Drive Our Economy task force cautions against costly obstruction in permitting process
LEWISTON, Idaho, Dec. 8, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As the Idaho Transportation Department meets this week to discuss applications to ship equipment loads along a U.S. 12 route through the state, members of Drive Our Economy task force warn that continued delays in the permitting process come at a great cost to residents in Montana and Idaho.
"Unnecessary delays will cost much more than time," explained Barry "Spook" Stang, Executive Vice President of the Motor Carriers of Montana and Co-Chair of the Drive Our Economy taskforce. "Governor Schweitzer rightly described the stakes of these Kearl shipments as 'jobs, jobs, jobs.'"
"The Port alone stands to gain approximately $1 million from these projects, meaning more jobs for our region," continued Todd Maddock, President of the Port of Lewiston. "We should encourage the Department to embrace oversized shipping projects and the investments they bring to our states. The economic consequences of inaction are too great to ignore."
In the short-term, direct and indirect economic benefits would bring a total estimated $80 million for the region, including $13 million for Idaho and $67 million for Montana. Though the shipments are not unique -- falling in the same range as other "megaloads" like grain silos and wind turbine blades -- this project is the first to help to upgrade existing highway and waterway infrastructure without taxpayer money.
Drive Our Economy is a task force of community, business, and agricultural leaders who have joined together to promote economic strategies that benefit Idaho and Montana. For additional information, visit: www.DriveOurEconomy.org.
SOURCE Drive Our Economy
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