LaMalfa and Garamendi Host Transportation Summit on State Route 70
(Washington, DC) – Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) issued the following statement after hosting a transportation summit with Congressman John Garamendi, the Butte County Association of Governments (BCAG), CalTrans, and other local officials. The purpose of the summit was to discuss the significant safety concerns associated with State Route 70, and what the local and federal governments are doing to address the issue.
LaMalfa said: "As our population and economy in the North State have grown over the years, much of our infrastructure hasn't kept up. State Route 70 is a vital regional artery that supports agriculture, tourism, and daily commuting – but residents are all too familiar with the safety risks associated with it. Fatal accidents have doubled over the past decade and the highway clearly can't handle a large-scale emergency evacuation like we saw in February. Fortunately, our region is well-positioned to leverage local, state, and federal dollars to expand areas of the highway from two lanes to four lanes. Our project will also compete for federal funds under the President's new Infrastructure for Rebuilding America grant program. We all recognize this as a top priority, and the bipartisan cooperation and cross-jurisdictional planning are encouraging signs that we will be able to seize this opportunity and secure the necessary funds to improve safety on one of our most important highways."
Congressman Doug LaMalfa is a lifelong farmer representing California's First Congressional District, including Butte, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou and Tehama Counties.