West Covina, CA – California State Assemblymember Dr. Ed Hernandez (D-West Covina) today came together with fellow legislators and elected officials representing the greater San Gabriel Valley to highlight key transportation priorities for the region and develop a strategy to ensure funding for the projects. 

“These are some of the most critical projects for our region, and we needed to come together as a group to demand our fair share of the funding.” said Hernandez, “We saw with the funding secured for the 10/605 interchange that we are more effective when we use our collective voice to ensure our projects are made a priority.”

Participants at the summit included Senate Majority Leader Gloria Romero, Senator Jack Scott, Senator Bob Margett, Assemblyman Mike Eng, as well as representatives from several other legislators’ offices throughout the San Gabriel Valley.  Officials from cities all over the region were also in attendance.  Presenters emphasized major projects like the Gold Line commuter rail extension, the Alameda Corridor-East construction project connecting the ports to the transcontinental rail network, and the planned carpool lanes on Interstate 10 between the 605 and 57 freeways.

“When completed, these projects will have a major impact on commercial and commuter traffic,” added Hernandez, “not just for our region alone but the surrounding counties, the state, and even the nation.  These projects are ready to begin, we need to secure funding and move these plans forward.”

At issue are Proposition 1B bond funds passed by voters in November of 2006, with substantial support from voters in the San Gabriel Valley.  The process for allocating these funds has already begun in Sacramento.  An additional concern was Governor Schwarzenegger’s proposal, released in May, to take revenue specifically earmarked for transportation and use it for other portions of the state budget.