Millions In Funds Sent To Bay Area For Transportation Improvements
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) – The Obama administration is sending millions of dollars to the Bay Area to help pay for transportation improvements.
In the latest round of the so-called TIGER grants from the federal government, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said Oakland will get $15 million and San Francisco $10 million, beating out hundreds of other cities who wanted the money for their projects.
KCBS' Doug Sovern Reports:
"Our transportation infrastructure is crumbling. The only place we see more gridlock then on our highways is in Congress," said LaHood.
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi came to UCSF Mission Bay on Friday, where the federal money will pay for pedestrian and bicycle facilities and other improvements to help develop the Third Street transit corridor.
She said the Bay Area got the money on merits, not just because of her considerable clout.
"People look at this and say, you get everything. And I say, you know, they're connected," Pelosi said. "We proved that we were deserving and now it opens another possibility."
Oakland is getting $15 million to build new railroad tracks and a new rail yard at the Port of Oakland.
In all, 47 projects nationwide are splitting half a billion dollars.
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