Press Releases
House Passes Surface Transportation Bill Including Titus Amendments Benefiting Southern Nevada Economy
Washington, DC,
November 5, 2015
November 5, 2015
Today the House of Representatives passed S. 22, the Surface Transportation Reauthorization and Reform Act. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE House Passes Surface Transportation Bill Including Titus Amendments Benefiting Southern Nevada Economy Washington , DC – Today the House of Representatives passed S. 22, the Surface Transportation Reauthorization and Reform Act. This bill authorizes surface transportation programs governing high, bridge, transit, and safety programs under the U.S. Department of Transportation. Numerous provisions and amendments sponsored by Congresswoman Titus were included in the bill that passed with unanimous support. These include: • Interstate-11 – Language submitted by Congresswoman Titus, the Nevada Chair of the I-11 Caucus, to extend the authorization of this critical interstate project beyond the current parameters of Las Vegas to Phoenix to reach north to I-80 and to interstates south of Tucson. The legislation also authorizes a new funding program which could help fund I-11 called the Nationally Significant Freight and Highway Projects program. • Travel and Tourism – An amendment sponsored by Congresswoman Titus to create a National Advisory Committee on Travel and Tourism Infrastructure Strategy, which will be made up of leaders in the travel and tourism industry and develop a national strategy for ensuring our transportation policies align with the needs of travelers, passed with bipartisan support. This amendment follows language submitted by Congresswoman Titus to ensure that state and local tourism agencies like the Las Vegas Convention and Visitor Authority are part of the consultation process of Metropolitan Planning Organizations such as the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada. An amendment offered by Congresswoman Titus in Committee to ensure state and local communities select projects and strategies that “enhance travel and tourism” was also included in the bill that will now be conferred with the Senate. • Complete Streets – An amendment from Congresswoman Titus to enhance state and local planning processes to account for the transportation needs for drivers as well as pedestrians and cyclists was included in the bill considered today. “Complete Streets” planning processes have been adopted by more than 70 municipalities including the RTC of Southern Nevada. The goal is to ensure that projects are developed in a way to promote the safety of all users. For years, our transportation policy has concentrated on reducing vehicle accidents, while ignoring the safety of non-motorized users. Pedestrian fatalities are increasing both in number and percentage of overall fatalities. In fact, in 2013, a pedestrian was killed every 2 hours and injured every 8 minutes. “Our federal transportation programs are vital to the economic development of the Las Vegas Valley,” said Congresswoman Dina Titus. “I am pleased that many of my proposals and amendments were included in this legislation. I am disappointed that the Republican House Leadership denied consideration of a bipartisan proposal I introduced which would bring additional transportation funds directly to our local communities. Our current policies put too much authority in the hands of state DOT’s. Local leaders are responsible for majority of our roads and bridges, yet receive only scraps when it comes to federal transportation funding. This imbalance must be corrected.” ### |