WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Lynn Woolsey, (D-Petaluma) today, testified before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to request $181 million to improve transportation in the North Bay. Rep. Woolsey continues to work with federal, state and local agencies to develop a regional solution to North Bay traffic congestion that includes Marin-Sonoma (Novato) Narrows, light-rail, bicycle, pedestrian routes and ensuring the structural integrity of the Golden Gate Bridge.

“Whether running an errand, taking a child to school, or commuting to work, a typical day for my constituents involves several trips on Highway 101,” said Rep. Woolsey. “Having a single north-south thoroughfare certainly creates a number of challenges, but also a unique opportunity: resources directed towards improving the condition of Highway 101 and its feeder services—either connecting roads or public transit options—will benefit each and every person who lives in or visits the area.”

“The Marin-Sonoma (Novato) Narrows portion of Highway 101 is my highway priority for TEA-21,” said Rep. Woolsey. This “seventeen-mile stretch of road is not built to freeway standards and creates air pollution and smog as cars sit idle on Highway 101. State and local officials have already secured $50.8 million and I will work to match these funds by requesting $60 million to support this project.”

“But road expansion is not the only answer,” said Rep. Woolsey. “It is critical to reduce the number of cars on the roads and promote environmentally friendly transportation alternatives.” To alleviate road congestion and improve air quality, Woolsey requested $8 million for a Marin-Sonoma (Novato) Narrows Bicycle and Pedestrian facility so that people who would prefer to walk or bike through the Narrows can do so safely.

“Rail is another key element in our multi-modal approach to relieve congestion on Highway 101,” said Rep. Woolsey. “The Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) project is a 75-mile commuter rail corridor serving North Bay residents from Cloverdale to San Rafael. Running parallel to Highway 101, SMART is projected to carry approximately 5,000 riders per day. Reducing the number of car trips on Highway 101 by 5,000 passengers each day will do a great deal to alleviate highway congestion and that is why I request that SMART be considered eligible for New Starts funding for future construction.

Also, Rep. Woolsey joins Reps Nancy Pelosi in requesting $113 million to continue the seismic retrofit work on the Golden Gate Bridge. “The seismic retrofit project will help protect the bridge from a potentially devastating earthquake. That is why we have secured $33 million over the past 5 years to get the job closer to completion,” said Rep. Woolsey, “and, we can’t forget that the Golden Gate Bridge continues to be a terrorist target, making reinforcement of its support structure more important than ever.”

Rep. Woolsey’s request of $190 million in the TEA-21 reauthorization is in addition to the $35.3 she requested last week from the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation and Treasury. Rep. Woolsey has secured over $100 million to improve transportation in California’s 6th District.