[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 130 (Thursday, September 19, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1650]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 
                                  1997

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                             HON. VIC FAZIO

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 18, 1996

  Mr. FAZIO of California. Mr. Speaker, due to an illness I was unable 
to vote for the fiscal year 1997 Transportation appropriations 
conference report. Nevertheless, I would like to let the Record reflect 
that had I been present, I would have voted in favor of H.R. 3675.
  I would like to thank the Chairman, Mr. Wolf for shepherding this 
bill through the Appropriations Committee with little or no 
controversy. I would also like to take this opportunity to say that it 
has been an honor and a privilege to serve with Ron Coleman, who is 
leaving this body at the end of this Congress. Ron epitomizes the best 
characteristics of public service and his leadership will be missed by 
us all.
  Chairman Wolf and ranking member Coleman have done a good job at 
balancing the diverse transportation needs of this country. I am 
particularly pleased that the committee has recognized the need to 
upgrade airline safety by funding additional positions at the FAA.
  I am also pleased that the committee has included two projects that 
are very important to the transportation needs of my district.


                      bus acquisition--yolo county

  Last year the Yolo County Transit Authority [YCTA] was able to 
replace six of its aging and heavily polluting diesel-fueled buses with 
fully equipped compressed natural gas buses. Because the six buses 
approved by the committee last year constituted a little less than half 
of the county's total request, I am pleased that the committee has 
supported by request to fund the remaining buses. Under this purchase, 
the count will be responsible for 20 percent of the cost of the total 
bus purchase.
  Yolo County is part of the Sacramento nonattainment air basin and 
would face serious sanctions if aggressive efforts are not taken to 
reduce emissions. Compressed natural gas buses have made a significant 
impact on the air quality in Yolo County. YCTA already operates 4 
compressed natural gas buses and has seen its emissions reduced by over 
50,000 pounds due to the operation of these buses.


                   bus acquisition--city of fairfield

  I am pleased that the conference committee agreed to fund the 
purchase of seven new commuter buses for the city of Fairfield. While 
Fairfield is no longer in my district, it is adjacent to the Third 
Congressional District and more importantly, the new buses will serve 
constituents in my district.

  The purpose of this bus acquisition is to provide for a commuter 
service along the I-80/680 corridors between northern Solano County--
Fairfield/Suisun/Vacaville--and the Pleasant Hill BART in central 
Contra Costa County. The new commuter service is intended to reduce the 
level of congestion on I-80 and I-680, to improve local and regional 
multimodal connectivity, to improve the region's air quality, and to 
provide a mass transit alternative for commuters and large employers.


                          south-line extension

  Also included in this legislation is $6 million for final design of 
an extension of Sacramento's light rail system. Although the amount is 
less than the Senate's mark of $7 million, I do think that $6 million 
puts us on the right track. The extension will run southward from the 
existing rail hub in the downtown business district toward two 
community colleges, two hospitals, several major employment centers and 
redeveloping areas, and many of the region's most disadvantaged 
neighborhoods. These areas comprise the most transit-dependent sections 
of Sacramento, where no light rail service is available today.
  In closing, Mr. Speaker, I want to express my thanks to the 
conference committee for their fine work and urge my colleagues to 
support this bill.

                          ____________________