May 16, 2008
Expand The
241 Toll Road: Improve Traffic In Southwest
California
We are urging the United States Secretary of Commerce to
override the California Coastal Commission’s objection to
the proposed SR-241 Toll Road expansion. The Southwest
California Legislative Council (SWCLC) joins other area
chambers and similar organizations in supporting the Toll
Road extension which will allow an alternative to I-5, the
only north-south route between the city’s of Los Angeles and
San Diego.
“This is just one of many crucial links in a freeway system
that desperately needs more roadways and alternative avenues
in order for our region to move our goods,” stated Greg
Morrison, Chair of the SWCLC. “The 241 Toll Road Extension
will allow our businesses and residents to use an
alternative route when traveling to Orange County and
alleviate some of the traffic on the I-5,” continued
Morrison.
Completing the Toll Road is critical to the economy of
Southern California. Drivers from Southern Orange County and
Northern San Diego County rely on I-5 as the only major
north-south artery. A significant accident or natural
disaster impacting that corridor completely gridlocks the
region. The extension would have provided an inland
alternative to I-5 and would have given drivers a
free-flowing choice. The 241 Toll Road was always designed
to connect to the I-5.
The current 67-mile Toll Road system, including a completed
SR-241 Toll Road extension, is part of all long-range plans
for the Orange County transportation network. The Toll Road
extension would be paid for by the Transportation Corridor
Agency selling toll-revenue bonds to private and
institutional investors to pay for construction.
March 5, 2008
Improve Transportation
Throughout Southwest California
Temecula Valley, Murrieta and Lake Elsinore Valley Chambers
of Commerce partnered with the Riverside County
Transportation Commission (RCTC) once again to support two
proposed new laws that will allow for more lanes on both the
SR-91 and I-15 freeways.
The Chambers, through their regional business advocacy
coalition the Southwest California Legislative Council, hope
that these new pieces of legislation will help alleviate
traffic congestion and help with goods movement. RCTC would
be charged with implementation of a high-occupancy toll
(HOT) lanes on the Interstate 15 and State Route 91
freeways.
In order to accomplish this, two bills authored by Senator
Lou Correa (SB 1316) and Assembly Member Kevin Jeffries (AB
1954) have been introduced California State Legislature.
SB 1316 (Correa) would accomplish the following:
Click
here to take action on
SB 1316
- Orange County Transit Authority (OCTA) would eliminate its
rights, interests, and obligations on the Riverside County
portion of the SR-91 franchise by partial assignment to RCTC
or by amending the franchise agreement.
- The 2030
sunset for OCTA tolling and bonding authority is deleted.
- Excess toll
revenue can be used within five miles of the toll lanes for
SR-91 corridor-related transportation projects (for example:
additional general purpose lanes on SR-91, freeway access
improvements, grade separations, 91 Line Metrolink
capacity).
- RCTC is
authorized to impose tolls for 50 years on the Riverside
County portion of the express lanes, from the date that the
Riverside County lanes open.
- RCTC, or a
nonprofit corporation on RCTC’s behalf, can issue bonds to
pay for SR-91 express lanes project.
- The toll lanes
will revert to Caltrans at the request of RCTC after all
bonds are repaid.
- The SR-91
Advisory Committee created by AB 1010 is eliminated and
replaced with a similar advisory committee that makes
recommendations to both OCTA and RCTC.
- RCTC and OCTA
are required to conduct an annual audit of toll revenues and
expenditures.
AB 1954 (Jeffries) would accomplish the following:
Click
here to take action on AB 1954
- RCTC is authorized to impose tolls for 50 years on I-15 in
Riverside County, from the date that the Riverside County
lanes open.
- RCTC, or a
nonprofit corporation on RCTC’s behalf, can issue bonds to
pay for I-15 express lanes project.
- Excess toll
revenue can be used within five miles of the toll lanes
forI-15 corridor-related transportation projects (for
example: additional general purpose lanes on I-15, freeway
access improvements, grade separations, mass transit
projects).
- The toll lanes
will revert to Caltrans at the request of RCTC after all
bonds are repaid.
- RCTC is
assigned oversight responsibility of the facility.
- RCTC is
required to conduct an annual audit of toll revenues and
expenditures.
June 1,
2007
Temecula Valley, Murrieta and Lake Elsinore Valley
Chambers Fight Tax Increase
The
regional business community opposes SB 974 (Lowenthal) which
imposes a $30 tax on each container processed through ports
in Long Beach, Los Angeles and Oakland. Ultimately, it is
the equivalent of at least a $500 million per year tax on
the business community. Take action on this issue.
Click
here to take action on SB 974
“The regional business community opposes this bill because
it places our business at a competitive disadvantage in the
global economy,” stated Kim Cousins, President and CEO of
the Lake Elsinore Valley Chamber of Commerce. More than
394,000 manufacturing jobs have left the state since 2000
because of the high cost of doing business here. The tax
imposed by SB 974 would further inhibit the ability of
manufacturers to compete on a global scale. Energy prices,
labor and space costs in California are more than 100
percent of national averages.
SB 974 also requires that the money generated by the new tax
be spent on congestion relief and environmental mitigation.
The regional business community believes the
one-size-fits-all approach to financing infrastructure
improvements and environmental mitigation will hurt
California’s economy.
The main concerns with SB 974 are as follows:
California’s major ports serve as the gateway for the
state’s global economy. The Port of Long Beach alone
supports nearly 319,000 jobs and $16.3 billion in wages —
economic success that would be put at risk by imposing a
one-of-a-kind tax on cargo containers that enter and exit
the ports.
By creating additional costs for imports and exports through
these ports, SB 974 is likely to lead to shippers moving
their goods through competing ports instead. California’s
ports already are more expensive than the competitors. SB
974 would cost the average ship an additional $480,000 to
transport a full load in and out of these ports.
SB 974 also would hamper agricultural exports and have a
negative impact on the ability of California’s farmers to
compete on an international level. The California
agricultural industry already is at a competitive
disadvantage because of the high costs associated with doing
business in the state. Farmers cannot simply increase the
costs of their goods when their costs rise because prices
are set largely in an international market.
California exports include a significant amount of waste
paper and other waste to be recycled overseas. The value of
this commodity is quite low, and the tax imposed by SB 974
would create a significant barrier to this mutually
beneficial situation.
SB 974 creates an illegal tax on containerized cargo moving
in and out of the ports of Long Beach, Los Angeles and
Oakland. The tax revenues generated are to be used to pay
for infrastructure used by people other than those financing
it. This makes the cargo “fee” in fact a tax, which must be
approved by a two-thirds vote of the Legislature.
March 3,
2007
Southwest California Business Community Works to
Secure $195 Million in Transportation Funding
The Southwest California Legislative Council
(SWCLC), partnering with the Riverside County
Transportation Commission (RCTC) and other regional
business organizations called upon the Southwest
California businesses community this week to urge
state officials to help secure transportation
funding for the region.
“The Temecula Valley, Murrieta, and Lake Elsinore
Valley Chambers of Commerce, working together, are
serious about securing our fair share of funds to
improve our regional transportation nightmare,”
stated Dennis Frank, Chair of the Southwest
California Legislative Council.
The California Transportation Commission (CTC),
awarded $195 million dollars of Proposition 1B
funding to Riverside County. Specifically, Riverside
County was awarded $157 million to cover the cost of
five miles of carpool lanes on Highway 91 and $38
million to widen Interstate 215 between I-15 and
Scott Road. The CTC is responsible for the
allocation of funds from Proposition 1B.
Southwest California businesses wrote letters to the
CTC urging them to follow their staff
recommendations that included funding for a portion
of State Route 91 and to consider the possibility of
allocating additional funding for more projects
within Riverside County.
The SWCLC collected letters via this website over a
24 hour period and hand delivered the letters to the
California Transportation Commission board members.
“This successful letter writing campaign proves our
three chambers of commerce are serious about results
when representing the interests of business with
government,” stated Frank.
February 27,
2007
Proposition 1B: Riverside County’s Fair Share
The
California Transportation Commission (CTC)
considered how to best spend the funds approved by
voters in the November 2006 election from
Proposition 1B.
Riverside County requested $951 million of
Proposition 1B funds for transportation projects and
was awarded less than one-tenth of that request. The
CTC will make its final decision on these funding
allocations on Wednesday, February 28, 2007.
Click to read the Press Enterprise editorial.
February 27,
2007
Let's Get Moving!
Temecula Valley, Murrieta, and Lake Elsinore Valley Chambers
of Commerce Launch Effort to
Improve Transportation
Campaign
will ensure the construction of needed transportation
improvements throughout Riverside County and Southwest
California.
Temecula Valley,
Murrieta, and Lake Elsinore Valley Chambers of Commerce
working with their regional business advocacy coalition the
Southwest California Legislative Council (SWCLC) partners
with the Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC)
to launch a new Let’s Get Moving campaign.
The purpose of
the Let’s Get Moving campaign is to support and promote the
RCTC planned transportation projects that impact
infrastructure improvements throughout Riverside County
including Southwest California. This campaign will ensure
the construction of needed transportation improvements
throughout Riverside County and Southwest California. The
SWCLC met with RCTC in September and October 2006.
Let's Get
Moving Campaign Action Plan
The top transportation infrastructure improvement
projects of
Southwest California's business community are:
Proposition
1B: Riverside County’s Fair Share
Goods
Movement and Grade Separation Funding
Perris Valley
Line Metrolink Extension
Mid County
Parkway
State Route
79 Realignment
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Proposition 1B: Riverside County’s Fair Share |
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The SWCLC will assist RCTC by promoting these corridors to Caltrans and the California Transportation Commission (CTC) as high priorities for state investment. |
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Riverside County must embrace an opportunity to secure significant state investment in infrastructure if Proposition 1B is approved by voters on November 7. While some categories in Prop 1B are formula funding allocated to counties and cities, many categories are competitive statewide, meaning that Riverside County’s projects will be in the running for a limited pot of money against dozens of other projects across California.
RCTC’s priority in the $4.5 billion Corridor Mobility account of Proposition 1B is to secure funding for expansions of I-15, I-215 and SR-91. |
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Goods Movement and Grade Separation Funding |
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The SWCLC recognizes that goods movement is a priority and work with the RCTC in their effort to develop a fund strategy to accommodate goods movement and funding grade separations. |
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At the RCTC’s annual retreat in September, the full board adopted a strategy to fund the highest priority grade separations in Riverside County. This plan calls for significant investment of local, state, and federal dollars to separate local traffic from the nearly 100 freight trains that move through the county every day. The result of implementing this strategy will be cleaner air, reduced delay, and increased safety.
Goods movement is a growing priority for the Commission, as increased freight moving through the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach congest major commuter arteries such as I-15, SR-60, I-10, and I-215.
Goods Movement
Currently, commuter rail services in Riverside County operate on railroad tracks owned by the private freight operators, Union Pacific and Burlington Northern Santa Fe. As a result, passenger trains share the tracks with freight trains. As freight trains are projected to increase at a faster rate than passenger trains, negative impacts may occur such as poor on-time performance without increased track capacity.
An additional impact to the Riverside County community of increased freight traffic is longer delays at railroad crossings while waiting for longer and slower trains to cross. There are 59 railroad grade crossings along the three main lines in Riverside County. In March 2001, RCTC adopted a prioritized list of crossings recommended for grade separation (revised April 2006). |
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Perris Valley Line Metrolink Extension |
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The SWCLC supports the Perris Valley Line and work with the RCTC to promote the traffic relief it will bring to Riverside County. |
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The Perris Valley Line is a 22.7 mile extension of Metrolink commuter rail service that will relieve congestion on I-215, spark economic growth in the Inland Empire, and provide an effective transportation solution at minimum taxpayer cost. The Perris Valley Line will remove thousands of cars off I-215 during peak driving periods, improving commute times, improving air quality, and providing convenience to Riverside County commuters. For the first time, a Metrolink line will be moving passengers solely within Riverside County, rather than exporting people to Orange and Los Angeles Counties; job centers at March Global Port and Downtown Riverside will continue to grow with this new service. The Perris Valley Line builds on a proven system that is efficient, cost-effective, and vital to the Southern California economy. RCTC is working to deliver the Perris Valley Line by 2009-2010.
Project Details
The San Jacinto Branch Line Commuter Rail (Perris Valley Line) Project is a 19-mile extension of the Metrolink 91 Line, currently providing service from Riverside to downtown Los Angeles. The extension would begin at the existing Riverside-Downtown Station in the City of Riverside and proceed north on the Union Pacific Riverside Industrial Lead tracks for approximately two miles before turning southeast along the San Jacinto Branch Line. The terminus of the Line is in the City of Perris at Route 74 and I-215.
The New Start extension will travel on the San Jacinto Branch Line, purchased by RCTC in 1993, which runs parallel to I-215, one of the most heavily traveled and congested freeways in the region.
Upon start up in 2009, the Perris Valley Line Project will include up to five new stations, operate through three cities (Riverside, Moreno Valley, and Perris), as well as directly serve University of California, Riverside and March Air Reserve Base. The project will also provide additional communities such as Hemet, San Jacinto, Murrieta, Lake Elsinore and Temecula closer access to the Southern California commuter rail network.
Project Benefits
Commuters will enjoy multiple benefits of the new Perris Valley Line Metrolink Extension when the project is completed:
- Viable, safer transportation alternative to driving alone;
- Projected elimination of 4,000 auto trips per day; and,
- Improved landscape transportation corridor.
Project Station Locations
Six station facilities have been proposed for this Project. General locations for stations have been identified, but precise parcels to be acquired are subject to further refinement.
Target parcels will be identified for the environmental document that are suitable for development of station facilities. These target parcels are identified based on proximity to the rail line and current status of occupation (i.e., only vacant lands or lands owned by a public agency are under consideration). Most of the properties that could be potentially acquired for stations are private properties. Potential sites for the Alessandro station and for the proposed Van Buren site are owned by the March Joint Powers Authority. The proposed commuter rail station sites at Perris and UCR are on RCTC-owned property.
It should be noted that some of the proposed station facilities might not be developed in the start-up phase; they have been included so that a reasonable picture of total impacts can be presented. |
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The SWCLC supports the Mid County Parkway and work with the RCTC to promote the traffic relief it will bring to Riverside County. |
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The Mid County Parkway is a new east-west transportation corridor that will relieve pressure on the heavily congested State Routes 91 and 60 in Riverside County, and will be built using a federal-state-local partnership known as the Community Environmental & Acceptability Process (CETAP). The Mid County Parkway is one of seven high priority projects initially identified by President Bush’s Executive Order 13274 for environmental streamlining. The Mid County Parkway will begin at I-15 in Corona at the Cajalco Road exit and cross the Lake Matthews area, crossing I-215 and Perris and terminating in San Jacinto. The environmental approval process has been fully funded, and will be completed next year. Funding will be needed in the future for the final engineering, design and construction efforts.
Route Alternatives
The Mid County Parkway has completed preliminary studies, held public meetings, and identified alternatives. During 2005 and 2006, ongoing environmental and engineering studies as well as public input have created several changes to the alternatives. Technical reviews led to a new route to the south of the original routes being added in the middle section of the project. Public input and engineering considerations led to the removal of a route North of Lake Mathews. Most recently, dam safety issues led to the removal of a route near the Lake Perris Dam.
Environmental Studies
Since late 2004, RCTC’s consultants have been conducting field studies and analyzing the effects of the MCP alternatives on the human and natural environment. During that time, the consultants have surveyed approximately 17,000 acres, on 3,000 parcels that are in the area of the different MCP alternatives. These surveys have identified the locations of sensitive wetland areas, populations of sensitive animal and plant species, and important archeological sites. Project engineers have been using these environmental surveys to fine tune the alignments to best avoid and minimize impacts to people, homes, businesses and animal and plant species. In addition, RCTC has been working closely with Caltrans and FHWA on each of the alternatives to meet highway standards. |
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State Route 79 Realignment |
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The SWCLC supports a re-aligned of SR-79 and will promote its economic development impact to San Jacinto and Hemet.
The SWCLC will assist the RCTC in advocating for additional federal funds for SR-79 re-alignment. |
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The current SR-79 is already struggling to meet traffic demands. With the projected growth in the San Jacinto Valley, it is clear that major improvements must be made to SR-79. RCTC is in the environmental approval phase of re-aligning SR-79 to the west up to SR-74, essentially building a new highway that is less circuitous and separated from local traffic. A re-aligned SR-79 will promote economic development in San Jacinto and Hemet, and will make for an easier drive into Southwest County.
RCTC is advocating for additional federal funds for SR-79 re-alignment although much of the project is funded through Measure A.
The State Route 79 (SR 79) Realignment (Project) is a proposed realignment of SR 79 between Domenigoni Parkway and Gilman Springs Road in the San Jacinto-Hemet area. The Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC), the agency responsible for transportation in Riverside County and the administrator of Measure A (Riverside County’s 1/2 cent sales tax for transportation), is conducting environmental studies on a variety of alternatives for the Project. |
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May 24, 2006
Southwest California Businesses
Support Transportation Funds
The Southwest California
Legislative Council SUPPORTS the effort to place the “Close
the Proposition 42 Loophole Initiative” on the November 2006
ballot.
The SWCLC is a regional
business advocacy coalition of the Temecula Valley
Chamber of Commerce, Murrieta Chamber of Commerce,
and Lake Elsinore Valley Chamber of Commerce.
Its mission is to provide a basis for the
three chambers of commerce
to act on local, state and federal government issues
to secure a favorable and profitable business
climate for the region.
Summary
A broad-based coalition of business, labor, local
government, and community leaders is collecting signatures
to qualify a constitutional amendment for the November 2006
ballot.
The passage of this measure is intended to close the Prop.
42 loophole, uphold the will of voters, and ensure once and
for all that the sales taxes paid at the pump are used for
transportation improvements.
This measure would prevent the Governor and Legislature from
diverting the sales taxes on gasoline to non-transportation
expenses.
It will also require the State to reimburse the $2.5 billion
in funds previously diverted. It responsibly allows 10 years
for repayment to avoid any immediate fiscal impact.
Background
In 2002, nearly 70% of California voters overwhelmingly
passed Proposition 42 that dedicated the existing state
sales tax on gasoline to fund transportation projects like
congestion relief, road repairs, transit needs, and safety
improvements.
However, a provision was included in Prop. 42 that allows
the legislature and Governor to divert funds to
non-transportation expenses. What was only intended for
emergency fiscal issues has been abused repeatedly. The will
of the voters is not being upheld.
Two out of the last three budget years’, the sales tax on
gasoline has been diverted to fund non-transportation state
expenditures in the State General Fund.
Nearly $2.5 billion in these gas taxes has been diverted to
non-transportation expenses since 2002. As a result, state
and local agencies have had to delay or stop many critical
safety improvements, congestion relief projects, road
repairs and other transportation needs.
In fact, California has the worst roads in the nation,
according to a recent report by the Road Information
Program. Three out of 10 of the state's overpasses and
bridges are structurally deficient or functionally obsolete.
And approximately half - 49 percent - of California's urban
freeways are considered congested.
This transportation crisis is threatening our economy and
the safety and quality of life of every Californian.
Features
The initiative simply requires retention of funds earmarked
for the Transportation Investment Fund in the General Fund
for use unrelated to transportation after 7/1/08.
Requires repayment by 6/30/17 of transportation funds
retained in the state general fund in years prior to
2007-08.
Eliminates General Fund borrowing of specified
transportation funds, except for cash flow purposes.
Repayment of funds would be required within 30 days of
adoption of the budget.
Fiscal Effect
Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance estimate that
there will be no revenue or cost effects. Increases
stability of funding to transportation in 2007-8 and
thereafter.
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us for more information
