Highway Bill Has Millions For Idaho

A new federal highway funding bill will mean $52.8 million for Idaho projects over the next six months.

Congress couldn’t agree on a six-year plan for highway funding. So lawmakers passed a six-month extension of the current law. The measure cleared the House on Thursday and went to the president.

Under the compromise, Idaho gets $52.8 million, half the amount of the state’s 1997 funding.

“I’m disappointed that we didn’t deal with the full six-year bill,” said Sen. Dirk Kempthorne. “We have an outstanding highway bill, but we’ll come back after the first of the year and take that up.”

Congress went on recess last weekend and won’t reconvene until Jan. 27.

Also continued in the six-month bill is funding for the Recreational Trails Program. Idaho should get about $100,000 under that provision.

, DataTimes