February 19 , 2008 Contact: Rick Jager/Marc Littman Metro Media Relations 213.922.2707/922.4609 www.metro.net/pressroom FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Metro Joins Other Southern California Agencies in Requesting $2.2 Billion in Trade Corridor Improvement Funds

Metro today joined other Southern California agencies in requesting $2.2 billion in Trade Corridor Improvement Funds to be allocated by the California Transportation Commission (CTC) aimed at improving the flow of goods movement throughout the region.

“We are here today as a united front representing Southern California in requesting our fair share of these important transportation dollars that will go a long way at improving the movement of goods through the area,” said Metro CEO Roger Snoble.

The request was made during the first Trade Corridor Improvement Fund hearings held in Los Angeles. CTC Commissioners were on hand at today’s hearing as representatives from Southern California agencies presented their request for $2.2 billion to help fund 53 transportation improvement projects.

Members of the Southern California Trade Corridor Improvement Funds Working Group include the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, the Alameda Corridor Transportation Authority, the Alameda Corridor East Authority, the Riverside County Transportation Commission, the San Bernardino Associated Governments, Orange County Transportation Authority, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro), Ventura County Transportation Commission, Southern California Regional Rail Authority (Metrolink) and the Southern California Association of Governments.

“Here in Southern California, an unprecedented coalition of transportation interests has joined to develop a consensus approach to investing in goods movement infrastructure while protecting the quality of life for local residents,” said Snoble. “These five counties, with a combined population of 18 million residents, are bearing the brunt of congestion, safety and air quality impacts of the nation’s largest ports.”

In making their case to fund various transportation improvement projects that range from grade separation and rail crossing improvements to widening and reconstruction projects to improve the delivery of goods throughout the region, members stressed the importance of funding these projects noting that 85 percent of California’s containerized cargo is currently being handled by the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.

In addition, the Los Angeles and Long Beach ports handle seven times more international cargo than ports situated in Northern California with Southern California’s road and rail system managing 75 percent of all cargo exported from the State of California annually.

It was also pointed out to the CTC that based on data compiled by the California Air Resources Board, it is estimated that over 1,200 residents of Southern California die prematurely every year due to the effects of particulate matter and ozone pollution generated from goods movement activities and that over 80 percent of Californians who are exposed to dangerous levels of diesel emissions reside in these five Southern California counties.

“Today’s united voice can not be ignored,” said Snoble. “Given the facts presented today, these projects must be funded. We remain hopeful that the CTC will allocate these vital transportation trade corridor funds to Southern California.”

The meeting held today here in Los Angeles is the first of many hearings planned throughout the State by the California Transportation Commission before deciding which projects will receive funding from the Trade Corridor Improvement Funds.

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