LA: Officials call for action in extending Green Line closer to LAX

Source: http://www.dailybreeze.com/news/ci_14449826

Officials call for action in extending Green Line closer to LAX

By Sandy Mazza Staff Writer

Posted: 02/22/2010 07:03:16 PM PST

Regional and national elected officials on Monday called for swift progress in extending a light rail line closer to Los Angeles International Airport.

Rep. Peter DeFazio of Oregon, a senior member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, toured the areas proposed for a Green Line extension near the airport with South Bay Rep. Jane Harman, D-El Segundo.

DeFazio said he would be an advocate to garner much-needed federal funding for the project, but acknowledged he was not sure where the money would come from.

DeFazio called Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's plan to combine the transportation extension with other area improvements in the next 10 years a "big-bang" approach. The current plan relies on funds from Measure R, a half-cent sales tax approved by Los Angeles County voters in 2008 that will generate $40 billion in the next 30 years.

"These sorts of things are what we really need to do," DeFazio said. "I think taking one of the most congested places in the country and taking a big-bang approach is visionary. The problem is that this hasn't been done before. The federal government hasn't worked with a region on a scale like this."

But Villaraigosa argued Monday that the project needs federal funding so it can be expedited.

"We're the one city in the country that - in the middle of a recession - passed this measure," Villaraigosa said. "With a partnership with the federal government, we could be a blueprint of what other cities should be doing."

The Green Line currently stops about two miles short of the airport because, when the line was planned in the 1970s, it was intended more to serve workers in the El Segundo aerospace industry than airport workers.

On Monday, Harman called that decision ridiculous.

"This is a critical missing link and it makes no sense not to have it," Harman said. "The Green Line to the airport has been an obsession for a number of us for a long time. It's ridiculous that it ends where it does."

Construction on the Green Line extension is scheduled to begin in two or three years and finish no later than 2018. But it would only connect a stop at Aviation Boulevard and Imperial Highway to a stop at Century and Aviation boulevards.

Los Angeles World Airports would be in charge of shuttling passengers the additional mile to the airport terminals via a tram or bus.

LAWA currently has no firm schedule or budget to build a connection to the airport, and has instead focused on the $1.5 billion expansion of the Tom Bradley International Terminal that broke ground Monday.

LAWA spokesman Mike Molina said airport officials are in regular contact with MTA officials about the joint projects.

"LAWA is committed to the transportation of passengers from the Green Line to LAX," Molina said. "What mode of transportation that will be is a decision for the future."

DeFazio said he hopes his visit to the area stimulates some support for the project in Washington, D.C.

"There are still people who think it can't be done," DeFazio said. "But I think it can."

sandy.mazza@dailybreeze.com

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Bay Area: Metropolitan Transportation Commission to leverage public-private fund for TOD affordable housing

Source: http://www.carealestatejournal.com/index.cfm?eid=908212&evid=1&source=email

FEBRUARY 26, 2010

INVESTMENT
SF Transportation Agency Commits $10 Million to Affordable Housing

OAKLAND - The Metropolitan Transportation Commission has committed up to $10 million to new affordable housing through its program that aids transit-oriented development.

The agency, which covers transportation planning, funding and coordination for the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area, is helping establish a new revolving loan fund to finance land purchases for affordable-housing development in locations near rail and bus lines in the Bay Area. Its pledge is expected to attract matching commitments from private investors for a total of at least $40 million. This amount could be used to finance the acquisition of at least 20 to 30 acres in the region to build up to 3,800 affordable-housing units, depending on density.

Created through the agency's Transportation for Livable Communities program, the Bay Area Affordable Transit-Oriented Development Fund will mirror similar funds in Los Angeles and other large cities. The existing models have been used to leverage additional funds from commercial lenders, investment funds, foundations and public agencies to support affordable-housing development.

The new initiative is anticipated to begin making investments in 2011.

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Transit takes center stage during the 2010 Winter Olympic Games

From: http://www.metroplanning.org/news-events/newsletters/77

Tonight, the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic games will kick off in Vancouver, Canada. More than 6,800 athletes representing 80 countries will compete in a series of events that will reach an audience of three billion television viewers worldwide. Olympic organizers are expecting more than a quarter of a million visitors, staff, and volunteers to descend on the Vancouver region over the next 27 days.

To keep athletes, media representatives, fans, and volunteers moving to various Olympic sites, Vancouver’s plan included a $157 million investment in the city’s transportation network. Olympic transportation demands to and from downtown Vancouver are expected to be at least 30 percent greater than an average weekday – bringing daily transit ridership to almost one million people during the games.

Two major transit investments were made in Vancouver to help improve mobility during the Winter Olympics. The Canada Line – which connects downtown with the Vancouver International Airport – is the largest transit construction project in the history of British Columbia. This $2.2 billion light rail service extends 11.8 miles and has 16 stations. Funded by a public-private partnership, the Canada Line attracted 47 percent of its financing from private equity. The consortium of investors will finance the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of the system for the next 35 years. Once that ends, the public will have the option of operating and maintaining the Canada Line or entering into another contract for those services.

