Senator Boxer: New Investment for Port Cities   

Friday, February 26, 2010  

Dear Friend:

I am pleased to let you know about the announcement of a major federal investment in a much-needed project for the ports of Stockton, Oakland and West Sacramento. Aimed at making shipping more efficient, this project will create a marine highway system as an alternate to shipping freight by truck.

The Department of Transportation recently announced $30 million in funding to create a “marine superhighway” to relieve congestion on roads, reduce air pollution, and move goods more effectively. In particular, the Ports of Oakland, Stockton and West Sacramento will establish the marine highway barge system to move freight between the three ports.

This critical investment will create jobs at our ports while reducing air pollution and congestion on our roads. When I visited the Port of Oakland with Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood last year, I urged him to support California’s efforts to move more freight through our network of ports. I applaud Secretary LaHood for following through with this commitment.

I am very pleased that this critical investment from the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) Grant program will create jobs at our ports while reducing air pollution and congestion on our roads.

Sincerely,