April 23, 2021 By Waterways Journal
Since the end of a decade-long drought in 2010, commerce on the Missouri River has been expanding and is set to expand further, bringing welcome shipping options to the region’s farmers and ag producers. The ports of Kansas City and Omaha are reviving and developing. The newly built $11 million grain barge facility at Mile 680.5 near Blencoe, Iowa, is set to have a formal opening in June. Efforts are underway to develop a new port near Jefferson City, Mo.
On April 20, a bipartisan group of 18 members of Congress from both houses, representing states and regions adjoining the Missouri River, wrote a letter to top Corps of Engineers officials. The occasion of the letter is that the Corps is currently developing guidelines for implementing provisions of the Water Resources Development Act of 2020 (WRDA) relating to the river.
InMaricopa
Construction at APEX Motor Club off State Route 238 at Ralston Road. Photo by Bob McGovern
The city has proposed construction of a major water line originating south of town and traveling west around the Ak-Chin Indian Community and north to State Route 238.
Much of the project would be outside of city limits, but within the Maricopa Planning Area. The water line would cross SR238 into the city near Ralston Road to provide water at the APEX Motor Club. Ralston Road runs uninterrupted from SR238 to south of Ak-Chin.
The project could spur significant development in unincorporated Pinal County west of the city.
Note
: Congress recently voted on a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 stimulus package the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA, P.L.117-2). It includes stimulus checks for individuals, expanded unemployment benefits, and funding for vaccines, state and local governments, schools and child care. The ARPA marks a huge win for the Biden administration during its first 50 days in office.
Before the ink is dry, the administration has already pivoted to the second phase of the Biden agenda: Build Back Better. While ARPA was largely a relief bill, the next phase will be about rebuilding the economy, starting with a
mult
itrillion-dollar
plan that includes infrastructure, green energy and incentives to bolster domestic manufacturing. It will also build upon the individual relief provided in the first bill and seek to make those provisions permanent and will likely be paid for by corporate tax rate increases, a repeal of oil and gas tax breaks and increases in taxes on the wealthy.
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