WASHINGTON, D.C.—Senators Olympia J. Snowe and Susan Collins today sent a letter to the Federal Highway Administration in support of the Maine Department of Transportation’s (MDOT) request for Federal Highway Emergency Relief (ER) funds for flood damaged federal roads and bridges.
More than a foot of rain has fallen over the last week in York County causing significant infrastructure damage.
The following is the full text of the letter.
May 18, 2006
Mr. J. Richard Capka, Acting Administrator
Federal Highway Administration
Department of Transportation
400 7th Street, SW
Washington, D.C. 20590
Dear Acting Administrator Capka,
We are writing in support of the recent request of the Maine Department of Transportation for Emergency Relief Funds, which would provide sorely needed support for infrastructure severely damaged during the rain and subsequent flooding which began on May 14th, 2006.
This unforeseen disaster has washed out and eliminated the ability for essential traffic to operate on the Federal-Aid highway system. It is our understanding that your agency is working closely with the Department of Transportation in Maine to provide supplemental funds intended to restore access to critical elements of the federal infrastructure network. We strongly encourage you to continue this effort, and allow emergency relief to reach those hard-hit citizens of Maine as swiftly as possible.
Thank you for your efforts.
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Olympia Snowe Susan M. Collins
United States Senator United States Senator