Big bucks for roads? Senate OKs $295 billion despite threat of veto

WASHINGTON — The Senate on Tuesday approved a six-year, $295 billion highway and transit bill that renewed a veto threat from the White House but raised the hopes of funds-strapped transit officials in Utah.

The state stands to receive $282 million in federal funding under the Senate bill — an increase of $13 million over the already approved House version that President Bush says comes with too high a price tag.

Republicans joined Democrats in saying the need for highway money was so great they were willing to risk a veto.

In more than two weeks of debate, senators repeated the same points: One-third of major roads are in poor or mediocre condition; 29 percent of bridges are structurally deficient; and 36 percent of urban rail vehicles are in substandard or poor condition. One-third of the 42,000 traffic fatalities every year result in part from poor road conditions.

"This bill will make a difference in the life of every American by making it easier and safer to move from place to place," Sen. James Jeffords, I-Vt., who leads the minority on the Environment and Public Works Committee, said in urging the White House to withdraw its veto threat.

The Senate vote was 89-11, with 46 of the chamber's 55 Republicans — including Utahns Orrin Hatch and Bob Bennett — joining Democrats in voting for the measure despite the White House admonitions.

White House press secretary Scott McClellan had said that President Bush was "very serious" about fiscal responsibility and would be urged to veto any bill that exceeded $284 billion, the amount approved by the House in March.

If not vetoed by the president, that money could give Utah a "reliable outlook" for what road projects could be funded in the future, said Tom Hudachko, Utah Department of Transportation spokesman.

Utah is facing a $23 billion deficit for road and transit projects planned over the next 25 years. Last year, according to a statement from Hatch's office, Utah received $254 million in federal highway funding — and it wasn't enough to increase capacity or maintain current roads.

"I think the biggest thing it does is it gives us some reliability long-term," Hudachko said. "These construction projects aren't like a water faucet where you can turn them off and on at a day's notice. They take years of planning for and unless you've got a long-term funding commitment, its impossible to get through the process."

Several long-term Utah road projects have been earmarked for funding, including new I-15 interchanges in Ogden, Layton and Provo and construction of the Northern Corridor in St. George.