Perry to Discuss Transportation Budget Plans

Gov. Rick Perry is ready to talk traffic after Senate Republicans unveiled a new $3.5 billion plan for crumbling and congested Texas highways.

Perry is scheduled to deliver the keynote address Friday at an Austin transportation summit. The event comes a day after the Senate Finance Committee approved taking $6 billion from the state's Rainy Day Fund for infrastructure projects.

More than half of that money would go toward building and repairing new roads.

Perry has thrown support behind using the Rainy Day Fund for transportation and water projects this session. But his vision called for spending far less than what Senate Republicans are proposing.

The Texas Department of Transportation has said it needs an extra $4 billion annually to keep up with maintenance and a booming population.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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