Washington, DC – Today, the US House of Representatives passed the FY 2008 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (HR 3074) Conference Report that will help modernize America’s transportation infrastructure and aid American families with affordable housing.  By a vote of 270 to 147, the House approved the spending bill that includes millions in federal funding Congresswoman Darlene Hooley (OR-5) helped secure for projects in Oregon’s 5th Congressional District.

The Conference Report now heads to the US Senate for final consideration before heading to the President’s desk to be signed into law.

“An efficient transportation system is critical for economic development and regional competitiveness,” said Hooley.  “Upgrading our current infrastructure will help brace the system for projected growth in Oregon.  We simply can’t afford trade and commerce to suffer because of heavy congestion and an inefficient transportation system.”

Among the funds approved by the House, the following projects in Oregon’s 5th Congressional District were included in the Conference Report:

Transportation-HUD Appropriations Bill:

I-205/Portland Mall Light Rail - $80 Million

Hooley helped secure a major federal investment in the light rail project that will combine a 6.7 mile light rail exchange from the Gateway Regional Center to the Clackamas Regional Center together with a 1.6 mile light rail extension running the full length of downtown Portland along 5th and 6th Avenues.  Extending light rail service will benefit the local economy by easing congestion on I-205.

“The efforts of Congresswoman Hooley are helping to keep this major rail project on schedule," said TriMet General Manager Fred Hansen.  “This project is critical to the livability and mobility needs of Clackamas County, and it will provide more transit options in the future.”

I-5/Wilsonville Interchange - $500,000

Funding secured by Hooley will be used to improve the I-5 interchange at Wilsonville Road to ease congestion and allow for greater capacity at the interchange.  These improvements will allow the City of Wilsonville to escape a moratorium on developments that impact the interchange, which will allow development of vacant industrial and commercial property in the city. 

“This project is important not just to Wilsonville, but to the safe functioning of the south I-5 corridor, which impacts the region and the state,” said Wilsonville Mayor Charlotte Lehan.  “Congresswoman Hooley has long been an effective champion for transportation projects like this that link community livability and economic development to the safe movement of people and freight in the region.”

Neighbors for Kids in Depoe Bay - $180,000

This federal investment Hooley helped secure will help Depoe Bay Neighbors for Kids, a non-profit organization providing youth with educational enrichment, citizenship training, and recreational activities, expand and renovate their facility.

“Congresswoman Hooley truly understands the level of importance and needs of today's children for after school facilities that are safe and staffed by caring and trained adults,” said Depoe Bay City Councilor Jack Brown.  “This new facility when completed will provide for ADA bathrooms, classrooms, music facilities, a full kitchen, and room for recreational activities out of the rain.  Most importantly, the new facility will provide a special place for our teens to call their own.”

McNary Field Airport, Salem - $1,005,000

It has been more than a decade since McNary Field has offered commercial air travel. In the early 1990's, Horizon Air offered limited carrier service to Portland.  In the past couple of years, the City of Salem has increased efforts to secure commercial air service.  Hooley was pleased to see Delta Airlines begin servicing the McNary Airport earlier this year.  The Runway Extension along with ongoing city funded Terminal improvements are both important components of resumed commercial air service at the Salem Airport.