Reid works on transportation bill

Monday, May 24, 2004 | 9:15 a.m.

SUN WASHINGTON BUREAU

WASHINGTON -- Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., has been selected to help finalize a multibillion-dollar transportation bill that will guide Nevada highway and transit projects for the next six years.

Major differences exist between the overall House and Senate versions of the transportation bill, passed earlier this year.

Nevada stands to gain $1.62 billion in highway funds from the Senate's version of the bill, a 35.6 percent increase compared to the last allocation in 1998, while the House version of the bill contains $1.3 billion for the state, about $320 million less.

"I'm looking forward to working with my colleagues in the House to finish the highway bill," Reid said in a statement issued after he was named to the conference committee that will work out the differences.

"The Senate's version of this bill has $1.6 billion for Nevada transportation needs, including highway construction projects and the Hoover Dam Bypass. As a conferee I'll be able to keep a close eye on these projects while the final legislation is drafted, and help make sure Nevada gets the funding it needs and deserves."

Reid sits on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, which writes a portion of the bill in the Senate.

The House has not named its members of the conference committee yet but is expected to do so after the weeklong Memorial Day recess, which starts today.