Work to Secure Federal Funds Pays Off
February 24, 2014
by Gary Toebben
Last Thursday was payoff day for years of work to secure federal funds to supplement local Measure R dollars and ensure the safety of our regional rail service. Sen. Dianne Feinstein and Representatives Xavier Becerra and Lucille Roybal-Allard joined Metro officials Thursday morning to celebrate $670 million in federal funding for the new Downtown Regional Connector.
On Thursday afternoon, Sen. Feinstein joined Metrolink officials to celebrate the installation of Positive Train Control technology to override human error and apply the brakes to prevent an accident. Sen. Feinstein was the author of the federal legislation that provided the mandate and the funding for Positive Train Control after the Chatsworth accident that killed 25 people in 2008.
At both events, Metro and Metrolink speakers applauded members of Congress for their leadership and thanked the community for joining them in lobbying for these essential funds from Washington, D.C.
An important part of that lobbying effort is the annual ACCESS Washington, D.C. advocacy trip sponsored by the Chamber in partnership with 14 other business and governmental organizations like Metro and Metrolink. The 2014 trip will take place in two weeks on March 10-12 and will feature meetings with Sen. Feinstein and Sen. Barbara Boxer, the chair of the Senate Environment & Public Works Committee and champion of MAP-21, the 2012 federal surface transportation bill. Sen. Boxer was recently in Los Angeles to celebrate the groundbreaking of the $2 billion Crenshaw/LAX Transit project. The project is funded in part with a $545.9 million TIFIA loan and approximately $130 million in other federal funds.
Securing federal transportation funding for L.A. County is a top priority that the 150-member delegation will discuss with members of Congress and White House officials on March 10-12. Registrations are still being accepted. Register today or contact Maribel Flores, 213.580.7571.
As businesses and individuals, we all pay federal taxes. A return on this investment from Washington, D.C. is essential to creating a better City and County of Los Angeles. We urge you to join us for this important work. You'll be glad you did.
And that's The Business Perspective.
Leave a Comment
Comments submitted are subject to review by the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce prior to posting. The Chamber reserves the right to monitor and withhold comments that include personal, offensive, potentially libelous or copyright protected language, materials or links. Only comments relevant to the topic will be posted. Comments posted must have a valid email address. View our full terms & conditions.