Caltrans doesn't have enough engineers and architects to do work already assigned to the state agency, let alone the work coming down the pipe due to the governor's $6.8 billion transportation improvement plan. Rather than grow government by hiring and training hundreds of new public workers to meet a temporary need, it makes better sense to hire private firms to complete the work on time. But the state constitution won't allow it. Proposition 35 would amend the constitution to allow Caltrans to hire the private firms needed to design much-needed projects like the Jamieson Canyon Road widening.

If the California Department of Transportation could manage its workload and complete the public works projects authorized and financed by state taxpayers, we would have no problem with a provision in the state constitution that forbids the hiring of private engineers and architects.

But the work isn't getting done, and there's more work on the horizon. The governor plans to spend $6.8 billion on new transportation projects.

The solution to this backlog problem lies with the private sector.

Rather than continue to grow the government by hiring and training more permanent public engineers and architects, it makes better fiscal sense to contract temporarily with private firms. The proven system of competitive bidding will keep costs down, and more importantly, the projects will get done in a timely fashion.

That would be no small accomplishment, considering that in Napa County alone, people are dying on Jamieson Canyon Road at an alarming rate. Partial funding for that highway improvement project is in the governor's budget, but who knows how long it will take for Caltrans to design and engineer it? Ten years is not uncommon, according to the state's Legislative Analyst.

Proposition 35 on the Nov. 7 ballot will speed things along by amending the state constitution to allow state and local governments to hire private engineers and architects for project design and engineering.

This will not only speed road projects, but also taxpayer-approved and financed school, prison and water projects throughout the state.

The primary opposition to Prop. 35 comes from the union of state-employed engineers, architects and land surveyors, whose members can't possibly handle all the work that needs to be done. They simply don't want anyone else to get the work.

That's not a good enough reason to stall much-needed improvements designed to protect the public's health, education and safety.

When the self interest of public employee unions begins to take priority over life-saving public works projects like the Jamieson Canyon Road widening, it's time to change the system.

The Register joins the City of Napa, the Napa Chamber of Commerce, Rep. Mike Thompson, the California Taxpayers Association, the California Chamber of Commerce, the League of California Cities and the Sacramento Bee in endorsing Proposition 35.


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