KNABE ADVOCATING FOR INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING

NEWS FROM DON KNABE

Supervisor, Fourth District

County of Los Angeles

822 Hahn Hall of Administration

 

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KNABE ADVOCATING FOR INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING

Los Angeles, December 8, 2008 – Supervisor Don Knabe, Chairman of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors is in Washington, D.C. today meeting with legislative leaders about local infrastructure improvements as part of the federal stimulus debate for a nationwide, multibillion dollar investment in public works projects.

Included in Supervisor Knabe’s schedule today are meetings with the Army Corps of Engineers, the offices of Senator Dianne Feinstein and Senator Barbara Boxer, and the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. In addition to discussing County infrastructure projects, Knabe is also advocating for projects that would benefit the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.

Although the details of a federal economic stimulus package are only in discussion, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works still has over $485 million in infrastructure improvements projects ready to begin if a national public works investment becomes a reality.  Other County agencies, including the Department of Beaches and Harbors and the Department of Parks and Recreation have also identified tens of millions of dollars in additional projects.

Included in the list of proposed local projects are $28.1 million in improvements to the County’s five general aviation airports, $122.3 million in road improvements spread over 80 separate projects that would resurface dozens of miles of County roads, $258 million in watershed and flood control projects, and  $76 million in green technology and environmental improvements.

Among the largest proposals is a $20 million plan to replace residential water meters with wireless water meters, eliminating the need to drive to 65,000 homes monthly to read water meters.  The wireless infrastructure will eliminate the pollution associated with driving the required 141,786 miles and 6,000 gallons of fuel annually. A $35 million project would create wetlands to treat stormwater runoff from 2.2 square miles of the Sun Valley Watershed on a 46-acre site while incorporating open space, habitat and recreation.  The treated stormwater will be recharged in to the underground aquifer in Sun Valley.

"A large-scale national investment in infrastructure improvements could have the serious positive impact our economy needs,” said Supervisor Knabe. “Our plan for Los Angeles County will benefit the public, and more importantly create numerous jobs and businesses locally.”

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