Washington, D.C. —  Senator John Thune secured $150 million worth of transportation projects for South Dakota and a total of $1.3 billion for transportation improvements across the state as a conferee to the transportation reauthorization bill. Under the conference agreement set to pass Congress, South Dakota will see a 30 percent increase in its federal transportation funding over the last highway bill.

“A 30 percent increase is a huge victory for South Dakota,” Thune said. “This is long overdue, but I am proud we are delivering and delivering big. The federal funding we secured for South Dakota over the next five years will create new jobs and grow our economy. These projects will improve the quality and safety of South Dakota’s roads, bridges and highways.”

The conference report also keeps the Senate’s protection for South Dakota’s formula funding, which guarantees that our state’s funding will not decrease over the next five years.

“Locking in our state’s funding will protect South Dakota’s share of federal transportation dollars,” Thune said. “I’m proud to have fought hard to protect South Dakota’s funding level.”

Thune’s $150 million in earmarks is in addition to the $75 million secured by Senator Tim Johnson and the $25 million from Representative Stephanie Herseth. The delegation worked together to fund many of the state’s funding priorities.

Specific projects funded by Senator Thune include:

• $48.5m for the Heartland Expressway in Rapid City. Funding will be used to continue construction of a four-lane expressway connecting Denver and Rapid City.


• $20 million Phillips to the Falls phase II – III, Sioux Falls


• $15 million to rehabilitate Chamberlain bridge over the Missouri River


• $6.127 million East Anamosa St. extension to East North and Lacrosse St., Rapid City


• $6 million to reconstruct and pave Rosebud Community Streets


• $3.23 million directed to SD DoT for projects it determines to be of high priority


• $3 million to reconstruct I-90 loop in Mitchell (Burr to Sanborn)


• $2.5 million for bike paths and pedestrian walkways in Yankton, Pierre, Huron, Watertown, and Madison.


• $2.472 million to resurface U.S. 12 from McLaughlin east 14.2 miles in Standing Rock Reservation


• $2 million to reconstruct U.S. 14 to U.S. 83 junction, Pierre East


• $2 million Rapid City Greenway pedestrian and bike path expansion


• $1 million Aberdeen bike trail extension


• $1 million Winter Maintenance Decision Support System -- SD DoT


• $1 million road construction activities, Turner County


• $1 million pavement restoration U.S. 12 - 2.1 miles from west of Penn St. to east of Melgaard Road in Aberdeen


• $600,000 for asphalt overlay extending Lewis & Clark Highway 1804, Charles Mix Co.


• $862,000 to construct SD 1806 from U.S. 83 East -- 15.6 miles toward Lower Brule


• $300,000 to construct riverfront walking trail between 4th Ave. and Main Street, Mobridge


• $200,000 to construct Wagner Community Streets, Yankton Reservation


• $200,000 to construct Marty Community Streets, Yankton Reservation


• $100,000 for bike path improvements in Brookings


• $1.17 million for bike paths in Sioux Falls, Dunham Park/Skunk Creek/12th St. and I-29 to Sertoma park


• Total: $96.2 million (Total Thune projects = $150 million)

“We appreciate Senator Thune’s efforts and dedication in developing a highway reauthorization bill that provides record funding for South Dakota over the next five years,” said Leon Schochenmaier with the South Dakota Department of Transportation. “Senator Thune’s leadership has been instrumental in securing a substantial increase in formula funding for South Dakota. In fact, Senator Thune’s efforts as a member of the EPW Committee ensure that our state’s overall share of highway funding is locked-in over the coming years. Basically this means that South Dakota will continue to receive a 2-1 rate of return for every dollar of motor fuel tax that’s collected.”

As a member of the Environment and Public Works Committee and the Transportation Conference Committee, Thune played a critical role in crafting the multi-year reauthorization bill concerning the nation’s surface transportation program.

The previous transportation bill expired in September 2003 and has languished in both the House and Senate since then. The legislation reported out of the conference committee would re-authorize the nation’s surface transportation program over the next 5 years (2005-2009).

This bill, the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and Efficient Transportation Equity Act of 2005 (SAFE-TEA) is a five-year re-authorization bill covering America’s transportation, transit, and road safety network. At $286.4 billion, it is paid for through transportation user fees.

Additionally, Senator Thune Championed:

• $8.3 million for ethanol research and the development of biobased energy technologies at South Dakota State University.


• $1.5 million for research concerning asphalt recycling for SDSM&T

Projects Funded Jointly by Senator Thune and Senator Johnson

• $40 million for construction of Phillips-to-the-Falls for Phases II and III


• $27 million for Heartland Expressway


• $9 million to reconstruct South Rochford Road from Rochford to Deerfield Road.


• $8 million to construct Rush Lake Crossing U.S. 12 near Webster


• $6 million for reconstruction and paving of BIA Route 27, Wounded Knee-Procupine Butte


• $3.6 million to construct Phase I -- South Connector Broadway to 29th Street, Watertown


• $3 million to reconstruct SD-50 Cherry Street in Vermillion


• $3 million to reconstruction of U.S. 14 -- Medary Avenue to 22nd Ave., Brookings


• $2.5 million to construct the intersection of State Highway 212 and U.S. 81, Watertown


• $2 million to purchase critical conservation easements along the Heartland Expressway (Highway 79) adjacent to Custer State Park and Wind Cave National Park.


• $2 million for reconstruction and paving of streets on the Flandreau Indian Reservation


• $1.5 million extension of Main Street and replacement of rail crossing, Mobridge


• Total: $107.6 million ($53.8 million by both Sen. Thune & Sen. Johnson)

View PDF's of Transportation Funding Charts: Delegation | Earmark Map | Earmark Map Locations