Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard Heralds LA-MTA Bi-Partisan Success In D.C.

Lucille, this month there was a positive breakthrough in Congress re a full-funding grant agreement for the MTA's Eastside rail line. Our readers would welcome your views on this award of federal transportation funds.

It's very exciting that we were finally able to get the full funding grant agreement because it was such a critical step in our ability to secure a multiyear commitment of federal resources. Had we not gotten the full funding grant agreement, then for all practical purposes, the Eastside Line would have had been dead and the whole project may not have been funded. So it's extremely good news and an excellent example of teamwork among the LA area Congressional Delegation, the LA Chamber of Commerce and our Governor's office that helped to make this a possibility. The MTA did an excellent job as well.

Let's first focus on reauthorization of the federal transportation bill which is still being debated, still in limbo, still a contest between the administration, and at least, the House. When will a decision be made and what divides the various interests re the Transportation bill?

Well, right now the whole transportation reauthorization bill is a real battle. There are a lot of questions as to whether or not we will be able to get it passed by the end of the year. And the authorization for the Eastside project is actually included in this measure which is called TEA-LU (Transportation Equity Act – A Legacy for Users). So it's really important that all the differences be resolved and that we will be able to move forward so that we can get the funding that we need for the Eastside Line. By the way, the battle is not just between Republicans and Democrats, but disagreement among Republicans themselves has emerged as to the amount of money that is going to be authorized.

Lucille, MIR has printed a number of interviews this year with Roger Snoble, and even Congressman Blumenauer, on the status of these negotiations. Do you want to weigh in with your own views on how and when the reauthorization bill will be approved?

At this point, it's anybody's guess. As I said, there is not just a difference of opinion between Republicans and Democrats. The differences of opinions within the Republican leadership itself need to be resolved before we can move forward. Since, as you know, the President has threatened to veto any bill in excess of $256 billion. And Republican leaders in Congress have vowed to not send the President a bill he would veto. But I think the President should sign the $315 billion measure. This is about jobs and it's an investment in transportation infrastructure that is a real investment in jobs.

Let's go back to the Eastside Line. What impacts will that new rail line have for the East LA community, much of which is represented by you?

It's going to have a tremendous impact, starting first of all with the creation of about 47,000 construction and operation jobs that are predicted to be created just by the project itself. But then, there are a lot of other benefits that will result from the Eastside extension. There's transit-oriented development, which spurs commercial and economic development for communities and creates new opportunities for housing following a strategy of smart growth. The Eastside Line also will provide a faster, more efficient, means of transportation for people living in the community to access a wider job market outside of the immediate area, and improve the general quality of life by providing access to a broader array of shopping, entertainment, recreation and other services. It's going to have a tremendous impact, both economically and in terms of quality of life within the community.

Elaborate, for future rail projects in Southern California, on the lessons learned from the successful efforts to secure this rail line's approval and full funding. What role did Mobility 21 play in helping this along? How about the MTA and the business community?

It's been a process over many years because a few years the MTA back did not have the best reputation in Congress. There was a lot of confusion here in Washington, from the existing administration, government agencies and members of Congress themselves, as to what were the priorities for the MTA and the LA region. It's really to the credit of Julian Burke, who began to change the culture of the MTA and re-established its credibility here in Washington.

That change in culture has continued with Roger Snoble, who has improved the communication of the MTA with our federal agencies as well as with members of Congress. He has shown a flexibility that was absolutely critical in our being able to move from subway to light-rail. He also helped facilitate a smooth transition from the Gold Line's independent construction authority to a successful operation of the Gold Line. The members of Congress have looked at all of these things very favorably, particularly those who serve on the Transportation Committee and the Appropriations Committee. This shift in reputation is very much in contrast to the way MTA and the LA area in general was viewed when I first got here 12 years ago. So they deserve a lot of credit.

But also, I really need to say that the whole Mobility 21 Coalition, under the leadership of Rusty Hammer and George Kieffer, has made a tremendous difference in how members of Congress and on these committees respond to the requests of MTA and the LA community. By bringing together the business community and various stakeholders in the Los Angeles area, they have been able to come together to work out a common plan, a common vision and to come to Washington to articulate that unified vision.

In the past, every little interest group would come to Washington with a different message and totally confuse the members of Congress as to what LA really wants. You are not hearing that anymore. We have our priorities straight. Everyone is talking from the same page and we have gained a lot of credibility here in Washington because of it.

The LA Area Chamber's recent Washington trip highlighted goods movement issues and our Ports' security. What are your thoughts re these issues?

There are several factors that have contributed to the attention that the movement of goods is getting, particularly in the LA area. One of the main reasons is the issue of homeland security as a result of what happened on 9/11. There is a real understanding and recognition by congressional leaders on the need to support and to protect the critical infrastructure of our ports. First, we have to have the appropriate infrastructure to prevent any kind of terrorist attack. But, secondly, in the event of an attack, it is absolutely critical that we have the backup or alternate infrastructure needed to keep goods moving. Our national economy relies upon it.

In fact, TEA-21 created a new borders and corridors program. In part, that was to provide a designated source of federal funding for transportation projects that would move goods and products. TEA-LU, the successor bill, also has a Projects of National Significance program, that can also benefit goods movement. So there really is a difference in thinking. In the past, we constantly had to deal with the "ABC" syndrome (anywhere but California), and certainly LA was not on the top of the list of members of Congress here in Washington. But, given the necessity of homeland security, that attitude definitely has changed. The role of our ports and LA to our national economy is now on the radar screen of members of Congress here in Washington.

Of what significance was Governor Schwarzenegger's help with the Republican Congress and White House re mobility projects in the region?

Quite frankly, Gov. Schwarzenegger was incredible on this issue and his help was significant. He really helped to make a difference in getting a reversal in the decisions that were originally going to be made on the full funding grant agreement, both by the Federal agencies and by the chair of the Transportation Subcommittee on Appropriations.

When Chairman Istook went to LA for a tour of the proposed rail line, Governor Schwarzenegger demonstrated the importance of the Eastside Extension and sent the chairman a letter of support. He also let us use his office for the post-tour briefing and allowed one of his staff to participate on the tour. The Governor helped to make this happen for us. I am very pleased with that, and I personally called to thank him for his assistance because I think he made the difference.

Lucille, there is a Rail-Volution Conference scheduled for September, Sept. 18 in LA. Inspired by your colleague Congressman Blumenauer, this conference annually brings together 1500 leaders in host cities to share successful models of transit-oriented development. With the conference in Los Angeles this year, the city's recent accomplishments will be showcased. Is this something that resonates with your agenda and your work; will you be involved?

I am very aware of the conference and intend to be involved. LA is the place to have such a conference, to showcase what we are doing in LA. LA probably has every type of transportation need, every kind of community is represented, and there is no better place to show off what is possible. So I look forward to being involved.

We can't close this interview without asking you to comment on the political climate in DC this summer.

Well, unfortunately, in terms of the political climate here, you don't see a lot of bi-partisanship at all. In fact, we are very polarized and you don't see a lot of cooperation. There are exceptions, and you will see some of those exceptions within the Appropriations Committee. And certainly, an exception was the work that was done on the Eastside extension. That was a bipartisan effort. Congressmen Dreier and Lewis were absolutely incredible and extremely supportive in contacting the leadership of their party to help them to understand the significance and the importance of that extension. Along with Governor Schwarzenegger, they were instrumental in making that happen.