U.S. Congressmen Henry Cuellar, Ciro D. Rodriguez, Charles Gonzalez and Lamar Smith today announced $3.028 million in appropriations funding for the San Antonio River Improvements Project. The money will fund the on-going river channel improvements on the Mission Reach portion of the river on the city’s South Side.

“This funding puts San Antonio one step closer to seeing this project through,” said Congressman Cuellar. “Restoring this eight mile stretch will increase economic opportunities for the city and improve our local neighborhoods. This shows how federal dollars can have an immediate local impact, especially during these tough economic times.”

The appropriations funding is part of the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010, which passed the House Thursday by a vote of 308-114.

Tom Weaver, Board Chairman for the San Antonio River Authority, which is the lead administrator of the project, expressed appreciation for the Bexar County delegation’s work.

“We are extremely pleased and grateful for the work our federal delegation has done to secure this funding for the Mission Reach Project which is so important to the San Antonio community,” Weaver said.

“Our delegation has continued to make funding the San Antonio River Improvements Project one of our priorities and I am pleased this funding is now secured,” said Congressman Rodriguez, who sits on the House Appropriations Committee.  “This project is a boon for our community, both economically and culturally, and I look forward to working with local officials to keep bringing federal resources home to Bexar County.”

Congressman Lamar Smith added: “The River, the Missions, the River Walk and the people are at the very heart of what makes San Antonio the vibrant community that it is. This funding will help to extend and perpetuate that vibrancy by opening the way for further economic and cultural development of these unique assets.”

“The San Antonio River Improvements Project has been a top priority of the city and county as well as that of my office,” said Congressman Gonzalez. “I am very pleased that these critical dollars will assist in meeting the needs of San Antonio and Bexar County and will directly result in much-needed enhancements to the San Antonio River that will continue to make the city a top tourist, business, and cultural destination. I look forward to supporting this effort further with my colleagues in Washington, D.C.”

The San Antonio River Improvements Project is an on-going comprehensive project aimed to restore and improve a 13-mile stretch of the river. The eight-mile Mission Reach project extends from South Alamo Street to Mission Espada just below Loop 140 and will transform the straightened river to replicate its original shape of flow. This restoration is aimed to increase local economic development by attracting commercial and real estate development to the southern part of the city.

In Fiscal Year 2008, $10 million was secured for the River Channel Improvements Project and again in FY09. Earlier this year, the project received $25.4 million in “stimulus” funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).  

For more information on the San Antonio River Improvements Project, please visit: http://www.sanantonioriver.org/overview.html

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