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   U.S. Rep. Mike Ross (AR-04), Co-Chair of the Interstate 69 Mid-Continent Highway Caucus, proudly announced Tuesday that Interstate 69 has been named a "Corridor of the Future" by the Department of Transportation.

   "I applaud the Department of Transportation for recognizing the importance of this project and making Interstate 69 a national priority," Ross said. "It is time to begin investing in America again, and as a Co-Chair for the I-69 Caucus I will continue working to secure funds and resources needed to move this essential interstate corridor forward. This project will also attract new businesses and jobs stimulating economic growth in thousands of communities situated along Interstate 69 from Michigan to Texas."

   In August, Ross led the 56-member I-69 Caucus in sending a letter he authored to the Secretary of Transportation emphasizing the need to designate I-69 as a "Corridor of the Future." As a "Corridor of the Future," I-69 would become a nationally-recognized priority, making it eligible to receive the necessary resources to accelerate its construction. This designation will ensure that I-69 - which is important to Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana and Michigan - will continue to be funded in future transportation reauthorization bills.

   "I would like to thank my colleagues in Congress who represent the many districts which would benefit from this important project for signing the letter I authored in support of this much-needed interstate corridor," Ross said.

   The I-69 Corridor will receive $800,000 which will be split up by the Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department on behalf of the Interstate 69 Steering Committee which includes Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana and Michigan.

   The I-69 project was one of six interstate routes chosen from 38 applications to participate in the DOT's new "Corridors of the Future" program. This new federal initiative aims to develop innovative national and regional approaches to reduce congestion and improve the efficiency of freight delivery.

   Ross has been a member of the I-69 Caucus since he was first elected to represent Arkansas's Fourth Congressional District in Congress in 2000, and was recently selected to Co-Chair the Caucus.

   The Interstate 69 Mid-Continent Highway Caucus is a bipartisan group of 56 Members of Congress interested in promoting the development and completion of Interstate 69, a true north-south highway linking Port Huron, Michigan to Texas' border with Mexico.

   The portion of I-69 from Port Huron, Michigan at the Canadian border to Indianapolis, Indiana was completed and opened to traffic under the Interstate Construction Program which began in 1956 and ended in 1995.

   The I-69 Corridor is the only direct national link to two of our major trading partners, Canada and Mexico.  The corridor has the nation's busiest border crossings on both borders, accounting for 49 percent of the nation's trade with Canada and 49 percent of the nation's trade with Mexico.

   I-69 is a major national freight corridor linking manufacturing and agricultural centers.  It will provide a direct route for domestic and international commodity flow, relieving congestion on many less direct routes - reducing travel time, fuel consumption and costs - and increase the reliability and efficiency of the nation's freight system.

 

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