Washington, DC - A Congressional hearing in Southern California today focused on how the region’s unique transportation challenges impact the movement of freight throughout the entire Nation, and the importance of greater freight efficiency to the U.S. economy.
U.S. Rep. John J. Duncan, Jr. (R-TN), Chairman of the Panel on 21st Century Freight Transportation, led the hearing in San Bernardino, California, with state, local, and private sector transportation officials testifying.
Duncan’s panel is a special panel of the U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and was established earlier this year specifically to make recommendations for the improvement of U.S. freight transportation.
“We brought this special freight panel of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure to Southern California today because this region is one of the most important trade gateways in the entire country, and as a result, the efficiency of the freight network here directly impacts the lives of consumers throughout the rest of the Nation," Duncan said. “Today’s witnesses gave the panel excellent input that will help us understand the unique freight transportation challenges facing Southern California, and how improvements in this region and to the U.S. freight transportation system in general can make a positive difference to our country’s economy."
“As freight traffic continues to increase, our region must be prepared to accommodate this growing demand in order to support future economic growth, create new jobs, and ensure the efficient movement of goods from our ports to store shelves across the nation," said U.S. Rep. Gary Miller (R-CA), a member of the Freight Panel and Representative in whose Congressional district the hearing was held. “I would like to thank Chairman Duncan for presiding over today’s important hearing and all of the participants for offering their perspectives on the unique challenges and opportunities facing freight transportation in Southern California and the impact they will have on our nation’s economy. I look forward to working with them and my colleagues on the panel to find solutions that will support our economic recovery and future growth and prosperity."
Every year, the Nation’s freight transportation system moves billions of tons of goods valued at tens of trillions of dollars. Because the United States supply chain is so interconnected, issues that impact one region of the country inevitably have a ripple effect through the entire network.
The panel selected Southern California as a hearing location because of its importance to the U.S. freight transportation system. Nearly 40 percent of the goods imported through the region move east of the Mississippi River, and exports from every region of the United States travel through Southern California ports en route to foreign markets. The issues that impact Southern California have a direct impact on the economic competitiveness of states across the Nation.
The Southern California freight system is truly multimodal, incorporating deep-water marine ports, international border crossings, interstate highways, multiple Class I railroads, numerous state highway routes and local collectors, air cargo facilities, intermodal facilities, and distribution and warehouse clusters.
These facilities combine to create over 60,000 direct jobs at the ports, airports, and border crossings and over 1.6 million trade-related jobs throughout Southern California. This industry brings in over $30 billion in local, state, and federal tax revenue every year. Supported by the freight facilities in the region, Southern California enjoyed over $90 billion in manufacturing activities in 2010, making it the third-largest manufacturing region in the Nation.
The Committee received testimony today from Kome Ajise, Deputy Director for Planning and Modal Programs for the California Department of Transportation; Hasan Ikhrata, Executive Director of the Southern California Association of Governments; Marnie O’Brien Primmer, Executive Director of Mobility 21; Scott Moore, Vice President for Public Affairs of Union Pacific; Mike Fox, President and CEO of Fox Transportation; and Rick Richmond, former Chief Executive Officer of the Alameda Corridor-East Construction Authority.
Source: House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
