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House Announces New Jobs Bill with Transportation Focus
Mobility 21 applauds House leadership, Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey, and Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman James Oberstar for pushing forward a $75 billion jobs bill intended to
further stimulate our lagging economy and provide a lasting legacy of infrastructure improvements. Half of the $75 billion bill is dedicated to transportation infrastructure investment. The investments are:
Highways: $27.5 billion
Transit: $8.4 billion
Amtrak: $800 million
Airports: $500 million
Ship Construction: $100 million
Total: $37.3 billion
The bill also includes $11 billion of other infrastructure investment, including Corps of Engineers investments. The House is expected to consider the bill as early as Dec. 16, but the Senate will likely not take up the bill until after
the first of the year. The bill will be funded through unused or paid-back TARP funds.
Read more.
House and Senate Pass Transportation Appropriations
The House and Senate have approved the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act (HR 3288). The bill establishes an obligation limitation of $41.07 billion for the Federal Highway Administration
and $8.3 billion for the Federal Transit Administration formula programs. The bill provides $2.5 billion for intercity rail service and high speed rail corridor grants and allocates $1.5 billion to AMTRAK for operations, capital
improvements and debt service, of which, $563 million is reserved for operations. This appropriations act does not take the place of an extension of SAFETEA-LU, nor does it end the reduction of apportionments that California is
experiencing under the existing continuing resolution bills, which expires at midnight on Friday, Dec. 18.
View a list of California transportation earmarks.
House and Senate Collide Over SAFETEA-LU Extension
Continuing their struggle over passage of the next Surface Transportation Authorization, the House and Senate have proposed two competing plans for an extension. The proposed two-year House version of the extension
poses several problems for Southern California: elimination of contract authority, reduction of the baseline funding levels for transportation, elimination of the state matching funds requirement and reliance on the general fund rather
than the highway trust fund. The Senate version of the extension is only one year, protects contract authority, maintains current baseline funding levels and the state matching funds requirements, relies on the highway trust fund and
offsets spending to avoid deficits.
View a side-by-side comparison of the two proposed bills.
Mobility 21 visits Long Beach Bikestation Facility
 Mobility 21 Executive Director Marnie O'Brien Primmer
toured the temporary Bikestation Long Beach facility last month. Andrea White-Kjoss, president and CEO of Mobis Transportation/Bikestation, gave a tour of the facility, one of 14 in the nation. The station enables more than 100 commuters
to connect to transit using bicycles, and provides a secure facility for bicycle parking, as well as a fully-staffed service and retail area. When completed in 2010, the two-story, expanded Bikestation Long Beach will boast lockers,
restrooms and a shower, and parking capacity for more than 200 members in a convenient downtown Long Beach location. Other Bikestations are planned at Claremont and Covina Metrolink stations.
Read more.
SCAG Hosts Historic Joint Meeting on Green House Gas Legislation
The Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG), in partnership with the Southern California Leadership Council (SCLC) and the Global Land Use and Economic Council (GLUE), recently met with public officials,
business and community leaders to share and discuss ideas on moving forward with SB 375 implementation (legislation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from cars and light trucks by requiring integration of planning for transportation,
land-use and housing). The gathering included former Governors Gray Davis and Pete Wilson, Assembly Speaker Karen Bass and California Air Resources Board (CARB) Chair Mary Nichols. "This joint meeting was an excellent demonstration of
partnership and consensus-building among our regional leaders, coming together to speak as one voice for Southern California," said SCAG Executive Director and Mobility 21 Board member Hasan Ikhrata. The group discussed the challenges to
cities, businesses and organizations for implementing SB 375 during this tough economic time. They suggested that CARB consider regional needs and provide flexibility in implementing SB 375 and agreed to work with legislators on two
critical amendments.
Metrolink welcomes Interim CEO
Former Riverside County Transportation Commission Executive Director Eric Haley was named Interim CEO for Metrolink, the five county commuter rail system. Current Metrolink CEO David Solow will continue with Metrolink
as the interagency initiatives advisor, focusing on the interagency collaborations necessary for Metrolink to implement safety enhancements, including Positive Train Control. Haley will be charged with leading the search for the next CEO
as well as elevating Metrolink's reputation as a premier commuter rail network.
SANBAG and City of Rancho Cucamonga Celebrate Haven Avenue Grade Separation Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
After nearly a year, the Haven Avenue Grade Separation opened Dec. 16. This $28 million project will permanently separate the Southern California Regional Rail Corridor from Haven Avenue, improving both safety and
commute times for thousands of rail and automobile passengers. The new roadway will pass under a multi-span arch bridge supporting two railroad tracks overhead. The project was funded by the Rancho Cucamonga Redevelopment Agency and the
San Bernardino Association of Governments. The new grade separation will help reduce local traffic congestion and enhance the flow of vehicles and pedestrians across the growing Southern California regional rail corridor. On average, more
than 40 passenger and freight trains cross Haven Avenue each day, causing disruptions to commuters, emergency vehicles and pedestrians. The project helps to reduce fuel consumption and improve air quality with the elimination of idling
engines during the passing of trains.
For breaking news on transportation-related issues, visit
www.mobility21.com.
Mobility 21 wants to hear from you
If you have ideas for future Mobility 21 Forward Motion articles, send them to Executive Director Marnie O'Brien Primmer at
mprimmer@mobility21.com.
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