The second investment is Vancouver’s 2010 Streetcar, known as the Olympic Line. Connecting the Olympic Village with Grandville Island, the shopping, culture and arts district, this 1.12-mile streetcar attracted 6,000 riders on opening day. During the games, athletes, visitors and residents will be able to ride the streetcar for free. Currently a 60-day demonstration project, the Olympic Line uses a fleet of low-floor boarding streetcars to provide greater accessibility for all users. The $8.5 million system was paid for by the City of Vancouver, with a $500,000 contribution from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. Pending additional funding, the streetcar could become a permanent fixture in the city’s transit network.

After the torch is blown out and the buzz of the Olympics quiets down, the people of Vancouver will return to their daily routines. The Olympics bring a unique opportunity to make significant investments in a city’s infrastructure and leave a lasting legacy of the Olympic experience for the world’s host. Vancouver’s success with innovative financing tools to help support the funding of a transit line and ability to connect meaningful destinations will leave positive, lasting mark in the city.

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SF: US DOT Approves $171 Million Loan for Transbay

Source: http://www.carealestatejournal.com/index.cfm?eid=907551&evid=1&source=email

JANUARY 28, 2010

DOT Approves $171 Million Loan for Transbay

SAN FRANCISCO - A $171 million loan was approved by the Department of Transportation Jan. 26 for construction of the Transbay Transit Center in San Francisco.

The Transbay Joint Powers Authority wanted the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act loan due to its favorable investment-grade credit rating.

The loan will finance 14 percent of the project's $1.2 billion first phase, which consists of the construction of ramps to the Bay Bridge, a bus storage facility and the design of an underground transit facility.

The authority has applied for $400 million in federal economic stimulus funds to build below-grade train levels as part of the first phase of construction, which could save the project $100 million.

The loan for the $4.2 billion transit hub could enhance the development of high-speed rail in California,

"In addition to creating jobs, high-speed rail will spur commerce while reducing greenhouse gases and reliance on foreign oil," said Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi praised the project for spurring nearby housing and businesses to revitalize the neighborhood.

The project broke ground on a temporary terminal in December 2008 and completion is expected in 2014 with an estimated total cost of $4 billion.

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California to get $2.25 billion in high-speed rail funding - latimes.com

The Real Camino: Congratulations to California voters for winning the largest federal grant of $2.25 billion for high-speed rail after its voters had the leadership of passing the $10-billion high-speed rail bond. This investment of federal grant and voter approved bond will be a down payment on a future of cleaner and more efficient transportation as well as leadership in transportation planning and technology.

Source: http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-na-high-speed-rail28-2010jan28,0,766963,print.story

latimes.com

California to get $2.25 billion in high-speed rail funding

The federal stimulus grant, the largest for any state, is intended to help bring the Anaheim-to-San Francisco project to fruition.

By Richard Simon

January 28, 2010

Reporting from Washington

California will receive $2.25 billion, the largest amount for any state, in federal economic stimulus funds to develop a high-speed rail line running from Anaheim to San Francisco -- a big boost for the long-discussed project aimed at accelerating the state's economic recovery.

Overall, the Obama administration plans to distribute $8 billion for work on 13 rail corridors. Those include a Midwest line from Chicago to St. Louis and one in Florida running from Tampa to Orlando.

Trains on the proposed Anaheim-to-San Francisco line, which is projected to cost about $42 billion, would whisk passengers the 400 or so miles in no more than 2 hours, 40 minutes. The project would take a decade to complete, with extensions to San Diego and Sacramento planned.

President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden will announce the funding today during an appearance in Tampa. Administration officials will be in other parts of the country to tout the grants as a job-creation measure at a time when Democrats are increasingly anxious about losing congressional seats in the upcoming midterm elections.

The money will help "lay the groundwork for a nationwide infrastructure expansion that will spur economic growth in communities across the country, provide faster and more energy-efficient means of travel, and establish a new industry in the U.S. that provides stable, well-paid jobs," a White House official said Wednesday.

Mehdi Morshed, executive director of the California High-Speed Rail Authority, said he was "delighted" by the news, and noted that California had pledged to match federal funds dollar for dollar.

Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) said the funding would "create tens of thousands of jobs across California, reduce air pollution and congestion on our roads, and help us build a cleaner, more efficient transportation system."

California had sought $4.7 billion in federal funds. But the state was competing with 44 applicants from 23 other states, seeking about $50 billion. California argued that it was further along in planning than other states, citing voter approval in 2008 of a $10-billion high-speed rail bond.

About $100 million more in federal funding will come to California for other rail improvements, including new tracks and crossovers to increase train speeds between Los Angeles and San Diego.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has complained that California sends more money to Washington than it gets in return. His press secretary, Aaron McLear, said Wednesday that the "one-time stimulus is completely separate from the ongoing funding formulas that are robbing California taxpayers and forcing us to subsidize programs in other states."

