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66 °F Forecast | Road Cams Tuesday, March 15, 2005 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Health Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Real Estate Guide Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley SHOP OUR VALLEY AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Classified Place an ad TOP JOBS EXTRA Ashland News NIE Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People Volunteer Moving here? eSouthernOregon CUSTOMER SERVICE FAQ's Advertise with us Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend March 11, 2005 House OKs spending for local projects Region might get $4 million for highway and sidewalk projects By JACK MORAN Mail Tribune The U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday approved legislation that would bring $4 million to Jackson County for a pair of transportation improvement projects. The House bill includes $3 million for widening Fern Valley Road in Phoenix between Highway 99 and North Phoenix Road, and $1 million for sidewalk construction near Medford’s elementary schools. "There is an important public-safety dimension to both of these projects," U.S. Rep. Greg Walden said in a news release. "This funding will improve the failing and hazardous interchange ramps between I-5 and Phoenix, as well as increase the safety of Medford’s children by providing sidewalks around local schools." After the Senate votes on its version of the legislation, differences between the bills will be worked out in a conference committee, said Angela Wilhelms, a spokeswoman for Walden. The project to widen Fern Valley Road to five lanes is estimated to cost at least $36 million based on current uses, said Art Anderson, area manager for the Oregon Department of Transportation. Advertisement State funding is expected to total about $33 million for the project, but the final cost would rise if a Home Depot store is built on North Phoenix Road northeast of the Fern Valley freeway interchange. "Naturally, (traffic) would increase with development," Anderson said. Because of future traffic concerns, ODOT has appealed the city of Phoenix’s approval of Home Depot. The appeal is on hold while state transportation officials negotiate with the city and the store to determine if local funding would be available to help pay for road improvements in the area, Anderson said. In Medford, the city is moving forward with an estimated $10 million plan to build sidewalks within one mile of 10 elementary schools. City Manager Mike Dyal said the $1 million funding in the House bill for the project was expected. "We knew it was in there," Dyal said. "We have been pretty much counting on it." City voters in November approved a $4.6 million bond measure to cover some costs of the sidewalk project. A spending bill passed last year by Congress includes an additional $500,000 for the city’s "Safe Walk Route Plan," which would enhance safety around Medford elementary schools. Howard Elementary is expected to be the first school to receive sidewalk improvements. The House bill, known as the "Transportation Equity Act: a Legacy for Users," passed with a vote of 417-9, Wilhelms said. Reach reporter Jack Moran at 776-4459, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback Student Loan Consolidation Conference Calls - $50/Month Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker, Trunk, Footlockers home equity loans helzberg Slippers Student Loans afsa teleconferencing Memory Foam Mattress Advertisement s