Transportation Bill Passes With Language Helpful to Gold Line Extension

Transportation Bill Passes With Language Helpful to Gold Line Extension

Gold Line Provision Requested by Rep. Schiff and Dreier Urges Strong Federal Matching Funds

Washington D.C. – Today the House passed important legislation, H.R. 1195, that included language requested by Congressmen Adam Schiff (D-CA) and David Dreier (R-CA) that urges strong federal funding of phase two of the Gold Line.  Since the first phase of the Gold Line relied on state and local funding alone, Schiff and Dreier urged the transportation committee to support a strong federal investment in the next phase.

The bill was approved in the Senate last week and today’s passage in the House clears the way for the President to sign it into law.

“The expansion of the Gold Line will help improve the quality of life for all Southern Californians by reducing congestion, lowering emissions, and fostering economic development,” said Schiff.  “The inclusion of this language is welcome news for our region and I thank Chairman Oberstar for his commitment to helping us move the project forward.”

“Meeting our region's transportation needs is a top, bipartisan priority,” Dreier said.  “The local match language in this legislation is critical to the long term success of the Gold Line and provides an important boost in the Federal Transportation Administration's contribution to the federal, state, and local partnership of the project.”

The first phase of the Gold Line, from Union Station in Los Angeles to Pasadena, was constructed entirely with state and local funds.  H.R. 1195 will help ensure that the second phase of the project, the expansion from Pasadena to Montclair, receives significant federal funding. 

Last year, Congressmen Schiff and Dreier received a commitment from James Oberstar, Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, that he would work closely with Reps. Schiff and Dreier to ensure the Gold Line receives the most favorable federal-local division possible.

Receipt of federal funding -- no matter how favorable the match -- is dependent on inclusion of the Gold Line extension in the MTA's long range plan and the commitment of state and local funds for the effort. These matters will soon be decided by the MTA and Reps. Schiff and Dreier have advised the agency that it must take action or risk losing hundreds of millions of transit dollars to other areas of the state and country.

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