STATE TO JOIN IN FEDERAL ROADS PLAN.Byline: Teresa S.J. Lee Associated Press Associated Press: see news agency. Associated Press (AP) Cooperative news agency, the oldest and largest in the U.S. and long the largest in the world. California will be one of 10 states to participate in a federal pilot program to help finance the state's transportation projects, Secretary Federico Pena announced Friday. The State Infrastructure Bank will allow states to use federal highway grants to attract loans from private companies. The bank will help California finance the projects by offering loans or lines of credit. ``By giving new flexibility to California local officials, I am hopeful that needed projects, which would otherwise be delayed or not possible, can now move forward,'' Pena said in a news conference. Although the total amount of federal funding to the state would not increase from its current $2.1 billion, the plan would give officials more leverage to manipulate these funds, Pena said. The program will help the state improve roads and highways List of articles related to roads and highways around the world. International/World
``There has been much negativity surrounding sur·round tr.v. sur·round·ed, sur·round·ing, sur·rounds 1. To extend on all sides of simultaneously; encircle. 2. To enclose or confine on all sides so as to bar escape or outside communication. n. the border, but the positive side is that it increases trade and jobs,'' said California Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer Barbara Levy Boxer (born November 11, 1940) is an American politician and the current junior U.S. Senator from the State of California. A member of the Democratic Party, Boxer was first elected to the U.S. , who attended the news conference. In response to public concern over the safety of Mexican trucks that would eventually be allowed to travel in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. under the North American Free Trade Agreement North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), accord establishing a free-trade zone in North America; it was signed in 1992 by Canada, Mexico, and the United States and took effect on Jan. 1, 1994. , Pena said he is still negotiating with the Mexican government. ``We need more commitment from Mexico and all parties to make sure their trucks have the same standards we do,'' he said. ``We haven't reached any agreement yet.'' |
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