| The chances are better this time for Saginaw to land federal funds for a northbound Interstate 675 exit ramp into downtown, says a spokesman for U.S. Rep. Dale Kildee.
"Unlike last year, the House and the Senate are working off the same budget numbers this time, and things are happening a lot more quickly," said Peter N. Karafotas, press secretary for the Flint Democrat.
Startup funding of $2.3 million Thursday passed the House. However, the proposal also made it through the House last year only to die in a conference with the Senate.
Both bodies have set a target of $283.9 billion for its transportation budget, Karafotas said, compared to a year ago when the Senate wanted about $40 billion more than the House. He said President Bush so far has not repeated last year's veto threats.
"If all goes well, it could go into law as soon as April," Karafotas said.
Kildee also included $1.5 million to extend Saginaw's downtown decorative streetscape from Janes southbound to City Hall.
Another bill failed that would have provided $500,000 for Old Saginaw City streetscaping.
Saginaw Future President JoAnn T. Crary said House approval for the I-675 ramp and the South Washington streetscape wraps up a positive week that started with Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm's visit to present a $1 million federal block grant check for rebuilding East Genesee from Hartsuff to Webber.
"We are doing all we can to secure funding to improve the community," Crary said.
Estimates for the I-675 ramp have risen to $14 million. Kildee said that once Saginaw gets its foot in the door for the first $2.3 million, follow-up funding will come more easily.
The closest northbound exit ramp to downtown is at Wadsworth near North Seventh, requiring a motorist to travel a half-mile on side streets and make two traffic turns to reach downtown.
Advocates of a new ramp want to steer traffic directly to North Washington, north of the TheDow Event Center.
A southbound exit already merges onto North Jefferson next to the Event Center.
The bill also includes $5 million for updating U.S. 127 in Gratiot County from a four-lane highway to a limited-access freeway.
Mike Thompson is a staff writer for The Saginaw News. You may reach him at 776-9691. |