Dr. Ruiz, Senators Feinstein and Boxer, Southern California Regional Members Call For Emergency Funding to Repair I-10 Bridge

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Dr. Raul Ruiz (D-Palm Desert), joined by Senators Feinstein, Boxer, and 17 of his colleagues in the House of Representatives, sent a letter to Department of Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx in support of emergency funding to repair the Interstate 10 bridge that collapsed in Desert Center.

The lawmakers wrote, "This critical funding will provide Caltrans with the resources necessary to repair transportation infrastructure damaged this past weekend in the counties of Imperial, Kern, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, and San Diego…We express our strong support for access to the funds and expertise necessary to repair and rebuild the collapsed Tex Wash Bridge and other emergency repair projects necessitated by this severe weather event."

Joining Dr. Ruiz on the letter are Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer, and Representatives Pete Aguilar (CA-31), Xavier Becerra (CA-34), Lois Capps (CA-24), Tony Cárdenas (CA-29), Judy Chu (CA-27), Jim Costa (CA-16), Susan Davis (CA-53), Sam Farr (CA-20), Ted Lieu (CA-33), Alan Lowenthal (CA-47), Grace Napolitano (CA-32), Scott Peters (CA-52), Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-40), Linda Sánchez (CA-38), Mark Takano (CA- 41), Norma Torres (CA-35), and Juan Vargas (CA-51).

The full text of the letter is below:

Dear Secretary Foxx:

We write in strong support of Governor Brown's request for federal Emergency Relief Funds for the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) through the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). This critical funding will provide Caltrans with the resources necessary to repair transportation infrastructure damaged this past weekend in the counties of Imperial, Kern, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, and San Diego.

On July 19, a record-breaking storm swept through Southern California causing severe flash floods that, most notably, collapsed the Tex Wash Bridge along Interstate 10. The eastbound bridge collapsed, injuring one motorist and necessitating rescue, and the westbound bridge was severely damaged.

Interstate 10 is a vital artery that connects the Southwest region of the United States to the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles. On average, 27,000 vehicles per day pass between the City of Coachella and the California state border with Arizona. Forty percent of this traffic is freight vehicles carrying goods vital to U.S. commerce and our regional economy. The costs associated with this bridge collapse will be counted not only in terms of hours added to commutes, but also on the costs to residents employed along the affected areas and local municipalities who are dealing with changed traffic flows.

We must exhaust every possible option to repair the Tex Wash Bridge and reopen Interstate 10 in both directions, which is vital to the California and regional economies, as well as the jobs and livelihood of thousands of workers adversely affected by this incident.

The damage to Southern California's transportation infrastructure as a result of this storm was significant, and we must work to immediately remediate the damaged roadways and bridges. It is for these reasons that we express our strong support for access to the funds and expertise necessary to repair and rebuild the collapsed Tex Wash Bridge and other emergency repair projects necessitated by this severe weather event.

Sincerely,

Raul Ruiz, M.D.

Dianne Feinstein

Barbara Boxer

Pete Aguilar

Xavier Becerra

Lois Capps

Tony Cárdenas

Judy Chu

Jim Costa

Susan Davis

Sam Farr

Ted Lieu

Alan Lowenthal

Grace Napolitano

Scott Peters

Lucille Roybal-Allard

Linda Sánchez

Mark Takano

Norma Torres

Juan Vargas

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