Las Vegas – The Las Vegas Metro Chamber of Commerce commends President Donald Trump’s call for new investment in infrastructure in his State of the Union Address tonight, and is urging the President and Congress to make Interstate 11 a top priority.
In his speech, President Trump called for “both parties to come together to give us the safe, fast, reliable, and modern infrastructure our economy needs and our people deserve.” The President stated that at least $1.5 trillion dollars should be part of the package, and that federal funds be leveraged with state and local dollars, as well as with private sector partnerships. Additionally, the President urged, along with the funding, the permitting processes for the construction of new roads be streamlined and expedited to no more than two years.
“The Las Vegas Metro Chamber of Commerce applauds President Donald Trump’s call for new federal investment in infrastructure in the United States, and we urge the President and Congress to include funding for Interstate 11, linking Las Vegas and Phoenix, as a top priority. Connecting two of the country’s most dynamic economies will have significant positive benefits to the entire Intermountain West, including a potential $24 billion economic benefit that would generate approximately 240,000 jobs, as well as $39 billion in potential travel benefits,” said Mary Beth Sewald, president and CEO of the Las Vegas Metro Chamber of Commerce.
The Metro Chamber, the largest business association in Nevada, has been a long-time vocal proponent for Interstate 11 between Las Vegas and Phoenix, the only two metropolitan cities in the U.S. that are not connected by an interstate. The Metro Chamber played an instrumental role in helping secure the passage of the Congressional designation of the road, and it has been a strong advocate for the funding to build it, including the connection between Las Vegas and the Arizona border. The Metro Chamber is part of the multi-state I-11 stakeholder group, and convenes the Congressional I-11 Caucus each year during its annual trip to Washington, D.C.
