Transportation And Business Advocates Join OCTA In Urging Changes To Stimulus Plan

Steps need to be taken to ensure legislation provides maximum benefit

ORANGE – The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA), American Automobile Association and Orange County Business Council are calling upon Governor Schwarzenegger, transportation leaders and state and federal delegation members to pursue important changes to the federal economic stimulus plan.

"Our representatives in Washington, D.C. need to move quickly with legislation that puts the maximum number of people to work," said OCTA Chairman Peter Buffa. "If jobs creation really is the goal, there is nothing that creates as many good-paying jobs as quickly as public works projects. We need strong, visionary leadership on issues such as how funding is issued, what it’s used for and how to get critical transportation projects delivered as quickly as possible."

A letter sent today to state and federal leaders addressed the following four points:

1. Ensure an adequate share for transportation: A sizable share of the overall stimulus package, more than the 5 percent in initial proposals, should be dedicated to transportation. Under the current House bill, Orange County’s share for transportation infrastructure projects would only create 3,300 jobs – far short of the 27,700 jobs lost.

2. Use existing formulas and processes to get funds to projects quickly: The fastest and most effective way to put federal stimulus funds to work is to use the existing federal and state transportation funding formulas and processes, avoiding the pitfalls of creating new programs.

3. Do not use federal stimulus funds to replace state commitments: President Obama and congressional leaders have made it clear that stimulus funds should add to existing infrastructure funding, not permanently replace state transportation commitments already in place, such as Proposition 1B.

4. Cut through the red tape: California can expedite projects by expanding authority for fast project delivery techniques, such as "design build," and accelerating the bureaucratic process. State and federal processes must move more quickly to get projects started and people to work as quickly as possible.

OCTA and Orange County cities have developed a list of critical infrastructure projects that could be fast-tracked and generate more than 62,000 jobs during the next two years.

Through the Orange County Ready to Work effort, residents also can comment and take a survey about the proposed projects that range from adding lanes on freeways to improving rail and bus transit operations. In just two weeks, more than 1,000 people have shared their comments.

To view the projects, take a survey, comment and/or send a letter, visit: www.octa.net/ocreadytowork