by Gary Toebben

Expo Today, America Fast Forward Tomorrow

Last week was a significant week for transportation. Locally, the Los Angeles County Metro Board of Directors approved the first 3.9 miles of the Westside Subway Extension, and the first phase of the Expo Line, 7.9 miles from downtown to Culver City, opened to great fanfare.

In our nation's capital, Congress took a long-awaited step to move forward with transportation reauthorization legislation. Following the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce's strong push in March during ACCESS Washington, D.C.-- Los Angeles on the Hill for a robust, multi-year bill that includes American Fast Forward language, the Senate passed Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21). Led by Senators Barbara Boxer and James Inhofe, this two-year, $109 billion bill achieved overwhelmingly bipartisan support with a vote of 74-22.

The House was unable to come to terms on a bill that could garner 218 votes, so in late March they punted, passing a ninth short-term extension. However, Representatives returned from spring recess having heard over and over from their constituents the importance of transportation infrastructure to job creation and the local and national economy. The House passed an additional short-term extension through the end of the fiscal year with a "shell" bill, designed to facilitate movement into a conference committee with the Senate-approved MAP-21.

Upon passage, both chambers quickly moved to name their conferees, representatives from both the House and Senate, who will reconcile the different versions of the reauthorization legislation into one bill that can return to both chambers for final passage. While the conferees from each chamber and each party bring substantive policy differences to the table, this is the best chance for the passage of reauthorization since SAFETEA-LU expired in 2009.

Passage of transportation reauthorization by June 30 needs to be a top priority for Congress. Planning agencies that rely on long-term funding commitments are holding off on projects that are critical to our economy. America's 21st century success and competitive edge depends on a solid foundation with our transportation infrastructure. Roads and highways must be maintained, ports and goods movement corridors modernized, and public transit designed and built.

America’s economy depends on transportation. Studies show that every $1 billion in transportation infrastructure spending creates 18,000 jobs. Locally, America Fast Forward is projected to create more than 165,000 jobs over its lifetime. An American Public Transit Association report states that every $10 million in capital investment in public transportation yields $30 million in increased business sales and every $10 million in operating investment yields $32 million in increased business sales.

Since last August, the L.A. Area Chamber has built a coalition of chambers across the country committed to advocating their representatives in favor of reauthorization. Now, we need your help to contact your representative and the Senate and House conferees to urge them not to waste this opportunity. For job creation, economic growth and global competitiveness, Congress must find a way past the partisan disagreements and pass a robust, multi-year bill before the clock runs out.

Despite long delays and significant hurdles, the Expo Line opened to an eager Los Angeles community this past weekend. We hope Congress comes together to facilitate the same outcome for transportation reauthorization.

And that's The Business Perspective.