WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) today
participated in a Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee hearing
entitled "Infrastructure
Development Opportunities to Drive Economic Recovery and Resiliency,” which
detailed the necessity of passing America’s Transportation Infrastructure Act, especially now given the
challenges of COVID-19. The bill passed unanimously out of the EPW Committee in
July 2019.
As
chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee, Senator Capito
played an integral role in the writing of the highway bill, ensuring the needs
of West Virginia and greater Appalachia are met. Senator Capito also
prioritized streamlining the permitting process to get projects off the ground
more efficiently.
HIGHLIGHTS:
COVID’S IMPACT:
“I think COVID-19 crisis has hammered our national economy and really carried
costs. It’s stalling the investments—for example in my state of West Virginia
driving on deficient roads costs West Virginia drivers $866 million per year –
a hidden expense of $754 per person – due to vehicle wear, depreciation, extra
fuel. We do have some difficult terrain at times to get around. But that also
contributes to fatalities and injuries and that costs money and obviously
lives, which is very difficult.”
WEST VIRGINIA KEY PROJECTS: “For places like West Virginia, I’m just going to
mention some [projects] in this that I think will be particularly important: the
Nitro-St. Albans Bridge on I-64 outside of Charleston and completing Corridor
H, which is the last really planned part of the Appalachian Development Highway
System, which goes through the center of our state and has been built for
decades. We want to see that complete.”
BACKGROUND:
The bill authorizes $287
billion over five years—including $259 billion for formula programs—to maintain
and repair America’s roads and bridges. That total represents an increase of
over 27 percent from FAST Act levels,
making it the largest highway legislation in history. It includes provisions to
improve road safety, streamline project delivery, protect the environment, and
grow the economy. Committee leaders agree the legislation will be paid for.
Additionally, the broader legislation includes a measure Senator Capito
introduced with Senator Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and others to improve America’s
bridges.
Among other provisions, the
legislation:
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