Highway bill language stalls Glacier road-repair funds

WASHINGTON – Glacier National Park has not received any of the $50 million in federal money it was promised for road repair because of a bureaucratic snafu.

Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., designated the money to repair Glacier’s Going-to-the-Sun Road in last year’s federal highway law. But now he is battling the Federal Highway Administration over technical language in the bill.

According to Baucus’ office, the agency approved the language before the bill was signed into law and now is refusing to distribute the money because of the way the bill was worded.

Barrett Kaiser, a spokesman for Baucus, said the agency has “made a mess of this whole situation.”

A spokesman for the highway administration, which is part of the Department of Transportation, would not discuss details of the dispute but called the road repair an “important project.”

“We’re working with the Montana congressional delegation and the National Park Service to find a solution to this issue,” said Brian C. Keeter.

Kaiser said Baucus does not think a legislative fix is necessary but has introduced a bill that would provide the money.

“One way or the other he is going to see to it that the park gets $50 million to repair the road,” Kaiser said.

Melissa Wilson, a spokeswoman for Glacier, said the delay in getting the dollars will extend the project’s length, though it will continue to go forward.

“We understand that the Federal Highway Administration and Senator Baucus have interpreted the current highway bill differently, and we await a resolution,” she said.