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Rep Anna Eshoo

Reps. Eshoo, Panetta Secure Extension for Emergency Repair Funding for Santa Cruz County from the Federal Highway Administration

January 10, 2020

WASHINGTON, D.C.— Congresswoman Anna G. Eshoo (CA-18) and Congressman Jimmy Panetta (CA-20) today announced that they secured extensions to fund U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) emergency repair projects in Santa Cruz County.

After storms in 2016 and 2017, the FHWA granted emergency relief funds to address road damages. These funds provide local and state governments the ability to rebuild critical transportation infrastructure and ensure the safety of our residents. Funds must be spent by state and local governments within a two-year window but similar projects have often been granted multiple one-year extensions due to the complex nature of reconstruction projects in California. The California Department of Transportation routinely requests and is granted extensions to use emergency relief funds. Last year, the FHWA rejected multiple extension requests to California projects.

"The winter storms in 2016 caused over $120 million in damage in Santa Cruz County at over 200 sites—more than any other county in the state," Congresswoman Eshoo said. "I'm relieved and pleased that the Federal Highway Administration recognized that funding extensions are essential to repairing roads damaged by the storms. My thanks to Congressman Panetta for his partnership in securing this critical funding."

"I am proud that Congresswoman Eshoo and I were successful in our advocacy to ensure that our local repair projects can be properly funded and completed," said Congressman Panetta. "These funds provide local and state governments the ability to rebuild critical transportation infrastructure and ensure the safety of our residents."

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