Washington, DC—U.S. Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD), a member of the Senate Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee, announced today that the subcommittee has advanced the Fiscal Year 2011 spending package. The bill, which includes nearly $6.15 million in Johnson-secured funding for South Dakota, will be considered by the full Appropriations Committee later this week.
“I am pleased that I was able to include several important South Dakota projects in the spending package today, including funding to improve public transportation in Brookings and continue construction of Highway 100 in near Sioux Falls,” Johnson said. “Federal dollars are difficult to come by this year, but we must continue the progress we have made across the state to improve our infrastructure.”
Johnson continued, “I was also proud to secure economic development funds for Yankton and Custer. By improving the downtown areas of both of these communities, it will spur more business activity and make important upgrades.”
South Dakota-specific projects secured by Senator Johnson include:
South Dakota 100 Right-of-Way and Construction, Sioux Falls, South Dakota – $1,200,000: The South Dakota 100 Project is a 17-mile limited access highway beginning at Exit 73 on Interstate 29 and traveling in an east/northeasterly direction intersecting with South Dakota 11 at 57th street and then intersecting at Interstate 90 at exit 402. In October 2005, the SDDOT started preparing to begin preserving the Right-of-Way (ROW) for SD100. SDDOT has programmed segments of SD 100 in the FY 2010 – FY 2014 STIP and right-of-way acquisition, engineer and design and construction of the road are in progress.
Brookings Area Transit Authority Bus Storage and Transit Operations Facility – $1,000,000: The project would construct a new bus storage and transit operations facility in Brookings, South Dakota. As a non-urbanized transit operator, BATA has experienced a substantial increase in passenger demand over the past five years, increasing its vehicle fleet to 21 buses and implementing a new software program to coordinate its on-demand transit service. The current location and facility size is inadequate to meet the requirements for maintaining and operating an efficient regional transit network.
I-29/I-229 Bridges and Interstate Mainline Reconstruction from Near Tea Exit to North of 69th Street and East to Louise Avenue – $750,000: This funding is for improvements to Interstate 29/Interstate 229 and adjacent arterial roads to improve connectivity, mobility and enhance the City of Sioux Falls and the Metropolitan Planning Organization to plan for future development of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The South Dakota Department of Transportation (SDDOT) in cooperation with the City of Sioux Falls initiated an assessment of an interchange on Interstate 29 at 85th Street. The purpose of providing an interchange at this location is to improve access to an area of the Sioux Falls metropolitan area where development proposals have been submitted to the city and where future housing and employment expansion is expected to occur over the next twenty years.
Standing Rock Sioux Tribe – Community Streets Project—Old Bear Soldier – $750,000: The funding is for a street paving project and safety enhancements in the community of Old Bear Soldier. The Community Street Project compliments the construction of new homes by the Tribe's Housing Authority in Tribal districts. Roadwork will entail earthwork, sub-grade improvements, sub-base, new pavement surface, curbs and gutters, storm sewer, traffic signs, sidewalks, street lighting and safety items needed in new housing clusters. This road infrastructure is necessary to ensure safe, year-round access by residents to new homes, which cannot be met with Indian Reservation Roads Program and Tribal funds alone.
Northern Hills Alliance for Children – Childcare Center Building Modifications – $550,000: The funding would facilitate building renovations to establish a new daycare facility serving families in the northern Black Hills.
City of Custer – Downtown Streetscape – $400,000: This funding would transform the downtown with lighting, redesigned pedestrian-friendly walkways, and other improvements to showcase the area’s historic character and facilitate economic development.
City of Yankton – Downtown Streetscape – $300,000: This funding would transform the downtown with lighting, redesigned pedestrian-friendly walkways, and other improvements to showcase the area’s historic character and facilitate economic development.
Lower Brule Sioux Tribe – Domestic Violence Shelter – $400,000: This funding would support the construction of a domestic violence shelter, including electrical wiring, transporting building to site location, water, sewer, parking lot, landscaping, security and other infrastructure needs. The Tribe has a domestic violence program, but no shelter. The reservation experiences three domestic violence cases per week, and a shelter would ensure that the victims of these crimes can stay on the reservation, rather than have to leave for emergency shelter.
Crow Creek Sioux Tribe – Mel and Elnita Rank Community Facility – $300,000: The Crow Creek Sioux Tribe would use this funding to support construction costs and equipment for a new community facility in Fort Thompson, which would house the Three Districts Boys and Girls Club, an office location for a Native Community Development Financial Institution (Native CDFI) and a workforce development library. The site sits at the corner of a major crossroad in Fort Thompson.
Rosebud Sioux Tribe –Ghost Hawk Road (BIA Route 7 to SD Highway 18) – $150,000: The funding would be used for crack sealing and chip sealing for the Ghost Hawk Road (BIA Route 7 to SD Highway 18). Currently, this road does not meet the higher acceptable standard level under the Federal Highway Standard Requirements Manual. Funding for road maintenance will allow the surfaces to be upgraded from a Level 2 to a Level 1, pursuant to the Manual. Once completed, this roadway will provide a smoother and safer surface for the traveling public, law enforcement officers and medical providers.
Boys and Girls Club of Wagner – $200,000: The funding will be used for repairs and upgrades to the Boys and Girls Club facility in Wagner, SD.
Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate – Restoration of Powwow Grounds – $150,000: The Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate would use this funding to restore its Wacipi (powwow) grounds. The improvements would promote the safety of the grounds by repairing outdated and collapsing infrastructure.
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