County Officials Talk Transportation with Key Federal Lawmaker

	(l-r) Minnestoa Congressman James Oberstar (center) with Port Commission Chair Jean Enright and Congressman Ron Klein « Previous | Next »

May 27, 2008

Minnesota Congressman James Oberstar, who chairs the powerful Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, paid a visit to the Port of Palm Beach on May 27 for a round table discussion with county and port officials. Among those taking part were Commissioner Bob Kanjian, County Engineer George Webb, Legislative Affairs Director Todd Bonlarron, and Port Commissioners Jean Enright and Ed Oppel.

Oberstar has served 34 years in the U.S. House and prior to that spent 11 years as a Congressional aide. He said he is proud to be chairing one of the oldest ongoing Congressional committees. The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure was established by the very first U.S. House of Congress.

The committee has jurisdiction over surface transportation, freight and passenger rail service, the inland waterway system, international maritime commerce, the Economic Development Administration, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ support of national water resources, and the federal clean water program.

“We have the greatest mobility of any nation in the world, but we aren’t keeping up,” Oberstar said.

County Engineer George Webb outlined three important transportation projects which are each facing serious cash shortfalls. The State Road 710 (Beeline Highway) bridge over Dixie Highway/U.S. 1 is the county’s number one unfunded priority, according to the MPO. Second is an I-95 interchange to relieve highway congestion and provide direct access to the FAU campus. Third is the planned widening of Congress Avenue (adding two lanes) where it passes by JFK Medical Center and the Lantana Airport.

Palm Tran officials mentioned that 23 new buses, at $400,000 apiece, will be needed in 2009 and 27 more in 2010. Port officials discussed a dredging project underway that would make the Port of Palm Beach harbor deep enough for “short-sea” shipping, taking trucking pressure off of I-95.