U.S. Department of Transportation secretary meets with representatives from rural states

PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota Transportation Secretary Darin Bergquist was on a panel that met recently with U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood in Bismarck, N.D., to gather information on the transportation needs of rural America as Congress prepares a new highway funding bill.

The June 4 meeting was a great opportunity for South Dakota and other rural states to impress upon USDOT the importance of a highway bill that strongly funds the needs of rural states and helps them address their unique transportation challenges.

Bergquist’s message to Secretary LaHood and other USDOT representatives was South Dakota must receive at least its current share of any highway and surface transportation funding increase to ensure South Dakota and the nation remain connected and economically competitive..

He stressed the importance of transportation to South Dakota’s agriculture industry; energy industry, including ethanol producers and wind energy; tourism industry; and the need to provide access and connectivity to American Indian reservations in South Dakota.

“Without significantly increased federal investment in our highways, it will be impossible for South Dakota and other rural states to keep our highway networks in good condition because of our extensive highway systems, our low population density, and our large holdings of federal and tribal lands,” Bergquist said.

U.S. Sen. Kent Conrad of North Dakota said, "As we begin the important work of writing a new highway bill, it’s critical that officials from both the executive and legislative branches of the federal government understand the unique transportation needs of rural America.”

Secretary LaHood assured those in attendance that “rural America will not be left out when it comes to Department of Transportation planning.”

“Providing and maintaining a strong transportation network in a safe condition and a good state of repair in rural areas is vital to building and maintaining a strong economy, both in South Dakota and nationwide,” Bergquist said.

Others on the panel included Francis Ziegler, director of the North Dakota Department of Transportation; John Cox, director of the Wyoming Department of Transportation; and Jim Lynch, director of the Montana Department of Transportation

Among those at the meeting from North Dakota were Gov. John Hoeven, U.S. Rep. Earl Pomeroy, and U.S. Sens. Byron Dorgan and Kent Conrad. South Dakota officials from the Oglala and Standing Rock Sioux tribes, county, city and transit agencies also attended.

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