October 11, 2019

Manchin Applauds DOT Rural Transportation Initiative

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) today applauded U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Elaine Chao’s announcement of the new Rural Opportunities to Use Transportation for Economic Success (ROUTES) initiative to support the transportation needs of rural communities like those in West Virginia and across the United States.

The ROUTES Initiative will help DOT better assess the needs and benefits of rural transportation infrastructure projects by collecting input from rural stakeholders and assisting rural communities in understanding how to access DOT grants and financing projects.

“Since 2017, I have advocated as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee for the DOT to provide equal funding between rural and urban areas and to create an office or position that would focus on the needs of rural communities and states. I thank Secretary Chao for listening to these calls and applaud the DOT ROUTES Initiative. This initiative addresses the transportation challenges we face in West Virginia and other rural states, and will create more economic development for our state. I look forward to working with Secretary Chao in the future to continue working on programs that benefit West Virginia,” said Senator Manchin.