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Next Meeting
US 20 Corridor Association
Meeting

Friday, January 13, 2012
10:00 am

The Center

112 N. Main Street

Early, Iowa

 

Directions:

From US 20/71, turn west on 1st (by Casey's) or 2nd (by the Crossroads Restaurant) and go three blocks to Main Street. The Center is in the 100 block of North Main on the west side of the street.

 

Agenda 

  1. Welcome - Hosts
  2. Introductions
  3. Approval of November 2011 meeting minutes
  4. Treasurer's report
  5. DOT four-lane US 20 construction update
  6. DOT Commission meeting report
  7. Transportation 2020 Citizens Advisory Commission report
  8. Legislative update 
  9. Transportation Day 2012 - January 24, 2012
  10. Other business for the good of the cause
  11. Next meeting: 10:00 am on March 10, 2012
  12. Adjourn
Construction Photos
Officers

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

Sharon Ann Irwin
secretary/treasurer
712-273-5575
isharon@ruralwaves.us

Meeting Minutes 
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 US 20 Association!
 December 21, 2011

Support Transportation 2020 CAC Recommendations

Email the Des Moines Register TODAY

 

The Des Moines Register is seeking input from Iowans regarding what the Legislature should do in 2012. As an advocate of statewide four-lane US 20 and transportation in Iowa supporting recommendations of the Transportation 2020 Commission, including raising the fuel tax (user fee!), email adominick@dmreg.com. The Register will run a selection of responses in January based on the emails they receive.

 

Click here to see the Register's article asking for input.

 

Use your own words to share one or more of these transportation priorities for the 2012 Legislature:

  • Transportation 2020 Commission identified a $215 million annual shortfall in the road fund to meet critical needs. The recommendations were bi-partisan and unanimous.
  • The Governor's directive to IDOT to find administrative savings is commendable, but will not result in meeting the annual critical needs.
  • The gas tax has not been adjusted for 23 years and is the fairest way to collect user fees from in-state and out-of-state drivers.
  • Road fund fees and taxes are constitutionally protected and can only be used for the purposes for which they were collected.
  • Increasing the gas tax and increasing the "fee for new registration" from 5 to 6 percent should be debated.
  • If the next legislature wants to focus on job creation, then $215 million additional road funds will support an additional 5500 jobs in Iowa.
  • The Iowa legislature cannot continue to let Iowa rank 3rd worst in the nation for bridge conditions.

 

Please email the Register during December. Remember you must include your full name, hometown and contact information in your email to the Register.

 

Please copy Shirley Phillips, president of the US 20 Association, when you email the Register - shirley@saccountyiowa.com.

 

The US 20 Association thanks the Associated General Contractors of Iowa for the bullet points and information in this article.

 

Federal Highway Bill Extended to March 30

When Congress took up the Federal Aviation Administration bill recently, they also included an extension of the Federal Highway Bill through March 30, 2011. No one is expecting an easy process as a new Highway Bill is drafted.

 

In an article posted on www.thehill.com, it said, "Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.), has said he thinks the election next year might make lawmakers more likely to approve a long-term highway bill. Transportation advocates have pushed for a six-year bill, but the Senate has proposed a two-year bill at a higher annual funding level, which they prefer."

 

As advocates of transportation investment, the prospect of a bill with higher funding is appealing, however, the system for transportation programming is set up on a longer-term model meaning changes to the system would be required. The US 20 Association will continue to monitor the process and call upon the membership to contact your elected officials at the Federal level to encourage a focus on highway investment.

 

Did You Know?

 

The responsibility to build and maintain roads is included in the U.S. Constitution. In Section 8 it states Congress shall have the power to, "To establish Post Offices and Post Roads." Post roads, of course, became highways essential to the movement of goods and services across the country.

 

Transportation Day 2012

Proposed Agenda and Speakers

Tuesday - January 24, 2012

 

  

Representatives of highway associations and coalitions from across Iowa, cities, counties, and council of governments will join together to encourage continued support of Iowa's transportation infrastructure and the Transportation 2020 Commission recommendations!

 

9:30 am      Wallace Building Auditorium     Briefing and organization

                             

Speakers: 

Governor Terry Branstad

Lt Governor Kim Reynolds

DOT Director Paul Trombino, III

DOT Planning Programming and Modal Division Stu Anderson

Senator Tom Rielly* 

Representative Dave Tjepkes*

David Scott, Iowa Good Roads Assn/Iowa Motor Truck Assn

Sharon Presnall, Iowa Bankers Association

Don Hole, Community Bankers of Iowa

Iowa Farm Bureau*

Iowa State Association of Counties*

Iowa League of Cities*

Transportation 2020 Citizens Advisory Commission

*Participants invited but not yet confirmed

 

11:30 am    Depart for State Capitol (approximate time)

 

11:45 am    State Capitol                  1-on-1 meetings with legislators

Attendees will be assigned legislators to contact

Displays by stakeholders in Rotunda - East and South

 

1:30 pm      Rotunda - East and South            Press Conference

 

Questions? Contact: Shirley Phillips at 712-662-7383 or shirley@saccountyiowa.com or Ann Trimble-Ray at 712-273-5745 or ann@heartmkt.com. Thank you!

US 20 Corridor Association