Governor Schwarzenegger Puts Goods Movement In Orange County Back OnTrac

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Secretary Sunne-Wright McPeak, Senate Minority Leader Dick Ackerman (R-Dist. 33), and Assemblywoman Lynn Daucher (R-Dist. 72) have saved a vital railroad project in California from becoming derailed," said Placentia Mayor Judy Dickinson.

Placentia, CA. (PRWEB) May 14, 2004 -- News today (Thursday, May 13, 2004) from Sacramento is that the State Transportation Congestion Relief Program will be restored with $383 million to help rebuild and finish major projects that had funding frozen due to cutbacks during the budget crisis last year.

We are thrilled that Governor Schwarzenegger, Secretary McPeak, Senate Minority Leader Ackerman and Assemblywoman Daucher have been working together to create a funding package that puts goods movement through Northern Orange County back on track," said Placentia Mayor Judy Dickinson. Secretary McPeak has told local legislators that the project demonstrates the importance and "the effectiveness in using transportation funding to promote economic stimulus and improve the quality of life for the citizens of Placentia. I do certainly appreciate the importance of the rail corridor in connecting Pacific Rim trade with the nations freight rail backbone to create jobs in Southern California."

   Announcement of restored goods movement funding comes one week after Secretary McPeak attended a news conference at Union Station railroad tracks revealing results of an international trade study by the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC). Chief Economist Jack Kyser at LAEDC told us in the study that "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 Secretary Sunne-Wright McPeak for Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger Administration. But he also said our rail capacity will max out by late 2006. That means about 30,000 good trade jobs are at risk if we do not improve our infrastructure."

Republican California Assemblywoman Lynn Daucher (Dist. 72) represents Orange County and includes: cities of Anaheim, Brea, Fullerton, Orange, Brea, Yorba Linda, La Habra and Placentia, which needed the transportation funds the most for its grade separation construction underpasses and overpasses.

Senate Minority Leader Ackerman, a long-time Southern California resident, has represented Orange County in the State Legislature since his election to the Assembly in 1995. This month (May 2004), Ackerman was unanimously elected as the Senate Republican Leader. As a former local government official and small business owner, he is sensitive to the major problems facing California such as critical goods movement.

"The trade activity is bursting at the ports and rail corridors and creating local and national trade congestion problems," said Executive Director Chris Becker, Orange North-American Trade Rail Access Corridor (OnTrac) J.P.A. OnTrac and Northern Orange County will benefit from the restoration of funds by the Schwarzenegger Administration announced today in its budget revision for transportation.
A new Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC) Trade Study (http://laedcinfo/pdf/Trade-04.pdf) reveals that International trade activity at the Los Angeles Customs District will grow to new record levels in 2004. Trade gridlock problem will also put 28,000 good paying trade jobs annually by late 2006 at risk," said Senior Vice President and Chief Economist Jack Kyser, LAEDC.

The value of two-way trade at the Los Angeles Customs District should increase by 11.6 percent to $262.3 billion, while the total number of containers handled at the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles should hit 13.1 million twenty foot equivalent units (TEUs)," said Kyser. While trade is one of Southern Californias major growth industries, this growth is generating controversy and worries. There are no clear champions to articulate the benefits provided by international trade."
   
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."
"For the detailed International Trade Trends & Impacts," visit: www.MayoCommunications.com or http://laedc.info/pdf/Trade-04.pdf.

For a video news release or CD rom on OnTrac Authority (featuring b-roll of container cars, goods movement and tracks and interviews) with OnTracs Chris Becker, Secretary McPeak and Chief Economist Kyser Contact: Aida Mayo or George Mc Quade at: 818.340.5300 or 818.618.9229.

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