Siouxlanders again push for Highway 20 funding
By Whitney Woodward Journal Des Moines Bureau | Posted: Thursday, January 24, 2008
DES MOINES -- For Iowa's highway coalitions, the road to repair is a long one. They've urged lawmakers, unsuccessfully, to pump more money into the state's road system for years.
While most legislators agree the state's roads are in need, they have yet to agree on a new funding source.
The highway groups resumed their efforts Wednesday, asking state senators and representatives to consider the safety of Iowa travelers and the economic welfare of the state. Several said they're hopeful, but not necessarily optimistic, they will find success this session.
Well-maintained, wide roads are necessary to facilitate commerce, and in particular, the state's booming ethanol business, Sac City resident Shirley Phillips said. Phillips said Iowa's road system is "overburdened" and dilapidated, to the point that some would-be users go out of their way to avoid driving on U.S. Highway 20 in the northwest corridor of the state.
As such, businesses have been reluctant to relocate to the Sioux City area, said Phillips, a member of the U.S. 20 Corridor Association. "Our system is old and needs to be repaired," she said. "Already we've lost industrial prospects."
For decades residents in the Northwest Iowa have urged lawmakers to widen U.S. 20 to four lanes, said House Minority Leader Christopher Rants, R-Sioux City. The highway now is at the top of the list to receive funding -- once an additional funding source is found, Rants said. "We're going to have to put an investment into Highway 20," Rants said. "We've watched everything else get four lanes in this state."
Other parts of the state also have needs. "We've got a real safety issue here," said Julie Allesee of Clinton. "I don't think that the amount of money that we need can be held off any longer." As the director of the Clinton Convention & Visitors Bureau, Allesee said she's particularly interested in improving U.S. Highway 30 north of Davenport because it's a critical gateway between Illinois and Iowa.
A Department of Transportation report released in December 2006 presented lawmakers with a host of fund-generating options, ranging from raising the annual pickup registration cost to upping driver's license fees. DOT officials have said they need an extra $200 million annually.
But last session lawmakers were unable to reach consensus on which of the suggested options they'd support. A special committee assembled this fall and winter to whittle down the choices also reached no conclusions.
With elections later this year, some lawmakers have expressed a reluctance to raise fees and taxes unless their counterparts across the aisle will back the same plan.
An informal, bipartisan group of lawmakers will resume discussions today (Thursday) with the goal of select a funding source, said House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, D-Des Moines.
"We may not be able to hammer out a tentative agreement tomorrow, but we can make some steps in that regard," McCarthy said.
Whitney Woodward can be reached at (515) 243-0138 or whitney.woodward@lee.net.
While most legislators agree the state's roads are in need, they have yet to agree on a new funding source.
The highway groups resumed their efforts Wednesday, asking state senators and representatives to consider the safety of Iowa travelers and the economic welfare of the state. Several said they're hopeful, but not necessarily optimistic, they will find success this session.
Well-maintained, wide roads are necessary to facilitate commerce, and in particular, the state's booming ethanol business, Sac City resident Shirley Phillips said. Phillips said Iowa's road system is "overburdened" and dilapidated, to the point that some would-be users go out of their way to avoid driving on U.S. Highway 20 in the northwest corridor of the state.
As such, businesses have been reluctant to relocate to the Sioux City area, said Phillips, a member of the U.S. 20 Corridor Association. "Our system is old and needs to be repaired," she said. "Already we've lost industrial prospects."
For decades residents in the Northwest Iowa have urged lawmakers to widen U.S. 20 to four lanes, said House Minority Leader Christopher Rants, R-Sioux City. The highway now is at the top of the list to receive funding -- once an additional funding source is found, Rants said. "We're going to have to put an investment into Highway 20," Rants said. "We've watched everything else get four lanes in this state."
Other parts of the state also have needs. "We've got a real safety issue here," said Julie Allesee of Clinton. "I don't think that the amount of money that we need can be held off any longer." As the director of the Clinton Convention & Visitors Bureau, Allesee said she's particularly interested in improving U.S. Highway 30 north of Davenport because it's a critical gateway between Illinois and Iowa.
A Department of Transportation report released in December 2006 presented lawmakers with a host of fund-generating options, ranging from raising the annual pickup registration cost to upping driver's license fees. DOT officials have said they need an extra $200 million annually.
But last session lawmakers were unable to reach consensus on which of the suggested options they'd support. A special committee assembled this fall and winter to whittle down the choices also reached no conclusions.
With elections later this year, some lawmakers have expressed a reluctance to raise fees and taxes unless their counterparts across the aisle will back the same plan.
An informal, bipartisan group of lawmakers will resume discussions today (Thursday) with the goal of select a funding source, said House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, D-Des Moines.
"We may not be able to hammer out a tentative agreement tomorrow, but we can make some steps in that regard," McCarthy said.
Whitney Woodward can be reached at (515) 243-0138 or whitney.woodward@lee.net.
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oldtimer wrote on Jan 25, 2008 10:18 AM:
started 40 years ago. The state had
money 40 years ago, why isn't there
money NOW ?? Our present govenor doesn't know NORTHWEST Iowa is part of
Iowa ! "
wok-n-egl wrote on Jan 25, 2008 8:10 AM:
3Toes wrote on Jan 24, 2008 3:27 PM:
"
bloozman wrote on Jan 24, 2008 12:50 PM: