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.
The region entered the deliberations with a CTC staff recommendation of $302 million in CMIA funds. Following the rounds of Sacramento meetings, that total rose to $402 million, with an additional $30 million in CMIA funds added during the hearings in Irvine, along with the $19.5 Chula Vista grant.
All told, this represents more than $450 million in added freeway improvement funds granted to our region.
As the largest business organization in Southern California, with 3,000 member companies and their more than 400,000 employees in the San Diego region, the Chamber is a key steward of the business community’s interests. We are committed to securing improvements in the San Diego region that will relieve traffic congestion, improve safety and provide greater mobility for businesses and commuters.
San Diego is not only one of the largest metropolitan areas in the state, but an expanded community on the busiest border in the world with numerous military installations that are vital to our nation’s security. An efficient transportation system is of utmost importance to maintain and enhance our region’s mobility, economic growth, prosperity and security.
San Diego’s regional cooperation – between government, business and community – is extraordinary. Our voters strongly supported TransNet in 2004, and the statewide bond propositions in November 2006. The Chamber is proud to represent the business interests of a community that is not only “on the move,” but committed to helping fund its own mobility
All of the work is not yet done; the funds allocated by the CTC still need to be approved as part of the state budget appropriations process this spring. The Chamber will continue to advocate for these and other necessary infrastructure funds in Sacramento and Washington, D.C.