House Approves Transportation Authorization Bill
Alameda Corridor East Receives $15.5 million, Gold Line Receives $15 million

March 10 , 2005

WASHINGTON, DC- Congressman David Dreier (R-CA), Chairman of the House Rules Committee, voted today to approve legislation that provides funding to several critical transportation projects in the Foothills. Overall, California is receiving $19.6 billion in transportation funding authorization, a $4.3 billion increase over the previous level. The Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users, H.R. 3, was approved with broad bipartisan support 417-9.

“The United States of America is the single largest exporter and importer in the world, and if we are going to remain in that position, it’s absolutely essential that we have an infrastructure that can handle that,” Dreier said. “In Southern California, we have two of the busiest ports in the world, and it is critical that products coming from all over America are able to gain access to them. Additionally, it’s crucial that the goods coming into those ports get out to the rest of the country, without gridlocking our region. One of these key thoroughfares is the Alameda Corridor East, which runs through the San Gabriel Valley and Inland Empire and receives a $15.5 million in high priority project funding.”

Also included in the legislation is funding for the following projects in the Foothills: $15 million for the Gold Line Foothill Extension intermodal centers; $9.5 million for the Foothill Transit Transit-Oriented Neighborhood Program; $5 million for the Rancho Cucamonga I-15/Base Line Road Interchange; $3 million for Arcadia Santa Anita Avenue Corridor improvements; $3 million for the Monrovia Transit Village; $2 million for the Montclair Ramona Avenue grade separation; and, $2 million for the Montclair Monte Vista Avenue grade separation. In addition, the Gold Line Foothill Extension is designated as a New Starts project, which is a critical step that bodes well for the future of the project.

Dreier noted that population growth in the Foothills is increasing the need for mass transit for safety, as well as economic reasons. “Expanding mass transit options for the residents of the Foothill communities will free up the interstate system, allowing for the movement of goods headed to and from our ports. It will also cut down on the amount of traffic we all face, improve safety on our highways, and improve the air quality of our region.”

DREIER ON H.R. 3: DIAL-UP / BROADBAND