Bridge funding proposals are circulating on Capitol Hill as the investigation into causes of the Minneapolis bridge collapse continues. Congress quickly authorized $250 million for a replacement bridge, and the Dept. of Transportation provided $55 million for costs related to the collapse (see story, p. 15). Some lawmakers want to address bridge maintenance nationwide.
When Congress returns from its August break, Senate transportation appropriations subcommittee Chairman Patty Murray (D-Wash.) will seek to add $1 billion for bridges around the country to a pending 2008 DOT spending bill, a spokesperson says. In the House, Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman James Oberstar (D-Minn.) will push his proposed new trust fund to fix deficient bridges. But reaction to Oberstar’s plan from President Bush and the transportation committee’s top Republican was swift and negative.