New Federal Transportation Funding Bill Designates Interstate-11 Route in Nevada
LAS VEGAS, NEV. –The future Interstate-11 received a formal designation in the new federal surface transportation funding bill signed into law by President Obama on December 4. The 5-year, $305 billion Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act formally designates the future Interstate 11 through Nevada. It will follow U.S. Highway 95 before connecting with Interstate-80 in Northern Nevada.
“Interstate 11 creates a key Nevada commerce corridor that connects our state to regional and international markets while opening up new opportunities for mobility, job growth and economic competitiveness,” said Nevada Department of Transportation Director Rudy Malfabon. “The formal designation of I-11 provides some much needed long-term transportation planning stability.”
The future Interstate 11 received a congressional designation from Phoenix to Las Vegas in 2012 under the two-year, $105 billion Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21) Act. Although the I-11 designation doesn’t include funding, it’s now eligible for funds along with other high priority corridors throughout the nation.
Meanwhile, the FAST Act allocates $1.9 billion to the state of Nevada for transportation projects over five years or roughly $385 million annually. It marks an overall $170 million total increase over previous funding levels. The FAST Act is also the first long-term funding bill approved in over a decade. The $286.4 billion Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) was extended 34 times before the passage of the FAST Act.
For more information on Interstate 11, visit www.i11study.com.
