Posted on 06/30/2005 10:12:18 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
Under criticism for missing a rare chance to help secure $400 million for a coveted car-pool lane on the 405 Freeway, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger stepped up Wednesday and promised to support the project -- if Van Nuys Rep. Howard Berman can deliver the federal money.
Schwarzenegger came through none too soon for Berman, a Democrat, who has been lambasting the governor for failing to commit to the state's 20 percent in matching funds, which are needed to get the project eligible for consideration in the $300 billion federal highway bill now being negotiated on Capitol Hill.
"We support your effort to win federal funding," the governor wrote in a letter to the congressman Wednesday.
"Should the Congress provide ... for the construction of these HOV lanes, my administration will work with the (Metropolitan Transportation Authority) and (California Transportation Commission) to identify the appropriate matching funds."
Berman immediately brought the letter to Rep. James L. Oberstar, the ranking Democrat on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, who supports the project but needs the state's commitment to move negotiations forward.
"It's not perfect, but it's a fundamental shift in tone and approach," Berman said.
"We're now going to go move ahead and see what we can do. Nothing is guaranteed. I wish we had had it eight weeks ago or six weeks ago or four weeks ago. I'm glad they did it. It's a positive step."
Berman has said he can get $400 million for the 10-mile lane northbound from the Santa Monica Freeway through the Sepulveda Pass to the Ventura Freeway -- if the governor would commit $100 million or so in matching funds.
The congressman complained that past letters from the governor's staff failed to adequately do so. The governor's staff had been concerned that trying to win car-pool-lane money would jeopardize its chances of getting $900 million for the Alameda Corridor East freight-hauling project, California's top priority in the new highway bill in Congress.
The congressman and the governor had been at odds since Monday, when Berman said Schwarzenegger was jeopardizing the $400 million.
Then, Los Angeles Mayor-elect Antonio Villaraigosa and Los Angeles transportation leaders jumped into the debate, pledging to do what they could to support the car-pool lane that would provide relief for hundreds of thousands of daily commuters.
On Wednesday, the San Fernando Valley's nine legislators urged the governor to aggressively support the project.
And the chairman of the California Transportation Commission issued a statement that he'd "work hard" to ensure that the project receives funding.
"We just need the governor to be a strong advocate and we believe we can get that money, but time is of the essence," said Assemblyman Paul Koretz, D-West Hollywood, who led the Valley delegation.
"We're running out of time and options to improve this kind of gridlock. If we fail, there's millions of people who are going to be feeling the repercussions for years to come."
The Governor's Office said Schwarzenegger wanted to assure Berman of his support.
"The governor wanted to be as clear as possible about his support for Congressman Berman's efforts to secure these funds," said Schwarzenegger spokesman Vince Sollitto.
"The governor supports seeking funding for the Alameda Corridor East project and the HOV lanes, and has pledged not only his support, but his interest to work with the congressman, MTA and CTC to seek matching funds, should he be successful in his efforts," Sollitto said.
Berman has repeatedly said he believes there is funding possible for both big projects, and has promised that the funds he is seeking for the San Diego Freeway won't take away from those being sought for the Alameda Corridor.
Transportation experts were mixed Wednesday on whether they believe there is support in Washington, D.C., for two massive allocations for California.
Rep. Gary Miller, R-Diamond Bar, who serves on the House Transportation Committee, said funding for Alameda Corridor East is his "most significant charge," but that he's also fighting for other California projects.
Berman said now with the governor's support, Oberstar can try to secure the car-pool-lane funds.
"It's an uphill fight, but it's within the realm of possibility," Berman said.
Sherman Oaks Homeowners President Richard Close, who drives the 405 most weekdays, welcomed the governor's action.
"It's great news," Close said. "The governor, as a result of a lot of interest by the public, realizes how important this project is. ... This should help alleviate what we call the 405 crawl."
Better idea...double-deck the 405 parking-lot..err..freeway
Another freakin' HOV lane. Big help. Luckily I don't have to drive on the freeways these days, but if I did, I'd probably do what KFI (AM640, Los Angeles) host John Kobylt does: drive in the HOV lane even when I'm alone. Take the occasional ticket as the cost of getting home 45 minutes sooner.
ANYONE who supports HOV lanes has a lunatic hiding in the closet between their ears. HOV lanes do nearly NOTHING to alleviate freeway congestion. If anything, they exacerbate it -- and increase the potential for accidents between vehicles having substantial differences in speed -- by creating a situation where HOV lane users have to merge into and back out of the HOV lane through sluggish traffic. So, every place along the length of the HOV lane where drivers are allowed to merge in and out, turns into a "brake check" with taillights glaring brightly and the more than occasional rear-end collisions.
These things aren't a net benefit; they're a net detriment and, at least in this case, advocacy equals idiocy.
Yes, so it often ends up the HOV lane carries fewer cars (and, in fact, fewer people) while running at about the same speed as the #1 lane.
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