House Approves Transportation Authorization Bill

Key Southern California Projects Receive OK

April 2, 2004

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman David Dreier (R-CA), Chairman of the House Rules Committee, voted today to approve legislation that authorizes several key projects for Southern California's transportation system. The Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy For Users, H.R. 3550, was approved with broad bipartisan support, 357-65.

"As the gateway to the Pacific Rim, our region has many pressing transportation needs," Dreier said. "This legislation addresses many of them, and will only serve to help the economic recovery already underway. Our roads and rails are the backbone of our economic system. I'm very pleased we have been able to secure the necessary resources to make much needed improvements and additions to our transportation infrastructure."

Among the Southern California projects included in H.R. 3550, or TEA LU as it's known, are: $15.5 million for the Alameda Corridor East (ACE) Gateway to America Trade Corridor Project; $15 million for Metro Gold Line Light Rail Foothill Extension; $9.5 million for Foothill Transit's Transit Oriented Neighborhood Program, and construction of commuter park and ride facilities; $5 million for the Rancho Cucamonga I-15/Base Line Interchange removal and reconstruction of on and off ramps and construction of auxiliary lanes; $4 million for Montclair grade separations along ACE; $3 million for Arcadia Santa Anita Avenue Corridor Improvement Project street rehabilitation; and, $3 million for the City of Monrovia to renovate the historic train depot along the Gold Line Foothill Extension, developing a multi-modal regional transit center, and upgrading aging infrastructure.

Dreier noted that the projects included in the legislation were critical to expanding economic opportunities in Southern California for businesses and workers. "Moving goods, and more importantly people, is the primary function of our transportation system," he said. "It needs to grow along with our population and businesses. This bill will allow that growth to take place."

The House and Senate will now go to a conference committee to reconcile the differences between the two versions of the legislation. Once the conference report is complete, it will be sent to the President for his signature.