Money for road and bridge projects will be on the agenda for the House Transportation Committee as it hits the road discussing legislation raising gasoline and diesel taxes this month.

Rep. Pam Byrnes (D-Chelsea), chair of the committee and one of the lead sponsors of the package, said Monday she wants the committee to travel the state and have the Department of Transportation discuss what projects are slated for elimination due to lack of state funding.

The legislation would raise the gas tax from 19 cents to 27 cents and the diesel tax from 15 cents to 27 cents by 2013 HB 5768, HB 5769 and HB 5770.

"Everyone's getting lost in worrying about this being a tax increase, but this about jobs as well," she said.

In her State of the State address last week, Governor Jennifer Granholm said without the state match, there will be 10,000 jobs lost a year. She, however, endorsed the Transportation Funding Task Force recommendations, which include higher vehicle registration fees and switching to a tax on the wholesale price of gas.

Ms. Byrnes said the committee is working on the vehicle registration fee bill, but wants to get out on the road so that residents can understand the ramifications of losing out on federal road and bridge projects.

The road trip will run into March. Ms. Byrnes said she was still planning where the hearings will take place.