Q: What is Proposition 35?

A: Prop. 35 is a straightforward initiative that will help get California moving again. It simply gives state and local government the flexibility to use private sector engineers and architects where it makes sense to do so – something most other states already do.

Q: Sounds redundant actually…doesn’t this kind of contracting already take place?

A: It was until a small group of bureaucrats at Caltrans – who want to keep all work IN-house –filed lawsuits that have severely restricted government’s ability to contract with the private sector. This is a tremendous roadblock to completing literally thousands of overdue highway, rail transit and other projects to alleviate traffic, prepare us for the next quake, and shore up California’s ailing infrastructure.

Q: Thousands of projects?

A: This problem affects not only the well-identified and funded projects in the STIP (State Transportation Improvement Plan) and, above and beyond that, the Governor’s new multi-billion dollar commitment to road and rail projects, it also impacts school construction, water projects, parks and other government projects. In fact, there is so much work on deck it will require the use of both Caltrans AND private engineers to get it completed on budget and on time.

Q: A lot of those projects mentioned – water, parks, schools – are controlled by local agencies. How could any of this impact that?

A: Unfortunately, the Caltrans bureaucrats have successfully threatened these local projects. One more lawsuit directed at a project in your neighborhood would, in our current situation, most likely bring it to a screeching halt. That is why we need Prop. 35. It ensures state and local governments will have the flexibility to use private engineers and architects when that is the best way to get projects completed.

Q: But some public employee unions are fighting this. Doesn’t it mean their members lose jobs?

A: No. As we said, there is so much work to do, we need the help of everyone who is qualified -- both public and private sector engineers and architects -- if we expect to complete these projects quickly, safely and at a savings to taxpayers.

Q: It may not mean loss of jobs, but opponents say new procedures will need to be developed that will cause delays.

A: It seems a peculiarly Caltrans bureaucrat’s perspective to think that putting more people to work on a job would cause delays. The initiative clearly states no new procedures need to be developed. We will make use of the same procedures already on the books that require evaluation of competitors on the basis of experience, capability and cost.

Q: But, aren’t local governments concerned Prop. 35 will cause problems?

A: Not by any reasonable barometer. The California State Association of Counties and the League of California Cities both endorse Proposition 35. More than 150 cities, counties, school districts and other local agencies endorse Prop. 35. Local government is clearly asking for the flexibility to use private engineers and architects to get critical projects completed.

Q: Who else supports Prop. 35?

A: It is a huge, broad and diverse coalition that includes more than 200 organizations, including the California Taxpayers’ Association, California Chamber of Commerce, Operating Engineers – Local Union #3 (AFL-CIO), League of California Cities, California State Association of Counties, Coalition of Adequate School Housing, California Minority and Women’s Business Coalition, Consulting Engineers and Land Surveyors of California, Californians for Better Transportation, American Institute of Architects (California chapter) and the Coalition for Project Delivery.