a:26:{s:9:"weblog_id";s:1:"4";s:8:"entry_id";s:3:"298";s:6:"sticky";s:1:"n";s:14:"allow_comments";s:1:"n";s:16:"allow_trackbacks";s:1:"n";s:10:"entry_date";s:19:"2008-10-27 07:40 PM";s:15:"expiration_date";s:0:"";s:23:"comment_expiration_date";s:0:"";s:8:"category";a:1:{i:0;s:1:"4";}s:9:"author_id";s:1:"2";s:10:"new_weblog";s:1:"4";s:6:"status";s:4:"open";s:14:"trackback_urls";s:0:"";s:18:"versioning_enabled";s:1:"y";s:5:"title";s:53:"U.S. DOT  Funds Missouri, Illinois Emergency Projects";s:9:"url_title";s:49:"us_dot_funds_missouri_illinois_emergency_projects";s:6:"submit";s:6:"Update";s:11:"field_id_26";s:53:"U.S. DOT  Funds Missouri, Illinois Emergency Projects";s:11:"field_ft_26";s:4:"none";s:11:"field_id_31";s:0:"";s:11:"field_id_44";s:265:"Missouri will receive a total of $5,769,422 in U.S. DOT flood relief funds and $1,249,308 to repair the Jefferson Ave.Bridge in Jefferson City, which was heavily damaged in late 2007 by a tanker truck wreck . Illinois will receive $13,900,995 in flood relief funds.";s:11:"field_ft_44";s:4:"none";s:11:"field_id_28";s:20:"emergency funds, DOT";s:11:"field_ft_28";s:4:"none";s:11:"field_id_29";s:2260:"<p>Missouri will receive a total of $5,769,422 in U.S. DOT flood relief funds and $1,249,308 to repair the Jefferson Ave.Bridge in Jefferson City, which was heavily damaged in late 2007 by a tanker truck wreck . Illinois will receive $13,900,995 in flood relief funds.</p>
<p>The funding for the two states is part of $679 million&nbsp; the federal government is making available immediately 
to states across the nation to cover costs incurred to repair roads and bridges 
damaged by a variety of natural emergencies and catastrophic events, U.S. 
Secretary of Transportation Mary E. Peters announced Oct. 26 during a visit to 
Galveston, TX.</p>
<p><br /> \"When natural disasters strike, restoring transportation is the first stop on 
the road to recovery,\" Secretary Peters said. <br /> <br /> Texas will receive $96 million for storm and flooding repairs, including $70 
million for the extensive damage caused by Hurricane Ike in Galveston and along 
the Texas Gulf Coast. In addition, the state will receive $26 million for 
damages from Hurricane Rita in 2005 and Hurricane Dolly earlier this year, as 
well as the heavy rains that flooded El Paso roads in 2006 and other Texas 
highways in 2007.</p>
<p>\"Communities like Galveston should be able to look to the federal government as 
a gateway to assistance, not a roadblock of red tape. Our goal is to get 
communities moving again,\" said Secretary Peters.<br /> Nationwide, the emergency relief funds will go to 28 states and Puerto Rico to 
pay for damages caused by storms, flooding, hurricanes, and other disasters, 
including the summer 2008 Midwestern floods and recent major hurricanes. The 
funds will be used to reimburse states for fixing or replacing damaged highways 
and bridges, establishing detours, removing debris and replacing signs, lighting 
and guardrails. <br /> <br /> \"Transportation is important to communities struggling to return to a normal 
routine after a disaster,\" said FHWA Administrator Thomas Madison. <br /> <br /> The funds are part of the 2008 Disaster Relief and Recovery Supplemental 
Appropriations Act that provided additional emergency relief funds. Congress 
also provides an annual authorization of $100 million for the program each 
fiscal year.</p>";s:10:"category_0";s:1:"4";}