Wes Hickaman (202 224-5972) or Kevin Bishop (864 250-1417)

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today announced the Senate approved the FY 2004 Transportation and Treasury Appropriations Bill which includes millions of dollars for South Carolina projects. Graham voted for the bill which passed the Senate by a vote of 91-3. South Carolina projects in the bill include: Upstate

• $11 million for site acquisition and design for a new Federal Courthouse in Greenville.
• $3 million to SCDOT for surface improvements to the Arkwright Connector in Spartanburg.
• The bill instructs the U.S. Department of Transportation to give priority to the Pickens County Airport rehabilitation project grant application.
• The bill instructs the U.S. Department of Transportation to give priority to the Spartanburg Memorial Downtown Airport runway extension and safety area construction project grant application. Midlands The bill instructs the U.S. Department of Transportation to give priority to the Columbia Metropolitan Airport land acquisition project grant application. $1.5 million for the Sumter Municipal Airport to install an Instrument Landing System. Lowcountry $5 million to the Medical University of South Carolina Intermodal facility for maintenance, acquisition, and rehabilitation of bus facilities. $1 million to SCDOT for construction of a four lane divided arterial over an approximately 10-mile corridor of U.S. 278. $1 million to SCDOT for the Northwest Bypass in Beaufort. $1 million to SCDOT for improvements to the Berlin G. Meyers Parkway Extension in Georgetown. $1 million to the North Charleston Regional Intermodal Transportation Center for maintenance, acquisition, and rehabilitation of bus facilities. $300,000 to the Lowcountry Regional Transportation Authority for maintenance, acquisition, and rehabilitation of bus facilities. $84,478 for the Charleston Airport to replace the elevator and make improvements to the air traffic control tower. The bill instructs the U.S. Department of Transportation to give priority to the Andrews Municipal Airport pavement reconstruction project grant application. Statewide $5 million to the SCDOT to help replace South Carolina’s transit fleet. $3 million to SCDOT for the Inroads Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) project to place Video Cameras, changeable message signs, and other safety devices along South Carolina’s interstate highways. $2 million to SCDOT for a construction study of I-73. $750,000 to conduct a Southeast High Speed Rail Corridor Study. “Improvements to roads and airports provide greater access to our state, stimulate business investment and encourage tourism,” said Graham. “These projects are another investment in the future economic development in South Carolina.” “During this economic rebound, it is vital that we remain committed to investing in infrastructure, and promoting economic growth,” said Graham. “This is a key ingredient creating and protecting American jobs.”

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