Who Should Pay For The Bay Bridge?

As construction costs increase to $5 billion to rebuild the quake-damaged Bay Bridge, should all of California chip in?

August 12, 2004, 9am PDT | Chris Steins | @urbaninsight

"Some Southern California legislators are demanding that Bay Area residents should cover the added costs through a toll increase on the bridge, which was damaged in the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake."

"...But Bay Area officials balk at that proposal, saying the entire state should share the pain. 'It's outrageous,' said Sen. Liz Figueroa (D-Fremont). 'When our economy in Northern California does well, everybody wants to say it fuels the entire state. When it's negative news, it's suddenly a local issue.'... 'It is always a north-south issue, especially when we're talking about money,' Figueroa complained. 'We need to look at how this affects the entire state.' "

Thanks to Chris Steins

Full Story:

Cost of Bay Bridge Project Becomes Regional Battle

Published on Thursday, August 12, 2004 in The Los Angeles Times