Capito says money earmarked for Raleigh Street, other projects

July 27, 2007|By MATTHEW UMSTEAD

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - U.S. Rep. Shelley Moore Capito on Friday announced $850,000 in federal spending has been earmarked for projects in the Eastern Panhandle, including $500,000 for the City of Martinsburg's Raleigh Street road construction project.

The Republican lawmaker's announcement comes one week after U.S. Sen. Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va., said he allocated $10 million for the W.Va. 9 widening project and increased West Virginia's federal allocation for highway construction by $26 million to $356.1 million.

Before final project funding can be awarded, both Senate and House versions of the appropriations bills are merged into a compromise version, which is submitted to the president for his signature, Capito spokesman Jordan Stoick said.

Aside from the Raleigh Street money included in the House-passed Transportation, Treasury and Housing and Urban Development appropriations bill, Capito said that $250,000 had been approved for "interoperable" communications equipment that will allow Jefferson County law enforcement and emergency responders to communicate in emergency situations.

Capito said she also was able to include $100,000 for James Rumsey Technical Institute in Hedgesville, W.Va., in a Labor, Health and Human Services and Education appropriations bill for automotive technology and computer technology programs, Capito said.

"I am pleased that these important projects were included in House-passed spending bills," said Capito, who previously announced she had sought $4 million for the Raleigh Street project and $600,000 for the Jefferson County project. "This means these projects are one step closer to having these funds delivered, and I will continue to advocate on their behalf until the appropriations funding process is complete."

Though not part of the appropriation announcement last week, Byrd spokesman John Bray said Tuesday that the Senate Appropriations Committee chairman was able to advance the City of Martinsburg's request to transfer $13 million already approved for the W.Va. 9 bypass around Martinsburg to the extension project for Raleigh Street.

Bray said the $13 million was included in a "technical corrections" bill that was passed by the Environment and Public Works Committee in June.

"Because the Senate legislative calendar is so crowded, it is hard to say when this bill will go before the full Senate," Bray said. "The overall prospects for the bill's passage, however, are very good."

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