LINCOLN - A proposed bill to help fund Nebraska road and infrastructure projects was the subject of a legislative hearing in Lincoln on Tuesday before the Appropriations Committee as supporters touted the long-term economic benefits of the measure.
Nucor vice president and general manager Dirk Petersen was one of 20 proponents who testified in favor of LB960, otherwise known as the Transportation Innovation Act. Petersen also serves as the chairman of the group 4 Lanes 4 Nebraska and testified on behalf of the group, which supports LB960 because of the bill's aim to widen some of northeast Nebraska's highways, such as Highway 275 and Highway 81. Petersen said during testimony that “to grow our state, this bill is critically necessary. And its time is now.”
The proposal has drawn much support, but some state senators question the funding required to carry out the bill. Funding for the projects would come from a created 'transportation infrastructure bank', which would use $150 million from the state's cash reserve to help start the program and finance projects.
LB960 was introduced this session by Sen. Jim Smith of Papillion.
Here are a few excerpts from Petersen's testimony on Tuesday:
Chairman Mello, Members of the Committee:
“My name is Dirk Petersen. I am vice president and general manager of Nucor Steel in Norfolk, chairman of the transportation advocacy organization 4 Lanes 4 Nebraska, and chair-elect of the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce. I am testifying on behalf of each of these organizations.”
“LB 960 is a good bill, a needed first step toward modernizing Nebraska's outdated infrastructure and transportation policies. To grow our state, this bill is critically necessary. And its time is now.”
“Agriculture and manufacturing are Nebraska's top industries. They are also the industries that would benefit most directly and most significantly from 21st century infrastructure.”
“A recent national survey showed that manufacturing executives named "highway accessibility" as the number one location factor for new sites, ahead of "availability of skilled labor." Four-lane highway access is a major factor for most companies when looking for new locations. If a community or region does not have the right highway infrastructure, they won't even be considered.”
“Just weeks ago, Nebraska landed one of its largest manufacturing investments in decades - OCT Pipe - a $130 million investment, million square foot facility, and nearly 200 skilled jobs paying more than $70,000 annually. OCT Pipe's CEO Charley Havens was here in December, telling the Transportation Committee that without the promise of a four-lane highway in the future OCT Pipe would have thought differently about its decision on locating in Norfolk. "We are not used to two-lane highways to put those 18-wheelers down," he said.”
“We can do better. We must do better. It's the law.”
“I feel this is the single most important thing we can do as leaders and it is yours, mine and other leaders' responsibility to get the work done. The opportunity to step ahead is before us now.”
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