September 2, 2004: Headlines: COS - Somalia: Congress: Highways: Coon Rapids Herald: Tom Petri, one of most influential U.S. Congressmen on highway funding issues paid a visit to Anoka County last week to see and hear for himself what is needed to relieve congestion, now and in the future, in the Highway 10 and Highway 65 corridors

Peace Corps Online: Directory: Somalia: Special Report: Tom Petri: Tom Petri: Archived Stories: September 2, 2004: Headlines: COS - Somalia: Congress: Highways: Coon Rapids Herald: Tom Petri, one of most influential U.S. Congressmen on highway funding issues paid a visit to Anoka County last week to see and hear for himself what is needed to relieve congestion, now and in the future, in the Highway 10 and Highway 65 corridors

By Admin1 (admin) (pool-151-196-239-147.balt.east.verizon.net - 151.196.239.147) on Saturday, September 04, 2004 - 10:45 am: Edit Post

Tom Petri, one of most influential U.S. Congressmen on highway funding issues paid a visit to Anoka County last week to see and hear for himself what is needed to relieve congestion, now and in the future, in the Highway 10 and Highway 65 corridors

Tom Petri, one of most influential U.S. Congressmen on highway funding issues paid a visit to Anoka County last week to see and hear for himself what is needed to relieve congestion, now and in the future, in the Highway 10 and Highway 65 corridors

Tom Petri, one of most influential U.S. Congressmen on highway funding issues paid a visit to Anoka County last week to see and hear for himself what is needed to relieve congestion, now and in the future, in the Highway 10 and Highway 65 corridors

Congressional visitors hear highway needs

by Peter Bodley
Managing editor

[Excerpt]

One of most influential U.S. Congressmen on highway funding issues paid a visit to Anoka County last week to see and hear for himself what is needed to relieve congestion, now and in the future, in the Highway 10 and Highway 65 corridors.

Congressman Tom Petri, R-Wis., is chairman of the House Subcommittee on Highways, Transit and Pipelines.

He was invited to Anoka County by 6th District Congressman Mark Kennedy, R., who sits on the House Transportation Committee.

In a forum at the Tournament Players Club clubhouse in Blaine, Petri and Kennedy heard from state, county and city officials on the improvements that are needed and proposed to ease congestion on both Highway 10 and Highways 65.

But besides need, these projects share one other thing in common - lack of funding, Kennedy and Petri were told.

The highway funding bill that is currently in a House-Senate conference committee in Washington DC., does contain some money for improvements in both corridors, according to Mark Makousky from Kennedy’s staff.

There is $1.25 million for a project to improve three intersections along Highway 10 in Ramsey and $2 million for the city of Blaine for frontage road improvements along Highway 65, Makousky said.

Kennedy described Petri as one of the “big four” in Congress on federal highway funding issues.

“Chairman Petri deserves the reputation as a leader in federal transportation decision-making,” Kennedy said.

“It is important that he be able to see the need for greater transportation investments in the Sixth District, so that we can make sure that we are not stuck in traffic and away from our families.”

The forum was a great opportunity for the citizens of Anoka County to show Petri the pressing transportation needs in the area, according to Kennedy.

“This area is booming,” Kennedy said. “There were congestion issues a decade ago. Where will we be a decade from now?”

“It is important Congressman Petri sees and hears the growth pressures and to keep up on the transportation issues of this area.”

According to Petri, federal funding for transportation in the country has been diminishing.

“We need to reverse that trend and invest now in our highways,” Petri said. “Transportation is an important investment otherwise we pay more in such things as higher insurance and higher prices in stores.”

“We also need to compete with the world. China plans to build in 15 years a freeway system it took the United States 60 years to build.”





When this story was prepared, here was the front page of PCOL magazine:

This Month's Issue: August 2004 This Month's Issue: August 2004
Teresa Heinz Kerry celebrates the Peace Corps Volunteer as one of the best faces America has ever projected in a speech to the Democratic Convention. The National Review disagreed and said that Heinz's celebration of the PCV was "truly offensive." What's your opinion and who can come up with the funniest caption for our Current Events Funny?

Exclusive: Director Vasquez speaks out in an op-ed published exclusively on the web by Peace Corps Online saying the Dayton Daily News' portrayal of Peace Corps "doesn't jibe with facts."

In other news, the NPCA makes the case for improving governance and explains the challenges facing the organization, RPCV Bob Shaconis says Peace Corps has been a "sacred cow", RPCV Shaun McNally picks up support for his Aug 10 primary and has a plan to win in Connecticut, and the movie "Open Water" based on the negligent deaths of two RPCVs in Australia opens August 6. Op-ed's by RPCVs: Cops of the World is not a good goal and Peace Corps must emphasize community development.


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Story Source: Coon Rapids Herald

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Somalia; Congress; Highways

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