McCaleb tussles with tribal leaders over roads (11/8)