MAYOR SEEKS U.S. SUPPORT FOR 'SUBWAY TO SEA' VISION.Byline: RICK ORLOV Staff Writer Appealing to the Bush administration for more mass-transit money, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Antonio Ramon Villaraigosa (born Antonio (Tony) Ramon Villar, Jr. on January 23, 1953) is the mayor of Los Angeles, California. He is the first Latino mayor of Los Angeles since Cristobal Aguilar in 1872. on Tuesday urged Transportation Secretary Mary Peters Mary Peters could refer to either:
"This is the busiest traffic corridor in the nation," Villaraigosa told Peters at a news conference at the Metro Red Line's Western Avenue terminus Terminus (tûr`mĭnəs), in ancient Rome, both the boundary markers between properties and the name of the god who watched over boundaries. . "Where we are is an illogical stop in the Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. subway. If we are serious about dealing with our transportation problems, we have to look at this subway." Villaraigosa acknowledged, however, that the U.S. Senate first must act to allow tunneling under Wilshire Boulevard Wilshire Boulevard is one of the principal east-west arterial roads in Los Angeles, California, United States. It was named for H. Gaylord Wilshire (1861-1927), an Ohio native who made and lost fortunes in real estate, farming, and gold mining. for what would be at least a $7 billion project to extend the Red Line to Santa Monica Santa Monica (săn`tə mŏn`ĭkə), city (1990 pop. 86,905), Los Angeles co., S Calif., on Santa Monica Bay; inc. 1886. Tourism and retailing are important, and the city has motion-picture, biotechnology, and software industries. . "If this is built, I guarantee it will be the most-used transit system in the nation," Villaraigosa said. Peters sympathized with Villaraigosa's appeal and said the Bush administration has already allocated $500 million for various programs, including $80 million this year. "The mayor and his team understands what needs to be done to use cutting-edge technology ... to get more out of existing roads," Peters said. While no commitments on future programs could be made, she said the proposed subway extension is one of several ideas that could win federal support. Villaraigosa and local officials are scheduled to make at least one trip to Washington, D.C., next month to lobby for funds for transportation and other issues. rick.orlov(at)dailynews.com (213) 978-0390 |
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