Graves applauds Transportation Grant for Missouri

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Sam Graves issued the following statement after being notified that Missouri will receive a $2,772,500 grant to study alternative funding mechanisms to maintain the long-term solvency of the Highway Trust Fund.

"I have long viewed infrastructure investments as vital to Missouri's economy. We are the crossroads of America. Unfortunately, our roads, bridges, airports, and waterways are in desperate need of upgrade and repair," Graves said.

"I was proud to write a modern infrastructure bill in 2015 that, among other things, would bring much needed money back to Missouri to help address these shortcomings. This grant will help put Missouri at the forefront of studying ways to improve our transportation funding and ensure we have the resources needed to make these much needed repairs in the future."

Graves is a senior member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and Chairman of the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.

Background:

The FAST Act established the Surface Transportation System Funding Alternatives Program to provide grants to States or groups of States to demonstrate user-based alternative revenue mechanisms that utilize a user fee structure to maintain the long-term solvency of the Highway Trust Fund. The Missouri Department of Transportation received $250,000 during last year's round of funding.