Congressman
Elton Gallegly
Serving the 24th District of California

http://www.house.gov/gallegly/press2006.htm

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 14, 2006

 Contact: Tom Pfeifer
(202) 225-5811

Gallegly-Requested Funding for Rail Crossings Passed by House

WASHINGTON, DC—The House of Representatives today approved a request by Congressman Elton Gallegly (R-Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties) for $500,000 to install active warning devices at up to five rural crossings along Metrolink’s Ventura County line.

The funding was included in the Departments of Transportation, Treasury, and Housing and Urban Development, the Judiciary, District of Columbia, and Independent Agencies appropriations bill, which passed the House today on a 406-22 vote.

The rural crossings experience heavy train and farm vehicle traffic. Eighteen Metrolink trains, eight Amtrak trains and six freight trains pass through the area every day. Thirty to 250 farm vehicles cross the tracks daily, depending on the agricultural cycle.

There have been several accidents at the crossings, some of which have been fatal.

Gallegly secured another $500,000 for the project two years ago.

In addition to the Ventura County funding, the appropriations bill provides for:

• $900 million for Amtrak, which includes significant financial and management reforms;
• $15.2 billion for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA);
• $35.3 billion for the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD);
• $27 million for the Office of National Drug Control Policy;
• $39.1 billion for highways; and,
• $6.1 billion for the federal judiciary.

The bill now goes to the Senate for its consideration.