Recent Press Releases

At Thune’s Request, U.S. DOT to Fund Veterans Parkway Project in Sioux Falls

“Secretary Chao understands that safe and reliable infrastructure is vital to the lives and well-being of all South Dakotans.”

June 5, 2018

WASHINGTON — 

U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, which has jurisdiction over the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), released the following statement after Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao announced that at Thune’s request, the DOT has proposed to award $21 million in federal funding to construct the Veterans Parkway project in Sioux Falls through the Infrastructure for Rebuilding America program. Thune, in conjunction with colleagues in the House and the Senate, authored the grant program that was included in the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act of 2015, which provided the first-ever freight-focused grant program for projects of national and regional significance.

“Secretary Chao understands that safe and reliable infrastructure is vital to the lives and well-being of all South Dakotans,” said Thune. “I want to thank the secretary and the DOT for taking action so this important project, which will not only ease congestion on Interstate-229, but also improve safety, economic competitiveness, and provide significant new freight access for current and future industrial use, can be completed. This project will help deliver a reliable and effective transportation route to connect a growing commercial and retail area in and around Sioux Falls and benefit the surrounding region.”

In October 2017, Thune wrote to Secretary Chao on behalf of the South Dakota Department of Transportation and the City of Sioux Falls to highlight how reconstructing the interchange on Interstate-90 at exit 402 and rebuilding the rural, two-lane highway into a four-lane divided highway would provide new access for current and future industrial use, deliver a reliable and effective transportation route for growing commerce and retail, and accommodate the economic needs for the City of Sioux Falls and the surrounding region.