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CHRIS NORBY Orange County Board of Supervisors Supervisor, Fourth District Orange County Hall of Administration 333 W. Santa Ana Blvd., P.O. Box 687 Santa Ana, California 92702-0687 Phone (714) 834-3440 Fax (714) 834-2045 [EMAIL REDACTED] August 25, 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: On behalf of Orange County’s Fourth District, I am writing to urge your support for 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 $75 million project, of which the City is requesting $29 million, will improve conditions and promote safe passageway for all Orange County residents and those just passing through. The City of Anaheim is located in Orange County, California, the 5th most densely populated County in the nation. This project will increase traffic flow by enabling the use of HOV lanes through the I-5/SR-57/SR-22 junction known as the “Orange Crush,” which is the 13th most congested interchange in the nation. Interstate 5 moves an estimated 390,000 vehicles per day in the proposed project area. Currently, public transit, carpool vehicles and tourist coaches are not able to travel West on Gene Autry Way. This creates increased traffic congestion, as within about a 2-mile radius of the project site are many of Orange County’s largest tourist destinations: Anaheim Convention Center, Disneyland, Disney’s California Adventure, Honda Center, and Angel Stadium, as well as the future Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center (ARTIC). The TIGER grant will allow the City of Anaheim to address these challenges and create tangible solutions that will relieve the stress of traveling in this major tourist area. Thank you for your attention to this matter. It is my hope that after a thorough review, the City of Anaheim’s TIGER grant request will be given every favorable consideration. Sincerely, Chris Norby Fourth District Supervisor Orange County Board of Supervisors