Branstad supports finishing four-lane U.S. 20 link in western Iowa

DES MOINES -- Gov. Terry Branstad said Monday he is supportive of a state senator's call for making U.S. 20 a four-lane highway across Iowa, but he noted that funding issues first must be decided that could help make that a reality.

Sen. Rick Bertrand, R-Sioux City, wrote an open letter that got published in Iowa newspapers calling for using state surplus dollars to complete the last stretch of U.S. Highway 20 expansion that would make the roadway a four-lane, divided expressway in Iowa.

In his letter, Bertrand proposed investing $90 million a year for four years to finish the four-lane link from Moville to Sac City “No budget adjustments; no revenue burden,” Bertrand said in proposing to use the state's “over-taxation” surplus to complete the project with a “one-time funding investment.”

During his weekly news conference, Branstad told reporters “I like the idea of finishing Highway 20 as quickly as we can. I've been very supportive of that.”

Branstad said having a four-lane link across northern Iowa “makes sense” and would relieve the transportation pressure on Interstate 80.

However, he was non-committal on Bertrand's proposed funding source, saying he has asked Paul Trombino, director of the state Department of Transportation, to assemble a series of options to generate additional money into the state's constitutionally protected road use tax fund that legislators could consider next session.

“We do intend to have significant initiatives dealing with infrastructure – transportation and vertical,” Branstad said. The governor currently has not endorsed any of the DOT proposals but has indicated he favors having users pay for upgrades to the transportation network.

In February 2012, Bertrand issued a statement blasting his fellow GOP legislators for their support of proposals that would increase the state's gas tax by up to 10 cents a gallon over three years.

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