Agenda - Council - 11/25/1981 - Laserfiche WebLink

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[)t'l)arlmc ! (')[ Transi')orlalion '¥ransp(>rtati( n Building Paul..X[ir nc$ota 55155 October 29, 1981 612/296-8044 I i I I I Re: Great River Road Funding Status Report Federal Fiscal Year 1982 Dear Great River Road Participant: Great River Road federal funds are now available for obligation for the construction of eligible projects. This announcement, however, needs further explanation to fully understand the present funding situation for this federal fiscal year. Federal funds, totaling 14 million dollars previously deferred in the 1981 federal fiscal year, were released October 1, 1981, and because a transportation bill has not been approved yet, spending is authorized through the omnibus reconciliation bill. The reconciliation bill, (Great River Road Program included) will remain in effect through the passage'of the federal transportation bill. Our Washington sources indicate that it may be the end of December before the transportation bill is passed. I I I I I I I I Because it is not yet certain that Great River Road funding will be included in the Transportation Act, we are obligating as much as we can on projects that are ready for letting. ~hese projects have been taken from the old Fiscal Year '81 Great River Road Program because the Fiscal Year '82 program, which totals 27 million dollars, does not take effect until January 1, 1982. Since no one knows what will be included in the Transportation Act, an update will have to suffice. At present, the Senate transportation bill has language that would terminate the Great River Road Program and discontinue funding. On the other hand, the House language would continue funding for the Great River Road Program and would allow additional funds. Until these two bills meet in Conference Committee and a decision is made, we will not know the funding future of the Great River Road Program. Depending on what language emerges from the transportation bill, the program will be reassessed in regard to funding new projects. The reconciliation bill which we are presently working under has placed Great River Road funding under the Transportation Department's total spending limit. This is different from past years in which the Great River Road Program was autonomous. This 8.2 billion dollar ceiling, for all 50 states, affects the ability to spend Great River Road dollars because they are in competition with higher priority projects under the overall DOT program. Within Mn/DOT, the Great River Road funds are administered on two levels. The first is Mn/DOT state highway improvements and the second, the largest user of Great River Road funds, is State Aid for county apportionment. There are not many Mn/DOT projects that have construction drawings ready I I An Equal Opportunity Employer