This past November, California voters overwhelmingly approved Proposition 1B, a $19.9 billion state bond for transportation improvements up and down the state. By voting for Proposition 1B, voters clearly communicated that they were tired of crumbling roads, increasing congestion and worsening traffic and highway safety problems. Californians voted with their pocketbooks to jump-start transportation projects right away.

State leaders have already begun allocating funds for key regional and statewide transportation projects and they should be commended. But lawmakers can do even more by kick-starting local transportation related projects by appropriating $1 billion in bond money to cities in this year's state budget.

As part of Proposition 1B, voters were promised that $1 billion of the funding would be sent to cities up and down the state to improve local streets, roads, mass transit and other important local transportation projects. California's cities have local road projects ready to begin construction, but still need funding.

Fully funding the $1 billion city share of Proposition 1B monies this year will allow cities throughout the state to begin work improving key local streets and roads. Here in Santa Clarita for example, we would be able to use this funding for:

1. Golden Valley Bridge over the Santa Clara River (last phase of the Cross Valley Connector)
2. McBean Regional Transit Center Park and Ride
3. Bridge Maintenance Program
4. Commuter Trail Segment 1
5. Overlay projects for city streets
6. Intelligent Transportation System Phase II

It's important to remember that every trip begins and ends on our local streets and roads. Funding these projects and others like them throughout the state is critical to keep California residents and goods and services moving. The local transportation system is a vital component to a seamless transportation network, which keeps our economy going.

Providing a $1 billion allocation this year for city projects is also good public policy. While many of the bigger statewide Proposition 1B projects will take years or decades to complete, city-led transportation improvements can commence quickly, producing visible results that voters can see right away and recognize that their investment is being spent wisely, responsibly, and quickly.

Unfortunately, current allocations in some of the state budget proposals being debated fall short of the full $1 billion allocation this year. But we're hopeful that the legislature and administration will meet the funding need. Inadequate Proposition 1B allocation will unnecessarily cause project delays of up to one year or more and limit the construction of many mid- and large-sized local projects otherwise ready to go.

It must also be taken into consideration that cities will not receive any Proposition 42 (gasoline sales tax) funds for local streets and roads during the 2007-08 year. This makes it all the more important to allocate adequate Proposition 1B funds that will allow projects already underway to continue without interruption.

State lawmakers and the administration made history when they worked, on a bipartisan basis, to put the bond package before voters. The voters, in turn, overwhelmingly approved these transportation investments.

California's cities stand ready to work with our legislators and the administration to make good on the promise we made to voters. Allocating $1 billion for city road repairs in this year's state budget is the best place to start. Thank you.