| Press Releases | Articles and Editorials | Online Press Kit
Contact: Scott Macdonald (310) 996-2671 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
 |
|
PROP. 35 SEEN AS KEY TO SAN DIEGO’S TRAFFIC SOLUTION SAN DIEGO – Saying it will bring traffic relief projects online faster while saving taxpayers billions of dollars, business, transportation and taxpayer leaders today urged San Diegans to support Proposition 35. Speakers at a news conference at the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce said traffic gridlock is costing California consumers almost $8 million every day in wasted time and fuel. "Proposition 35 is what we need to help get traffic moving again," said Mitch Mitchell, the chamber’s vice president for public policy. "It simply gives state and local government the flexibility to use private sector engineers and architects to complete overdue highway, rail transit and other projects. "This is something most other states already do." Thousands of projects have been identified throughout the state, but a group of Caltrans bureaucrats has severely restricted government’s ability to contract with the private sector. That is causing a kind of gridlock for project design. "Caltrans does not have enough engineers to design all the projects in this state," said Bill Clevenger, vice president of the San Diego Highway Development Association. "And we don’t have the nervous system to sit in traffic until they finally get around to it." Scott Barnett, executive director of the San Diego County Taxpayers Association, called Prop. 35 more than just common sense. "It is clearly the way to squeeze the most we can out of this unprecedented period of good economic times," said Barnett. "It is rare that we get to vote on a measure that an economic study found will save taxpayers $2.5 billion each year while allowing us to complete projects more quickly and efficiently. "We have the resources to get the job done. Prop. 35 will let us get to work." More information on Prop. 35 is available at www.YesProp35.com. Prop. 35 has won the endorsement of more than 350 organizations across California. Supporters include the California Taxpayers’ Association, California Chamber of Commerce, State Building and Construction Trades Council of California (AFL-CIO), California State Association of Counties, Encinitas Union School District, League of California Cities, Coalition for Project Delivery, Californians for Better Transportation, Solana Beach School District, the East County Regional Chamber of Commerce and Chambers of Commerce in Oceanside, Poway, Carlsbad and Escondido. |
||
