(July 11, 2007) Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-34) applauded this week’s approval (July 11) by the House Appropriations Committee of a spending measure that includes federal funding for key transportation, infrastructure and economic development projects that she championed for the communities in the 34th Congressional District. 

“These critical transportation dollars for the Metro Gold Line Eastside Extension, revival of the historic Red Trolley, and other needed local transportation improvements will help to ease gridlock, accommodate growth and improve transportation safety,” said Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard, who is a member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development.

Due to the efforts of Congresswoman Roybal-Allard, the communities in the 34th District received a total $83.3 million in federal funding for the following projects under the Fiscal Year 2008 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations measure, which passed by a voice vote:

• $80 million for the next federal payment for construction of the Edward R. Roybal Metro Gold Line Eastside Extension which will bring safe, efficient, and reliable transportation to the transit dependent communities of Boyle Heights, East LA, Little Tokyo, the Arts District, and downtown Los Angeles.  Completion of the Gold Line to East LA will provide area residents with greater and easier access to jobs, entertainment, shopping and recreation throughout the Los Angeles region;
• $500,000 for Transit Access Pass Integration to help Access Services, a local transportation agency that serves people with disabilities, improve its services in Los Angeles County under a single fare payment technology;
• $100,000 to assist restoration efforts of the historic Red Trolley in the City of Los Angeles;
• $100,000 for the Los Angeles Fashion District to provide uniform parking signage, improve accessibility into the area, ease congestion and improve traffic flow;
• $500,000 for the City of Commerce to complete street and drainage reconstruction at the Sheila Street and Commerce Way intersection;
• $500,000 for the City of Bellflower in partnership with the Los Angeles County Fire Museum Association to build a museum to display antique to contemporary fire fighting apparatus and to honor the service of the firefighting community;
• $500,000 for the City of Bellflower to provide 170 bus shelters to protect riders from the elements and to promote the use of public transportation; and
• $250,000 for the City of Huntington Park to reconstruct and improve Pacific Blvd;
• $50,000 for the Southeast Rio Vista YMCA to replace the roof of the only indoor pool in the City of Huntington Park;
• $800,000 for the City of Maywood to make pedestrian and roadway improvements to the Slauson Avenue Corridor.

“The transportation, housing and economic development priorities of the new Democratic majority in Congress are clearly reflected in this landmark appropriations federal funding measure passed by the full Appropriations Committee,” Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard said.  “The measure’s funding levels make important investments in transportation infrastructure, safety, and economic renewal.  The measure also takes important steps to address the critical shortage of affordable housing for our nation’s families.”

The 2008 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations measure includes the following key investments: $1.25 billion above current spending to maintain our highways; $782 million above current spending for the Federal Transit Administration to increase use of mass transit, alleviate traffic congestion and reduce air pollution; $73 million above current spending for Federal Aviation Administration safety inspectors; $503 million above current spending for affordable housing; $228 million above current spending for community and economic development projects; and $21 million above current spending for neighborhood revitalization.

The measure now moves to the full House for consideration.