New Homeland Security Order Widens Interest In The Nationally Significant "OnTrac" Rail Project

First the deadly train bombings in Spain and now increased awareness from national alerts and noticeable security have peaked interest in the only Homeland Security Study on threats to the rail system.

Los Angeles, CA. (PRWEB) May 23 2004-- The CEO of the Orange North-American Trade Rail Access Corridor (OnTrac) Joint Powers Authority applauds this weeks (May 19, 2004) national security development. The Department of Homeland Securitys first anti-terror directive for the nation's commuter rail and subway systems order calls for wide-ranging precautions dealing with the use of explosive-sniffing dogs and inspections of bombproof trash cans and unattended bags.

OnTrac CEO Chris Becker, who released a 90-second video news release on a 2004 LAEDC Trade Study" Friday to local TV stations to show the public the need for more funding and said, Congress needs to allocate necessary funds to expand our nations rail system and provide money to reduce threats to our rail system."

The Video tape includes interviews with Chief Economist Jack Kyser, vice president, Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC) and Sunne-Wright McPeak, secretary of Business, Transportation and Housing for the Governor Schwarzenegger Administration.

It also includes raw video footage of freeways, trucks, ship yards and rail docks with busy pictures of goods movement in Southern California, which is on the brink of gridlock."

The regulations go into effect today (Sunday,May 23, 2004), however operators said they had not been issued copies of the Department of Homeland Security requirements. Some of the operators are complaining that there may not be enough money for transit systems to fully comply.

According to the Department of Homeland Security's latest figures, millions of Americans travel by rail every day and recent deadly terrorist attacks and reports highlight the need to be sure our rail system, goods movements and passengers are kept safe from acts of terror," said Becker.

Just one day after the deadly Spain bombings in March, the House Select Committee On Homeland Security began reviewing the only study of its kind done so far on the nations rail system produced for OnTracby LAEDC and the Rand Corporation, Santa Monica, CA.

The Alameda Corridor East rail lines moved about $116 billion in goods based on the manufacturers value in 2000," said Becker. The street value was much higher for these products. The street values of rail cargo traveling on the Alameda Corridor East in 2000 were $166 billion."

Becker testified last year at the Congressional Railroad Committee Hearings. He believes Washington should provide more flexible funding for environmentally beneficial rail projects, and significantly more funding for mega projects and grade crossing programs like Alameda Corridor East.

The threat of terrorism is real on strategic rail corridors with passenger and freight rail service and we believe that Al Qaeda's apparent interest in rail attacks should be a call to action," said Former Government Spy and Counterterrorism Expert Elsa Lee, CEO Advantage SCI, Redondo Beach, CA, who contributed to the one-of-a-kind Homeland Security report released on the anniversary of 9-11.

A copy of the report OnTrac Trade Impact Study: National Economic Significance of Rail Capacity and Homeland Security on the Alameda Corridor East (MayoCommunications.com or LAEDC.org ) was sent to the ranking members of the House Select Committee On Homeland Security in March this year.

And earlier this month (May 5, 2004) an LAEDC Trade Study (http://laedcinfo/pdf/Trade-04.pdf) revealed that International trade activity at the Los Angeles Customs District will grow to new record levels in 2004. "The Los Angeles area trade activity is bursting at the ports and rail corridors and creating local and national trade congestion problems. Gridlock will put 28,000 good paying trade jobs annually by late 2006 at risk," says Chief Economist Jack Kyser, LAEDC.

Other states need to recognize the benefits that they are receiving from all of this activity and to support California in improving the transportation capacity, which improves service to the entire country," said CEO Christopher Becker of OnTrac. Every state in the nation gets containers moved through either Long Beach or Los Angeles, so there is the need to ensure that the nations transportation infrastructure especially in Southern California can keep pace with the expected growth. We also need to protect our national corridors that provide goods movement and thousands of jobs.

The LAEDC study, International Trade Trends & Impacts," focused on three major challenges that could curb future growth. The challenges are landside infrastructure, environmental concerns, and port productivity.

International trade has been a tremendous generator of jobs in Southern California, with 31,600 created during 2003 moving the annual average in the region to 475,000 jobs," said Kyser. The industry should continue to grow and add jobs, but this is a good news-bad news situation." For the detailed International Trade Trends & Impacts," visit: www.MayoCommunications.com or (http://laedc.info/pdf/Trade-04.pdf).

    In terms of total two-way international trade through the Los Angeles Customs District during 2003, it was no contest as to which nation was the regions largest trading partner," said Kyser. Chinas two-way trade total increased by 24.0 percent to $68.2 billion, a new record level (not including Hong Kong). In second place was Japan, which had 2003 total trade with Los Angeles eased down by 1.0 percent to $41.5 billion. In 2000, Japans trade through the Los Angeles Customs District was $51.8 billion, but its recession and shifts in auto production has impacted Japans numbers. South Korea remained third in total two-way trade with Los Angeles during 2003, with an increase of 4.3 percent to $16.2 billion."

The largest trade commodities export out of Los Angeles last year was electrical apparatus with a value of $11.8 billion, up slightly from $11.3 billion in 2002. The second largest export was flying devices" (Census Bureau terminology) at $4.8 billion, unchanged from 2002. Fashion" exports out of Los Angeles were significant in 2003. Silk, wool and fabrics had a value of $1.3 billion, apparel exports were valued at $344 million, and beauty & hygiene products were valued at $660 million.

Imports through the Los Angeles Customs District in 2003 were headed up by electronic machinery valued at $26.4 billion, a sharp increase from 2002s $22.8 billion. In second place were motor vehicles at $23.0 billion, versus $21.2 billion in 2002. Apparel imports through Los Angeles totaled $12.5 billion, compared with $10.2 billion the previous year.

Other fashion" related imports included footwear ($6.2 billion), animal skin & leather ($2.5 billion), textile products ($839 million), silk, wool & fabrics ($587 million), manmade fiber ($465 million), hats ($349 million), and beauty & hygiene products at $313 million).

[Editors note: For more information about OnTrac Authority visit www.OnTrac-jpa.org or call: 949-456-0823.

For a copy of the DVD or VNR contact: Jerry Day, Jerry Day Productions: 818.843.3667. There are raw video and audio sounds for TV and Radio editors.

For images, studies or more information: Contact: Aida Mayo or George Mc Quade at: 818.340.5300 or 818.618.9229.

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