Full Text
August 19th, 2009 Mr. Raymond H. LaHood Secretary of Transportation U.S. Department of Transportation 1200 New Jersey Avenue, S.E. Washington, D.C. 20590 RE: City of Anaheim, California (Orange County) - Gene Autry Way (West) Highway/Interstate 5 HOV Interchange Project Dear Secretary LaHood: I am writing in strong support of the Gene Autry Way (West) Highway/Interstate 5 HOV Interchange Project being submitted for consideration to the Department of Transportation for the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) Grant Recovery Act program. The City of Anaheim is requesting $29 million for the $75 million project that will improve driving conditions and promote safer passageways for all Californians and those passing through Orange County. I represent the 34th Senate District in the California State Legislature, which includes the city of Anaheim. Since Orange County is the fifth most densely populated County in the United States, this project will help to increase traffic flow by enabling the use of HOV lanes through the I-5/SR-57/SR-22 junction known as the “Orange County Crush” – the 13th most congested interchange in the US. In the proposed project area, Interstate 5 moves an estimated 390,000 vehicles a day and currently, public transit, carpool vehicles and tourist coaches are not able to travel West on Gene Autry Way. Their inability to not travel West on Gene Autry Way creates increased traffic congestion because many of Southern California’s largest tourist destinations are located within a 2 mile radius of the project site like: the Anaheim Convention Center, Disneyland, Disney’s California Adventure, Honda Center, Angel Stadium, and the future Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center (ARTIC). The TIGER grant will allow the City of Anaheim to improve driving conditions and promote safer highways by addressing traffic congestion, which will undoubtedly relieve the stress of traveling in this major tourist area. Thank you for your attention to this matter, and I hope that after a thorough review, the City of Anaheim’s TIGER grant request will be given favorable consideration. If you should any questions regarding this matter, please don’t hesitate to contact me at (714) 558-4400. Sincerely, LOU CORREA State Senator, 34th District