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Directions |
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Next Meeting
US 20 Corridor Association Meeting
Friday - May 15, 2009
10:00 am
Lohff-Schuman
Memorial Center
301 Lohff-Schuman Drive
Holstein, Iowa
From US 20, turn north on US 59 toward Holstein. Turn right on Kohfmehl Drive and proceed to S. Kiel Street where you will turn south to Lohff-Schuman Drive.
Agenda
1. Welcome
a. Comments from
hosts
b. Introductions
2. Approval of March
2009 meeting minutes
3. Treasurer's report
4. DOT update
5. Federal Transportation
Bill Update
6. Iowa Legislative Review
7. Other business for the
good of the cause
8. Next Meeting: July 10
9. Adjourn |
| Officers |
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Shirley Phillips,
president
712-662-7383
712-830-6768 - cell
shirley@saccountyiowa.com
Bob Singer,
first vice president
515-570-2472 - cell
bobsinger@frontiernet.net
Mary Gross,
vice president
712-368-4898
712-210-3903 - cell
holstein@netllc.net
Steve Hoesel,
secretary
515-570-9484
hoesel@mchsi.com
Sharon Ann Irwin,
treasurer
712-273-5283
earlyia@ruralwaves.us | |
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Four-Lane US 20 Well Regarded in DC
Transportation Reauthorization Process Just Beginning
During a lobbying trip to Washington, DC with the Siouxland Chamber, status and plans for four-lane US 20 in Iowa were shared with Members of Congress and their staff. Because the current federal highway bill, SAFETEA-LU, is set to expire the end of September this year, significant attention was also placed on the upcoming reauthorization process.
Iowa DOT is submitting a specific funding request for four-lane US 20 in Iowa east of US 71 per the House Transportation Committee's guidelines. The US 20 Association will support their request and also submit a funding request for four-lane US 20 west of US 71.
The US House Transportation Committee will take up the reauthorization bill as early as May and the committee chair, Rep. James Oberstar (D-MN), hopes to have the bill on the floor of the House in June. This ambitious plan is complicated by the new Obama Administration's as yet undefined expectations for specific project earmarks. Senate staff said discussion of the transportation reauthorization bill has not hit their radar at all.
Siouxland Chamber President Debi Durham also serves as an Iowa DOT Commissioner. In her presentation to Members and staff, she emphasized the financial disparity between needs and current funding levels. She mentioned the completion of four-lane US 20 as well as other projects elsewhere in Iowa with price tags larger than the department's annual budget.
In one-on-one conversations with Members and staff, Ann Trimble-Ray discussed four-lane US 20 and requested the Members' support in the reauthorization process. Without exception, she heard positive feedback and a sense of optimism higher than any previous conversations because the project is programmed to be complete to Early by 2013 with additional survey and design work happening on the last 46 miles from Early to Moville.
Trimble-Ray spoke directly with Congressmen King and Latham, two of four-lane US 20's most effective supporters in Congress. They remain committed to assisting in the completion of the project and will continue their annual funding appropriations as possible as well as weighing in during the highway bill reauthorization process.
In speaking with staff members from the offices of Representatives Boswell, Fortenberry, and Braley, Trimble-Ray learned they are all pleased with the progress of four-lane US 20 and responded positively when asked to support both annual appropriations as well as any specific requests in the reauthorization bill.
Staff from Senators Grassley, Harkin, Nelson, and Thune's offices were also optimistic about the work being done on four-lane US 20 now and see its completion as necessary. In particular, Senator Grassley's staffer was enthused that activity is happening on every mile of US 20 - including the survey and design work west of US 71.
Representative Oberstar's comments to the Siouxland Chamber delegation were disappointing as he spoke in great detail about the Administration's vision for high speed rail service. Trimble-Ray had hoped to hear more about highway funding and particulars on how the new Transportation Bill will be assembled.
The positive feedback from Members and staff of the entire Iowa delegation is encouraging. The US 20 Corridor Association will need to remain vigilant and proactive in efforts to keep everyone informed and seek their continued commitment as we look at the final 46 miles to be designed, programmed, and built.
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| Four-Lane US 20 Status in Sac, Calhoun, and Webster Counties |
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The US 20 Corridor Association thanks Iowa DOT District 3 Engineer Tony Lazarowicz for the following update.
West of US 71 (Early) to N14 (Sac City)
- Programmed for grading in FY 2011 and paving in FY2012
N14 to N33 (approximately 2.7 miles east of the Sac/Calhoun County line)
- Programmed for grading in FY2011 and paving in FY2012
N33 to Iowa Highway 4
- Two grading projects and two culvert projects scheduled for lettings in May of this year.
- Construction is expected to begin this summer and be completed by the end of 2010. Paving project is expected to follow, beginning in 2011.
Iowa Highway 4 to east of N65 (approximately 3 1/5 miles west of Knierim)
- All grading underway and on schedule to allow letting for paving in July of this year.
- Construction would take place this fall and all of next year.
East of N65 to 1 mile west of the Webster County line
- All grading underway and on schedule to allow letting for paving in July of this year.
- Construction would take place this fall and all of next year
1 mile west of the Webster County line to Moorland
- Grading underway and on schedule
- UP Railroad bridge - plans are to have it operational next month
Calhoun County line to Iowa Highway 4
- June letting for paving project
The current schedule is targeting completion of paving from Iowa Highway 4 to Moorland by the fall of 2010. DOT plans on opening this segment to traffic following completion of construction in the fall of 2010. This schedule is highly dependent on weather.
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