Here's a perfect example of what I'm talking about when I say the misplaced spending priorities of the federal government (and it's not even in my region). There's enough money to wage war in Iraq, but not enough to build a transit line in our 2nd largest city? What do we pay taxes for?
May 20, 2004 LOS ANGELES
Light-Rail Line to East L.A. May Be Postponed
Funding for an extension of the Gold Line faces a new hurdle after a key congressman expresses concerns about the project.
By Jia-Rui Chong, Times Staff Writer
Federal approval for the planned light-rail link between downtown Los Angeles and the Eastside could be significantly delayed, potentially adding millions to its cost, after a key congressman questioned the project and said he could not commit to funding it at this time.
Los Angeles officials said Wednesday the setback could cause them to miss a June 2 deadline for signing the construction contract, raising the prospect that the project could cost $100 million more if the contract must be rebid. The six-mile Gold Line extension from Union Station to Atlantic Boulevard in East Los Angeles is the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's No. 1 priority.
Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta and the Federal Transit Administration could still approve the project, but local officials worry that the concerns raised by Rep. Ernest J. Istook Jr. (R-Okla.), chairman of the House Appropriations transportation subcommittee, could postpone that step for many months.
"It will be difficult for the FTA to sign the full-funding grant agreement in light of an objection," said Roger Snoble, chief executive of the MTA.
"The anxiety level is going up," he added. "With 13 days left and a recess for Memorial Day next week, there's not a lot of time to make some significant changes."
The Gold Line currently runs from Pasadena to Union Station. MTA officials have estimated the total cost of the extension into East L.A. at $898 million.
The Federal Transit Administration told Congress on April 2 that it planned to approve a $490-million grant for construction of the extension.
That notification triggered a 60-day review period by Congress.
On Tuesday, a week and a half before the end of that period, Istook raised concerns about the MTA's project in a letter to the federal transit agency.
Given the tight federal budget and that other transportation projects have already been approved, he wrote, "This submission is simply unrealistic; we do not have the money."
latimes.com
Rock_nj: Why is the federal budget so tight? Could it have something to do with the rediculous amount of money we're spending in Iraq and other misplaced priorities that are running the deficit up to $500 Billion? |