How much more California could receive for high-speed rail is unclear because of Obama's proposal to freeze non-defense spending to trim the deficit. But an administration official, who requested anonymity when discussing White House plans, said that in addition to the stimulus funds, Obama remained committed to seeking $5 billion over five years for high-speed rail projects.

An additional $2.5 billion was included for high-speed rail in the recently approved transportation spending bill, and lawmakers have talked about including as much as $50 billion for such transit in a multiyear bill that will be written later this year.

richard.simon@latimes.com

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Coalition Urges Obama To Create National Infrastructure Bank

More to come about a national infrastructure bank.

ULI Article:
Coalition Urges Obama To Create National Infrastructure Bank

This post was written for The Ground Floor by Robert Krueger, communications associate at the Urban Land Institute.



This week, Building America’s Future, a coalition of public officials and private organizations – including ULI – hosted a news conference on Capitol Hill to voice support for greater investment in infrastructure. The group, which included ULI Executive Vice President Maureen McAvey, urged President Obama and members of Congress to make the creation of a National Infrastructure Bank (NIB) a top domestic priority for 2010.



“We are in desperate need of movement,” said Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell, co-chairman of Building America’s Future. “Infrastructure is still the nation’s best job creator. A National Infrastructure Bank would bring the best ideas of the public sector along with the best ideas of the private sector together to produce jobs and rebuild America’s infrastructure.”



Rendell expressed the need for both presidential leadership and Congressional cooperation in creating a new system for long-term funding that is “based on merit.” He noted that the current system is inadequate since it results in the incompatibility of work between various states.



The concept of a National Infrastructure Bank is supported by ULI. Building America’s Future suggests a National Infrastructure Bank that would go beyond allocating funds for national, regional and local transportation projects. In addition, it would synchronize projects between states and improve investment by:



• Creating a system of project selection based on what is most needed and feasible • Providing incentives for multi-state transportation projects
• Ensuring that sufficient federal funding will be available for these projects
• Creating a system that maximizes public sector spending by integrating private sector investment.



“This is common sense,” said Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT). “If we are to grow in the 21st century, we need to maintain and expand the existing infrastructure.”



Though there is much support for creation of this type of system, there is concern over funding and how a National Infrastructure Bank would work into the current system. In a statement issued by Building America’s Future, McAvey stressed the need for dropping what has not worked and adopting systems that have proven effective. “Europe, China and Japan have all used infrastructure banks to fund major, cross-border projects of long lasting significance,” she said. “A financing tool like the National Infrastructure Bank should operate as a bank, independently underwriting loans to important projects. This would bring billions of new money, private and public, to invest in sorely needed modernization and new construction.”



The coalition also includes Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-CA), New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, former Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE). In addition to ULI, it includes representatives from the Brookings Institution, American Public Transportation Association, American Society of Civil Engineers, Center for National Policy, and the United Steelworkers.

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Obama Administration Proposes Major Public Transportation Policy Shift to Highlight Livability

Thr Obama Administration's policy change for transportation funding will benefit urban areas by focusing on the livability of multi-modal and multi-nodal transportation solutions, as opposed to simply reducing commute times for suburban commuters. This policy change will support the transit needs of higher density in cities like Los Angeles.

Press Release:
Obama Administration Proposes Major Public Transportation Policy Shift to Highlight Livability
01-13-10
Contact: Paul Griffo
Telephone: (202) 366-4064

Changes Include Economic Development and Environmental Benefits

In a dramatic change from existing policy, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today proposed that new funding guidelines for major transit projects be based on livability issues such as economic development opportunities and environmental benefits, in addition to cost and time saved, which are currently the primary criteria.

In remarks at the Transportation Research Board annual meeting, the Secretary announced the Obama Administration’s plans to change how projects are selected to receive federal financial assistance in the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) New Starts and Small Starts programs. As part of this initiative, the FTA will immediately rescind budget restrictions issued by the Bush Administration in March of 2005 that focused primarily on how much a project shortened commute times in comparison to its cost.

“Our new policy for selecting major transit projects will work to promote livability rather than hinder it,” said Secretary LaHood. “We want to base our decisions on how much transit helps the environment, how much it improves development opportunities and how it makes our communities better places to live.”

The change will apply to how the Federal Transit Administration evaluates major transit projects going forward. In making funding decisions, the FTA will now evaluate the environmental, community and economic development benefits provided by transit projects, as well as the congestion relief benefits from such projects.

“This new approach will help us do a much better job of aligning our priorities and values with our transit investments” said FTA Administrator Peter Rogoff. “No longer will we ignore the many benefits that accrue to our environment and our communities when we build or expand rail and bus rapid transit systems.”

FTA will soon initiate a separate rulemaking process, inviting public comment on ways to appropriately measure all the benefits that result from such investments.

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