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Wednesday, February 11, 2004
Contact: Brian Turmail, Tel.: (202) 366-4570
DOT 15-04
U.S. Transportation Secretary Mineta Tours Aging Cleveland Innerbelt,
Highlights Importance of Pending Highway Legislation To Help Fund Rebuild of
Downtown Freeway
CLEVELAND—U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta stressed today the
importance of action on a six-year surface transportation bill and the benefits
of such a bill for projects like the much-needed reconstruction of Cleveland’s
Innerbelt.
Secretary Mineta made his remarks after touring an elevated stretch of the
Innerbelt in the Tremont neighborhood. During the tour, Ohio Department of
Transportation Director Gordon Proctor pointed out early signs that the aging
stretch of freeway needs to be replaced soon, including rapidly deteriorating
pavement decking.
“Systems like the Innerbelt are crucial for bringing workers, fans, and
customers to downtown Cleveland,” said Secretary Mineta. “You know how important
the Innerbelt is to the health of this city and the strength of the local
economy. We need to recognize that by completing our work on this bill as soon
as possible.”
The Bush Administration’s $256 billion surface transportation reauthorization
proposal, called the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and Efficient Transportation
Equity Act of 2003 (SAFETEA), would be the largest highway, transit and safety
investment in U.S. history. It would continue to funnel the vast majority of
federal funds for surface transportation through programs that give states the
flexibility to tailor these funds to their specific needs.
SAFETEA would provide Ohio with over a billion dollars every year for the next
six years for infrastructure maintenance and improvements for highway and
transit facilities, including the renovation of the Innerbelt. “The President’s
proposal will get the job done, without raising taxes and without increasing the
deficit,” said Secretary Mineta. “Now we are working with the Congress to get
the job done, because Cleveland and the Innerbelt can’t afford to wait.”
Ohio officials are planning a massive reconstruction of the aging downtown
Innerbelt. At least 80 percent of the funding for the multi-year, billion dollar
project will come from the federal government.
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