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Chamber's Advocacy Helps Keep
San Diego on the Move

By Scott Alevy
Vice President, Public Policy & Communications

Led by San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders and City Councilman Jim Madaffer, a cadre of regional leaders successfully advocated for funding for in the region's transportation infrastructure in front of the California Transportation Commission (CTC) over the last two weeks, returning with a well-earned, enhanced total of $451 million in Proposition 1B funds for San Diego projects.

City government leaders were joined by representatives from the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce and SANDAG head Gary Gallegos at CTC meetings in Sacramento and Irvine, where commissioners were allocating the first round of funds from the $19.9 billion bond measure approved by voters in November. The $4.5 billion in Corridor Mobility Improvement Account (CMIA) funds determined last week represented the first of those distributions.

While San Diego holds about 8 percent of the state's population, the region secured roughly 10 percent of the CMIA funds – overcoming the "fair share" shortfall that San Diego commonly endures.

This outcome is largely a result of the San Diego delegation's strong advocacy. In addition to testifying at the two CTC hearings, the coalition of business and local government leaders met with members of the region's state legislative delegation to brief them on the factors and justification of the selected projects. With a career of infrastructure expertise in his resume, Gallegos proved an invaluable asset. His diligence and credibility was of paramount importance to the success of the coalition's effort.

The CMIA funding includes $350 million for the Interstate 15 managed lanes between Highway 163 north and State Route 78, as well as $82 million for HOV median construction along the I-805 from Carroll Canyon north, connecting to the existing managed lanes along I-5 up to Lomas Santa Fe. Separately, CalTrans granted $19.5 million to provide two lanes of congestion relief along the southbound I-805 connector from State Highway 54 to E Street in Chula Vista.

Read the rest of the story.
An Opportunity to be Heard by
Your Congressional Representatives


The San Diego business community will get a chance to engage their Washington legislative representatives at the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce's Annual Congressional Luncheon on March 16 at the Holiday Inn on the Bay.

This year's event will feature the full San Diego County delegation to the U.S. House of Representatives: Rep. Brian Bilbray, Rep. Susan Davis, Rep. Bob Filner, Rep. Duncan Hunter and Rep. Darrell Issa.

Dennis Morgigno from Cox Channel 4 San Diego is the event's moderator.

"This event has proven successful year after year, with sold-out seating to politically involved constituents of the San Diego business community," said Scott Alevy, the Chamber's vice president of public policy and communications. "This year will be no exception."

Read the rest of the story.
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Leveraging its robust membership, collaborations with other organizations and political access, the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce's business advocacy team initiates legislation and lobbies for policies that create a stronger pro-business environment.