Nevada would receive $1.5 billion for projects

Suzanne Struglinski

Friday, March 11, 2005 | 9:12 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- Nevada would get $1.5 billion under a major highway bill passed in the House Thursday. The bill covers highways and transit projects in the state for the next six years.

This marks a $300 million increase from the last time the bill was passed in 1998, although it still needs to go through the Senate and a conference committee before becoming law.

Each state is allocated a certain amount within the bill, but Rep. Jon Porter, R-Nev., and Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., sit on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, so Nevada is able to have money earmarked for specific projects in the bill.

In the final House bill, Berkley was able to secure $12 million above the initial $45 million allocated for Southern Nevada projects, which she spread out over several programs in her district, spokesman David Cherry said.

The bill also includes Porter's provision to provide $1.2 million over four years to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration to help stop "drugged driving" or driving under the influence of drugs. Porter spokesman Adam Mayberry said the money would help create a template that other states could use to develop their own drugged driving laws. Only 11 states, including Nevada, have laws barring driving under the influence of drugs. The money would also go toward research and development of technology to help law enforcement.

Funding for Nevada projects includes: