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Governor Culver Signs Bill Aimed At Securing Iowa's Transportation Future
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 22, 2008

DES MOINES - Today, Governor Chet Culver signed Senate File 2420, which will secure new funding for Iowa's transportation system.

"As Governor, one of my top priorities has been to build on Iowa's strengths in education, manufacturing and agriculture and financial services to create jobs in every corner of the state," said Governor Culver. "The good news is the jobs are coming, but we must have the infrastructure in place to keep pace and grow our economy. Today, we're taking another essential step toward doing just that."

Senate File 2420 was based on the recommendations of the Transportation Moves the Economy in the 21st Century (TIME-21) Commission, which were presented last year. The commission was created following a Department of Transportation study that showed Iowa would be $28 billion short of the projected $67 billion needed to modernize Iowa's transportation infrastructure.

The new legislation increases registration and title fees on vehicles beginning on January 1, 2009. However, the fee increase will not affect current pick-up truck owners in Iowa.

SF 2420 is projected to raise more than $160 million a year by 2013. Collected fees will be deposited in the TIME-21 Fund, which was created last year. 60% of these dollars will be used to fund primary roads, with another 20% used for secondary roads, and the final 20% to be used by city governments to fund road projects on the local level.

IMPORTANT FACTS RELATED TO TIME-21 LEGISLATION
• FACT: Establishes a dedicated funding mechanism for the TIME-21 fund, with 60% of revenue distributed to primary roads, 20% for secondary roads, and 20% for local governments.

• FACT: Constitutionally protects registration fees for Iowans, ensuring these dollars will be used to fund the construction, maintenance, and supervision of public roads and highways.

• FACT: Current pick-up truck owners will not be affected by the legislation and their fees will remain at the current level.

• FACT: Will not raise Iowa's Gas Tax.

• FACT: Is projected to raise more than $160 million a year by Fiscal Year 2013 for Iowa's roads and transportation infrastructure.

US 20 work in Calhoun and Webster Counties begins

The Iowa Department of Transportation's Cherokee Construction Office has approved work to resume on four existing projects and begin on two new projects in Calhoun County to set a new alignment for U.S. 20. Work will include grading from Zearing Ave. (approximately two miles east of Knerim) west 12.7 miles.

The six separate projects, being accomplished by four contractors, will be underway as weather permits. The contractors working in this area are Kevin Kent Construction, Steger Construction, C.J. Moyna and Sons and Mathers Construction. The combined total for all bids was nearly $13 million.

The construction project is not expected to have a major impact on traffic, but motorists are urged to use caution with increased truck traffic and construction equipment present in this area.

New DOT Commission Nominees Named

Governor Chet Culver nominated two prospective candidates to the Iowa DOT Commission on March 17, 2008.

Debi Durham, president of the Siouxland Chamber of Commerce since 1995, also serves as President of The Siouxland Initiative, the economic development corporation serving the tri-state metropolitan area, and the Siouxland Chamber Foundation.

Debi currently serves on the Chamber Alliance Board of Directors, Iowa Regional Workforce Investment Board, Iowa Women in Public Policy Board, Orpheum Theatre Preservation Board of Directors, Girls, Inc. Board of Directors, and is on the Executive Committee for the Sioux City Events Center Project. Debi was named to the Junior Achievement Hall of Fame in 2003.

Durham holds a degree in business administration, marketing and management from Missouri Southern State University. She and her husband, Joel, are the parents of two children and active in church activities as well.

Amy L. Reasner is an attorney at Lynch Dallas, P.C. in Cedar Rapids where she practices in the areas of business and commercial litigation, insurance defense, collective bargaining, contract administration and labor arbitration, employment counseling and risk avoidance, employment litigation, ERISA litigation, OSHA compliance and enforcement, trade secret and non-competition, and family law.

Amy is a graduate of the University of Iowa Law School. She participated in the Moot Court Board as editor and received the Iowa Bar Association Graduating Senior Award. In Cedar Rapids, she was part of the 2005-2006 Leadership for Five Seasons program of the Chamber of Commerce. Amy was recognized as one of the 40 under 40 Community Leaders in 2007 by the Corridor Business Journal. She was previously a broadcast journalist in Cedar Rapids as well.

Other associations Amy has been involved in include Planned Parenthood of East Central Iowa, Linn County Trails Association, Iowa Legal Aid, Junior League, Rotary Club, and League of Women Voters.

Suzan Boden of Sioux City and Barbara MacGregor of Mason City are concluding their final term on the Iowa DOT Commission.

Congressionally Directed Funding Requests Submitted

The US 20 Corridor Association has been working with Members of Congress from Iowa on Congressionally Directed Funding Requests over the last two weeks. Formerly known as earmark requests, these applications have been sent through Senator Grassley, Senator Harkin, and Congressman King's offices. The requests are for funds to assist with construction activities along the two-lane section of US 20 in Webster, Calhoun, Sac, Ida, and Woodbury Counties.

Grade Four, Pave Four Effort for Webster and Calhoun

At a meeting with representatives of the US 20 Association and Siouxland Chamber on March 7, Iowa DOT Director Nancy Richardson told the group the Commission was hoping to find $10 million additional in the upcoming Five Year Plan to pave all four lanes of relocated US 20 from Moorland to Iowa Highway 4 near Rockwell City. Initial plans were for all four lanes to be graded but only two paved in the current plan. The Director, Commissioners, and staff realize the efficiencies of paving all four graded lanes immediately.

Rich Michaelis Retired - Tony Lazarowicz, P.E Named District 3 Engineer

Rich Michaelis recently retired from the Iowa DOT where he served as District 3 Engineer based in Sioux City. In that role, Rich had significant responsibility in the four-lane US 20 project in western Iowa. Tony Lazarowicz has been named to succeed Rich. Tony has been an assistant engineer in the District 3 office and is very familiar with our project and the US 20 Corridor Association. Tony attended our last US 20 Association meeting where we welcomed him and told him we look forward to working with him on the completion of this project.