Remember all that campaign rhetoric from Valley legislators about how effective they are in Sacramento? Now we'll see if they can back up their big talk or shrivel when confronted by legislators from the state's population centers. The battleground is state funding for Highway 99.
The $1 billion that Gov. Schwarzenegger has proposed for Highway 99 in his strategic growth bond is under attack from Bay Area and Southern California legislators. If the Valley loses this funding it will be because our legislators don’t have the juice to represent us when the stakes are high. We should not forget that at election time.
This isn’t a party issue. Democrats and Republicans across California don’t like the idea that the Valley may finally get its share of state resources, even though Schwarzenegger thinks it's a good idea. Valley legislators must take a stand for fairness, and to show that they can deliver for their constituents.
These are the people who must get the job done for the Valley: State Sens. Chuck Poochigian and Dean Florez, and Assembly Members Dave Cogdill, Juan Arambula, Mike Villines, Nicole Parra and Bill Maze.
The Legislature is finalizing the governor’s bond proposal, which could go before California voters this year. The governor has proposed a $12 billion strategic growth bond for the state, and the $1 billion for Highway 99 would be part of it. That funding would be a down payment on upgrading the main highway in the Valley. The overall cost for fixing Highway 99 is $6 billion.
This is a big test. Will the Valley get its fair share of the bond or will we continue to be second-class citizens when it comes to allocating state resources?
It is imperative that Highway 99 be upgraded. Anyone who uses it must be appalled, as we were yesterday.
Not only is it always at the edge of choking up, but the surface is disintegrating. Of course, the ultimate solution is high-speed rail. But until that occurs, we MUST improve Highway 99 or die in our own congestion.
I appreciate your comments in support of securing funding for Highway 99. It's going to be a real fight, and the Valley must unite to keep those dollars going to 99.
As we all know, the Valley has been ignored for too long. Mr. Boren is right in that this is the ultimate opportunity for our legislators to prove themselves and improve our region. As constituents, it is then our job to support our legislators and unite the Valley.
Teamwork is key. Legislators cannot win on their own, we have to help. It's our job. When the opportunity arises, support our legislators (whether you voted for them or not), write letters in support of H 99, vote "yes" if we're included in the proposal, and let's make the region a better place to live... something to be proud of!
What is the $6 billion for? Is that the cost for resurfacing and lane widening where needed? If so, that seems a bit high to me. Or is that the estimated cost of upgrading it to Interstate status?
If the latter, while I agree that improvements need to be made, I think the billions would be better spent on building a high-speed rail system through the Valley.