Woolsey secures funds in U.S. House Transportation Committee for the Novato Narrows, CNG Buses and Pedestrian routes

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Lynn Woolsey (Petaluma) today secured $16 million for a regional solution to North Bay traffic congestion that includes $15 million for the Novato Narrows, $500,000 for natural gas buses and $500,000 for bicycle and pedestrian routes. These funds were approved in the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s version of the six year federal surface transportation reauthorization, the “Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users” (TEA-LU). This allotment is an additional $2 million for the North Bay than what the U.S. House approved in the last Congress. TEA-LU was reintroduced in the 109th Congress because a final agreement of the legislation between Republican Congressional leadership and the White House was never reached before the 108th Congress adjourned.

“The expansion of the Novato Narrows has been a top Highway 101 priority for both Marin and Sonoma Counties,” said Rep. Woolsey. “Everyone who lives or visits the North Bay will benefit from improving this vital transportation corridor.”

“But, the answer to reducing congestion doesn’t stop at road expansion,” continued Woolsey. “We must also reduce the number of cars on the roads by promoting environmentally friendly transportation alternatives.” To alleviate road congestion and improve air quality, Rep. Woolsey secured $500,000 for a Marin-Sonoma (Novato) Narrows Bicycle and Pedestrian facility to provide a safe option for walking or biking the Narrows. She also secured $500,000 to help Sonoma County continue to transition its bus fleet to clean-air, Compressed Natural Gas (CNG).

Rep. Woolsey worked closely with Transportation and Infrastructure Ranking Member Jim Oberstar (MN) and Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (San Francisco) to reiterate the importance of the Golden Gate Bridge as a major traffic corridor and valued national landmark. To ensure that the Golden Gate Bridge received special consideration separate from personal Members’ allotments, $60 million was set aside in bridge discretionary funds for the seismic retrofit of the Golden Gate Bridge.

Rep. Woolsey will continue to work with her Bay Area colleagues to secure annual appropriations to complete the retrofit, and will work with Leader Pelosi (San Francisco) to secure an additional $10 million for the Golden Gate Seismic Retrofit project.

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee version of TEA-LU, that includes the $16 million secured by Rep. Woolsey, is expected to go to the U.S. House floor next week. Rep. Woolsey has brought home over $100 million in the past six years to improve transportation in California’s 6th Congressional District.

TEA-LU reauthorizes the federal highway, public transportation, highway safety, and motor carrier safety programs for six years, from fiscal years 2004 through 2009. The legislation provides a total of $283.9 billion in funding - a 42%increase over the previous federal transportation bill “TEA-21” (1998-2003).