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A Heavy-Hitting Ally for I-5Rep. Buck McKeon Urges House Leaders to Include Interstate 5 Gateway in Federal Funding PrioritiesU.S. Rep. Howard “Buck” McKeon is going to bat for the Interstate 5 Gateway Improvement Project, actively seeking federal funding to add much-needed capacity to I-5 in northern Los Angeles County. McKeon, R-Santa Clarita, testified April 28 to members of the House Transportation  and Infrastructure Committee in favor of federal funds to help add truck climbing and carpool lanes from just north of the I-5/State Route 14 interchange to Castaic. “Regionally, the I-5 is one of the most significant transportation corridors and goods movement arteries in California and the country,” McKeon said, adding that I-5 is an important international trade artery connecting West… [+] read more
A Heavy-Hitting Ally for I-5Rep. Buck McKeon Urges House Leaders to Include Interstate 5 Gateway in Federal Funding PrioritiesU.S. Rep. Howard “Buck” McKeon is going to bat for the Interstate 5 Gateway Improvement Project, actively seeking federal funding to add much-needed capacity to I-5 in northern Los Angeles County. McKeon, R-Santa Clarita, testified April 28 to members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in favor of federal funds to help add truck climbing and carpool lanes from just north of the I-5/State Route 14 interchange to Castaic. “Regionally, the I-5 is one of the most significant transportation corridors and goods movement arteries in California and the country,” McKeon said, adding that I-5 is an important international trade artery connecting West Coast industry with Canada and Mexico and is vital for efficient goods movement from the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles to destinations in California, Oregon, Utah, and Washington. “The I-5 is also susceptible to complete gridlock, costing billions of dollars for tragic events such as the large truck fire in 2007 and the Northridge earthquake of 1994,” McKeon said. “The Santa Clarita-Los Angeles Gateway Improvement Project will help relieve congestion along one of the most heavily traveled portions of the I-5, which currently experiences 48,000 daily hours of delay, costing motorists $204 million annually.” McKeon’s testimony was part of the first step in a process to reauthorize the five-year surface transportation bill. Most funding through the bill is distributed via formula from the federal Highway Trust Fund, but some regional priorities — like the I-5 Gateway Improvement Project — may also be included. Members and supporters of the Golden State Gateway Coalition viewed McKeon’s efforts as a significant and positive sign. “We’re very pleased that the congressman is not only supporting the proposed I-5 Gateway improvements, but is also taking an active role in advocating on the project’s behalf,” said Victor Lindenheim, executive director of the Golden State Gateway Coalition. “I know that, as a Santa Clarita Valley resident, Congressman McKeon has firsthand knowledge of not only how important I-5 is to interstate commerce, but also just how busy this vital freeway corridor is.” Lindenheim added: “Congressman McKeon’s support and advocacy mean a great deal, and we of course hope he is successful in his efforts to obtain federal funds for these crucial improvements to one of the nation’s most important freeways.” In conjunction with McKeon’s testimony, the congressman’s office released a prepared statement that included not only his comments about the importance of the project, but also statements from Lindenheim and other local leaders, including Mayor Frank Ferry, local businessman Larry Rasmussen, and Marlee Lauffer, senior vice president of marketing and communications for Newhall Land, which is a member of the Gateway Coalition. “Over the next 20 years, traffic is expected to double on Interstate 5 and expansion of this critical arterial is vital to our commerce here in California and in the United States,” said Ferry, a member of the Gateway Coalition’s leadership council. “Interstate 5 is the heartbeat and lifeblood to commerce in the U.S. and without expansion of this vital interstate, we will greatly impact the delivery of goods, services and the movement of our people.” Rasmussen’s comments were indicative of the passion felt not just by pro-business advocates, but also by anyone who has been stuck in traffic on the I-5: “Currently I-5 at the SR14/SR210 ‘funnel’ is stopped more than 70 percent of the time,” Rasmussen said. “When the I-5 stops, the economy on the West Coast stops. We cannot allow this to continue!” And, Lauffer noted that the Gateway Improvement Project will pay major dividends for more than 73 million drivers who use the Gateway section of I-5 each year. “The return on investment for this project is dramatic and the public and private support for the improvements significant,” she said. The original announcement from Congressman McKeon’s office regarding his testimony includes photos and video, and is available on McKeon’s website at:www.mckeon.house.gov/this_in_detail.aspx?NewsID=1498
Economic Stimulus Money: What Does it Really Mean for Transportation Improvements in North L.A. County?
By Victor LindenheimExecutive Director, Golden State Gateway Coalition There are 2,569,568,320 reasons to believe California will see its highways, roads and bridges improved in the foreseeable future, and each reason has George Washington’s image on it. Add another $1,068,400,000 for the state’s local transit programs, and we can have the audacity to hope change is on the way in the form of new transportation projects that will create jobs and spur economic recovery. In February, Congress passed and the president signed The American Recovery and Reinvestment act of 2009 (ARRA). The administration and congressional proponents characterized… [+] read more
Economic Stimulus Money: What Does it Really Mean for Transportation Improvements in North L.A. County?
