Sen. Boxer Touts Federal Transportation Bill In Bay Area
OAKLAND (KCBS) – California Senator Barbara Boxer is making the rounds, trying to garner more support for her federal transportation bill, including a stop on Wednesday at the Caldecott Tunnel.
The current Transportation Trust Fund expires at the end of September and with it, the 18 cent gas tax.
Boxer said without her legislation, California would lose $1.7 billion in funding and 61,000 jobs.
"We have to act to reauthorize the gas tax. No one is suggesting raising it, at least not in the Congress I know," said Boxer. "We have to extend it and keep that Highway Trust Fund robust."
KCBS' Bob Butler Reports:
Senator Boxer said her bill would maintain the current levels for two years.
In the Bay Area, a pair of big projects, construction on the Bay Bridge and work on the fourth bore of the Caldecott Tunnel, would not be affected.
But projects that need federal funds would face an uncertain future.
House Republicans are backing a different bill that would cut funding for highway and mass transit programs by more than 30 percent.
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