AB 914 (Brown) Support- Gov. Brown 9.16.15

September 16, 2015

The Honorable Jerry Brown
Governor, State of California
State Capitol, First Floor
Sacramento, CA 95814

Dear Governor Brown:

This letter is to advise you of Inland Action’s support for AB 914 (Brown, D‑San Bernardino) which will provide San Bernardino Associated Governments (SANBAG) with authority to construct and operate toll facilities on Interstate 10 and Interstate 15 in the County of San Bernardino. Inland Action is a non-profit organization of business and community leaders dedicated to the economic and community betterment of the Southern California region.

Local agencies like SANBAG are seeking innovative ways to deliver transportation improvements within limited budgets. Projects like the I-10 and I-15 will help serve a population in the region that is expected to grow from 2.1 million to 3.4 million by 2060. These corridors are among the most congested in the State and are also important goods movement corridors for California and the nation. Constructing these projects will save 2.1 million hours of delay for trucks traveling these heavy goods movement corridors. Through effective congestion management, SANBAG projects that 18% more traffic can be accommodated on the I-10 while reducing congestion by 25% in 2045. Together, these projects amount to 31,200 critically needed jobs for our region.

SANBAG is seeking specific authority through AB 914 so that they can stay on track to apply for a federal Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) loan in early 2016. Delays to this timeline would cost the projects $55 million annually and a potential increase of $210 million in interest costs over the life of the projects.

San Bernardino County continues to struggle to recover from the great recession and many of the State’s disadvantaged communities fall within the county borders. These projects will promote economic recovery, relieve traffic congestion, and improve the quality of life in our region. We urge your signature on AB 914.

Sincerely,
Deborah Barmack
President