Columbia to receive federal money for projects
As part of the passage of the U.S. House Omnibus Appropriations bill, Columbia will receive more than $1.6 million for infrastructure projects.
According to a news release from the office of City Manager Bill Watkins, the city will receive $1,425,000 for the COLT railroad overpass on Old Highway 63 and $237,500 to extend Stadium Blvd. to Interstate 70.
The release states that former U.S. Rep. Kenny Hulshof, R-Mo., who is a Columbia resident, and U.S. Sen. Kit Bond, R-Mo., targeted funding from the bill to the two projects.
The Columbia City Council will vote on a bill to authorize the use of federal funds on the COLT project tonight, and will also vote on a date for a public hearing. The total cost of the project is expected to be $9 million.
The appropriations bill makes funds available for a myriad of different governmental programs, from agriculture and rural development to education, and is designed to fund the projects through Sept. 30, which id the end of the current fiscal year. The bill was signed into law last week by President Barack Obama after nearly unanimous passage in Congress.