By Victor LindenheimExecutive Director, Golden State Gateway CoalitionThere are 2,569,568,320 reasons to believe California will see its highways, roads and bridges improved in the foreseeable future, and each reason has George Washington’s image on it. Add another $1,068,400,000 for the state’s local transit programs, and we can have the audacity to hope change is on the way in the form of new transportation projects that will create jobs and spur economic recovery. In February, Congress passed and the president signed The American Recovery and Reinvestment act of 2009 (ARRA). The administration and congressional proponents characterized the new law as “economic stimulus legislation — a jobs preservation and creation bill — to address the nation’s economic crisis by (among other things) accelerating the construction of needed transportation infrastructure.” The price tag for the total program, as approved, is $787 billion, plus interest on funds borrowed. Although the amounts are huge when aggregated, they break down very quickly into much smaller state, county, city and project-sized allotments. “Only” $27.5 billion of the $787 billion total ARRA allotment (3.5 percent) is being directed toward highway construction, roads and bridges nationwide; another $20.5 billion is to be invested in transit. Of that $27.5 billion, $2.57 billion is to be invested in California highway, roadway and bridge projects (see paragraph one, line one above). Of this $2.57 billion, $1.72 billion goes to Caltrans programs and $771 million will be distributed to local authorities (cities and counties) by formula. The balance of the state ARRA highway, roads and bridges funding (about $77.1 million), will go for bicycle lanes, landscaping and such. Are you still with me? So how do these dollars flow to projects in Santa Clarita, Palmdale and Lancaster and environs? Regional Surface Transportation Program Funds for City and County (Los Angeles), distributed by Metro, sourced from the $771 million state allotment, comes to $307.8 million. North County distributions are: — Santa Clarita: $5,174,650 — Palmdale: $4,324,164 — Lancaster: $4,246,725 — Other communities: a portion of Unincorporated L.A. County total share,$31,873,662. The good news is substantial sums are being offered by the federal government for investment in transportation infrastructure. States, counties and cities will be able to fund projects that will ostensibly relieve traffic congestion, move freight more efficiently, and reduce air pollution — and create jobs and revive the economy in the process. Unfortunately, the I-5 Santa Clarita-Los Angeles Gateway Improvement Project is not now a candidate project for federal stimulus funds. Why not? Because the project is not yet “shovel-ready.” Under the Recovery Act (ARRA), states were given 120 days to obligate the first half of their transportation infrastructure funding. Governors, mayors and county officials around the country scrambled to position their “ready-to-go” projects for federal money. Many of the best projects — projects of regional significance, major job creators and economic drivers with environmental benefit — were, and are, in environmental review or design. In May, Gov. Schwarzenegger proudly announced the obligation of $1 billion in Recovery Act funds, a full two months ahead of the 120-day federal deadline. Groundbreaking for the first project had already occurred the prior week: a $13.3 million Interstate 80 pavement rehabilitation project, estimated to create 200 construction jobs. The governor and Caltrans are to be commended on this achievement. Included on the list of 80 projects, there were three major projects in aggregate valued at over $1.415 billion bringing $510.4 million in federal Recovery Act money to California. These projects will produce substantial congestion relief, while creating a significant number of jobs: — Widen NB I-405 for HOV lane between I-10 and US-101 (Los Angeles). - — HOV and Lane Addition on I-215 (San Bernardino).
- — Construct New Two-Lane Tunnel (Alameda County).
All of these projects will contribute to improved transportation for Californians. And, here in our own corner of this transportation-challenged state, we hope the use of ARRA funds for various transportation improvements will at least make it incrementally easier to obtain the much-needed funding to improve Interstate 5 in northern Los Angeles County. [-]
Golden State Gateway Coalition:Who We Are and What We Do
The Golden State Gateway Coalition (I-5)
is a non-profit transportation education and advocacy organization
based in Santa Clarita. - Our members include community, business and government leaders who live in, work in and represent the
interests of the fastest growing sub-region in Los Angeles County.
- Our
goal is to improve roadway mobility, safety and goods movement throughout northern Los Angeles County.
- The Interstate 5 corridor is our
priority. It is an important regional transportation
facility and is a key
economic lifeline linking job centers, cities, ports, agriculture, and
tourist attractions throughout California.
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The Golden State Gateway Coalition has released the Spring 2009 edition of its newsletter, Interchange. The newsletter is published quarterly and
provides current information on north Los Angeles County transportation matters,
emphasizing roadway improvements and the Coalition's priority: the Interstate 5
corridor. The 12-page newsletter is designed to be easy to download and print, providing a portable update on the I-5 improvements and other north Los Angeles County transportation issues.
If you would like to receive future editions as soon as they are published, you can join the Coalition or request to be added to our mailing list.
Click here to download the current edition of Interchange.
Click here to view all newsletters posted on the Coalition Website.
There Are No Guarantees, but L.A. County Voters’ Approval of Measure R May Eventually Pay Dividends for the I-5 Gateway
By Tim Whyte
InterChange Editor
By the narrowest of margins, voters have approved Measure R, the half-cent Los
Angeles County sales tax… [more]
What the Obama Presidency May Mean for Transportation
By Victor Lindenheim
Executive Director,
Golden State Gateway Coalition
Very
little was said by either presidential candidate during the campaign
regarding transportation policy that was picked up… [more]
Go to archived articles.
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