Skip to Content
Streetsblog USA home
Streetsblog USA home
Log In
Barbara Boxer

Sen. Boxer Spoiling For a “Fight” Over Transportation Enhancements

Sen. Barbara Boxer, chair of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee and lead champion for the transportation bill, just spoke on the Senate floor. I didn't catch all of it, but I tuned in when she was upbraiding her Republican colleagues (read: Sen. Tom Coburn) for holding up the transportation bill.

"Where was your outrage when we were building roads and bridges in Iraq and Afghanistan?" she demanded.

She challenged Republicans to debate her and explain themselves. "They may defend why they allowed projects to go through abroad but not here," she said. "They may say why they want to cut safety programs from the highway bill that will save lives."

Then she launched into a defense of Transportation Enhancements.

That Transportation Enhancements program that they want to do away with was a bipartisan idea that came from Republican John Chafee and Democrat Daniel Patrick Moynihan in 1991... Twenty years, we've had that program! Can we look at it, can we reform it, can we make it work better? Of course! But one of our Republican friends said, "Just cut it and you don't even need a vote; just take it without a vote."

No. If we’re going to vote on that, we’re going to fight about it and have a vote. But let’s have a vote!

She also expressed her outrage that a bipartisan extension bill, sent over from the House, can't get to a vote in the Senate. Indeed, it's looking like the Senate will miss tomorrow's deadline for an FAA extension, which is now rolled together with the surface transportation extension.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog USA

Friday Video: Are We All Living in a ‘Carspiracy’?

How does "car-brain" shape the way we think about the world — even in relatively bike-friendly countries like the U.K.?

July 26, 2024

Friday’s Headlines Share and Share Alike

Bikeshares, and e-bikes and scooters generally, are becoming more popular. That's led to more injuries, highlighting the need for better infrastructure.

July 26, 2024

What the Heck is Going on With the California E-Bike Incentive Program?

The program's launch has been delayed for two years, and currently "there is no specific timeline" for it. Plus the administrator, Pedal Ahead, is getting dragged, but details are vague.

July 26, 2024

Talking Headways Podcast: Have Cities Run Out of Land?

Chris Redfearn of USC and Anthony Orlando of Cal Poly Pomona on why "pro-business" Texas housing markets are catching up to "pro-regulation" California and what it might mean for future city growth.

July 25, 2024

The Paris Plan for Olympic Traffic? Build More Bike Lanes

A push to make Paris fully bikable for the Olympics is already paying dividends long before the opening ceremonies.

July 25, 2024
See all posts