Transportation
Rep. Chu and other Los Angeles County Members of Congress at the Gold Line groundbreaking.
"Los Angeles is one of the most congested and polluted counties in the nation. We need a transportation system that will improve the environment and create jobs. That’s why I am fighting to quickly expand our transit options and turn our region into a model for the 21st century."
- Rep. Judy Chu
Residents of the San Gabriel Valley commute many miles to work and sit for hours in traffic. Our region deserves the same transportation options as the rest of the county: a light rail system, a robust bus network and freeways with smooth interchanges and carpool lanes.
Here’s what I am doing to move the most critical projects benefiting the San Gabriel Valley forward:
Gold Line Foothill Extension
Gold Line Eastside Extension
America Fast Forward (The 30/10 Plan)
Supporting the Alameda Corridor East (ACE) Project to make our streets safe and less congested.
Gold Line Foothill Extension
I am committed to seeing the Gold Line Foothill Extension connect Pasadena to Azusa through Arcadia, but also all the way to Glendora, Pomona, and Claremont - eventually ending at the Ontario Airport.
I went into action when the Los Angeles County Transportation Board was going to pass a long-term plan that would prevent the Gold Line from applying for federal funds or even completing the project early. In a move that MTA had not ever seen before, I helped convince 14 Congressmembers, both Democrats and Republicans to sign a letter saying that the Gold Line should be able to apply for federal funding. I also wrote an Op Ed in the LA Times. The board felt the pressure from these actions and voted to allow the line to apply for federal funding, and to complete the phase to Azusa early.
In June 2010, I stood with a shovel in my hand to break ground on construction of the first phase to Azusa. Because of my efforts, the line is expected to be completed in 2015. But I am not giving up.
The ½ cent sales tax approved in 2008 under Measure R provided $735 million for the Gold Line Foothill Extension to complete the line to Azusa by 2015. While this project will go a long way towards meeting the growing needs of the corridor cities, it’s not the end. More funding will be needed to complete the second phase to Montclair. I will continue fight for state and federal funding to bring to Montclair and then on to the LA/Ontario International Airport.
Gold Line Eastside Extension
For years, the residents of East LA and beyond have had difficulty getting to work, visiting their friends and family and running errands throughout the city. Even though its residents are three times more likely to take public transit than the rest of the County, they are forced to endure long walks to the bus stop, only to get on overcrowded buses that travel slowly through the streets resulting in transfer delays and long travel times.
The Eastside Gold Line has been a success since it in 2009, but we shouldn’t stop there. I am actively pushing to extend the line along the SR-60 all the way to El Monte and will fight to bring federal dollars to build it.
America Fast Forward (The 30/10 Plan)
I am a strong supporter of the America Fast Forward plan, also known as the 30/10 plan. This will take 12 transit projects in LA County that would otherwise take 30 years to build and instead complete them within the next decade. America Fast Forward will fundamentally changing transit in Southern California.
By leveraging billions in local dollars with help from the federal government, Los Angeles County will finally be one of the best places to get around.
The America Fast Forward plan will boost the region's construction industry by generating 160,000 new jobs, while eliminating $3.4 billion in project construction costs over the long term. Together the 12 projects will reduce vehicle pollution emissions by 568,000 pounds annually, save 10.3 million gallons of gasoline per year and reduce traffic congestion by eliminating 208 million vehicle miles from roadways.
I am committed to doing anything I can to see this innovative idea become a reality. That is why I am a cosponsor of the TIFIA Expansion Act (H.R. 1123), a major cornerstone of the America Fast Forward plan that allows transportation projects to receive low-cost federal loans or bonds up front that would be paid back with dedicated tax revenue, such as Measure R in LA County.
Supporting the Alameda Corridor East (ACE) Project to make our streets safer and less congested.
Due to a significant increase in freight trains carrying containers from the Ports of Los Angeles, the San Gabriel Valley is faced with increased congestion, reduced safety and negative environmental impacts. 20 rail-roadway grade separations and safety improvements were identified throughout the region to mitigate these impacts on San Gabriel Valley residents and streamline the transportation of goods from the ports onward. Both San Gabriel and El Monte have projects under construction. Studies show that without the ACE Project, traffic delays at crossings will increase by 300%.
I testified at a House Transportation Committee hearing on how important it was to create a section of the transportation bill devoted to a national freight infrastructure investment program that would invest federal money in freight corridors and gateways. This program would prioritize nationally significant projects, like the Alameda Corridor East. I also fought to secure federal funding for the ACE project through the federal grants process.
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