From left, Sen. Barbara Boxer, Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, Rep. Diane Watson, Rep. Jane Harman, Rep. Maxine Waters and L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. Photo by Luis Inzunza.

With these words, U.S.D.O.T Under-Secretary Roy Kienitz made it official on Wednesday morning: “On behalf of President Obama, I’m here to present you with a loan of $546 million.”

As many of you already know, Senator Barbara Boxer announced last Friday that the federal loan would help speed the building of the Crenshaw/LAX light rail line, with work beginning as soon as 2011. The project was originally scheduled to be completed by 2018 in Metro’s long-range plan, but Metro officials say the loan may — emphasis on ‘may’ — make it possible to complete the project by 2016.

The loan is certainly a big deal, but what makes the federal money more compelling is that it’s now clear  that the Obama Administrations backs the thrust of the 30/10 Initiative, the Metro policy to seek federal loans and other financing to build 12 Measure R transit projects in the next 10 years instead of the next 30.

The loans will be repaid with Measure R tax revenues, which flow into local coffers over a long time. The loans and federal help would make it possible to start work now, rather than wait for the revenues to show up.

The event Wednesday morning to formally announce the loan was held in Leimert Park, a few steps from where the light rail alignment would run. Not surprisingly, a large contingent of public officials attended, including Sen. Boxer, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Supervisor Mark-Ridley Thomas, Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, Rep. Diane Watson, Rep. Jane Harman and Rep. Maxine Waters. Also in attendance was Los Angeles County Federation of Labor executive secretary-treasurer Maria Elena Durazo.

Under Secretary Kienitz told the crowd that the loan came from discretionary funds that his agency uses for interesting projects around the country — and that both the Crenshaw/LAX line and the 30/10 Initiative qualified as such. He also said that 30/10 couldn’t be done overnight and would need some existing law changed by Congress as part of the next federal transportation bill.

“I hope this is not the last time we get together and do something like this,” he said.

I later asked him if other parts of the country were aware of 30/10 and how it might help them. Kienitz said the program is well-known in transportation funding circles but that one reason he attended the event today was to help promote to other regions how 30/10 could might help them complete transportation projects.

Supervisor Don Knabe, who couldn’t atttend the event, said “This loan money will be spent to get the project going, creating thousands of jobs and millions in economic development opportunities once completed – funding that will help jump start the economy and put people to work.”

Mayor Villaraigosa served as M.C. of the event. He envisioned the 30/10 Initiative, which was later backed by the Metro Board of Directors (of which Villaraigosa is a member). Some quotes from public officials:

•Sen. Boxer: “The 30/10 Initiative is a template for everyone in California — the local communities who step up to the plate with local funding…This is going to be in the next [federal] transportation bill.”

•Boxer, by the way, was widely credited by every speaker for her hounding of the U.S.D.O.T about making the loan.

•”It’s the first step in realizing the 30/10 Initiative,” said Mayor Villaraigosa.

•Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas said that getting Crenshaw off the ground was a “long-time coming,” and pointed out that this was a project long championed by L.A. Mayor Tom Bradley and Rep. Julian Dixon.”

•”Today’s announcement means that that people will be employed, will be able to get to their jobs and will continue to be able to pay taxes to help government run,” said Rep. Diane Watson.

•”Do you realize what this project will do to spur development of this community?,” asked Rep. Maxine Waters, pointing out that the Crenshaw corridor is lined with many small businesses that have been hanging on through hard times and need a boost.

•Rep. Jane Harman vowed that Congress will pass a transportation bill next year that will change transportation funding formulas and create an infrastructure bank that will allow all of the pieces of 30/10 Initiative to happen. To Mayor Villaraigosa, she said “This was your brilliant idea — it’s the best jobs idea out there.”

First Step In Funding Metro Board Approved 30/10 Initiative

Metro Applauds U.S. Department of Transportation’s $546 million Loan for Crenshaw/LAX Transit Corridor Project

Metro officials today applauded the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) announcement of a low interest loan of $546 million for the Crenshaw/LAX Transit Corridor project, representing the largest public works investment in South Los Angeles.

“This loan will enable Metro to more quickly build this important light rail line in the Crenshaw District and represents the first major federal funding received for a Measure R transit project,” said LA County Supervisor and Metro Board Chair Don Knabe. “We applaud the USDOT and Secretary Ray LaHood for selecting this project – a project that will go a long way, in providing much needed transportation improvements to an important region of the county.”

The $546 million loan from the federal Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) program will help get construction underway for the Crenshaw/LAX Transit Corridor project in the Crenshaw District, which will connect to the Metro Green Line and the Expo Line, currently under construction, eventually, providing direct train service to a planned LAX transit center.

Metro is currently preparing environmental documents and soon will begin preliminary engineering. Construction could start in late 2011 and be completed in the 2016-2018 time frame.

Today’s announcement is a major step forward in funding the 30/10 Initiative, the Metro Board approved policy that seeks to build 12 Measure R transit projects in the next 10 years instead of the next 30 years by using federal loans and other financing.

“This loan money will be spent to get the project going, creating thousands of jobs and millions in economic development opportunities once completed – funding that will help jump start the economy and put people to work,” said Knabe.

The Crenshaw/LAX Transit Corridor Project calls for construction of a new 8.5-mile light rail line to extend between the Exposition Line at Exposition and Crenshaw Boulevards and the Metro Green Line LAX station. The project connects downtown Los Angeles, West Los Angeles and the South Bay, and provides critical linkages for the region’s residents, employees, and national and international visitors.

The alignment is a combination of at-grade, below-grade and above-ground sections. Six stations are proposed at Exposition/Crenshaw, Crenshaw/Martin Luther King Jr., Crenshaw/Slauson, Florence/West, Florence/La Brea, and Aviation/Century. Two optional stations at Crenshaw/Vernon and Aviation/Manchester are being studied. In addition to the rail line, the project includes development of a maintenance facility with four sites currently under consideration.

The Los Angeles County Economic Development Corp. estimates that the rail line will generate approximately 15,100 jobs directly related to the project both created by Metro and project workers that will spend money in the economy.

The total capital cost of the project is $1.470 billion in 2008 dollars. The TIFIA loan will be repaid by using Measure R half cent sales tax monies approved by LA County voters in 2008.

For information on the Crenshaw/LAX Transit Corridor Light Rail Project visit Metro’s website at www.metro.net/crenshaw.