[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 73 (Monday, June 13, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: June 13, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
            NATIONAL HIGHWAY SYSTEM DESIGNATION ACT OF 1994

                                 ______


                               speech of

                       HON. WALTER R. TUCKER III

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 25, 1994

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 4385) to 
     amend title 23, United States Code, to designate the National 
     Highway System, and for other purposes:

  Mr. TUCKER. Mr. Chairman, I would like to take this time today to 
talk about two projects that are of concern to me, one of them is in my 
district and the other one is outside of my district. The first project 
that I would like to talk about is a project in my district, the 
Alameda corridor. The Alameda Corridor Project is an $1.8 billion 
investment in the Nation's largest seaport, the World Port of Los 
Angeles and Long Beach. This project would expedite the delivery of 
goods imported and exported through the ports of Long Beach and Los 
Angeles to downtown Los Angeles and to the rest of the country.
  With the passage of NAFTA and the increase of Pacific rim trade, this 
Nation needs a seaport that can accommodate the significant increase in 
the amount of goods imported and exported and have the ability to move 
them rapidly to their destinations.
  The economic stimulation that the Alameda corridor will bring to the 
southern California region is phenomenal. Ten thousand construction 
related jobs right away and 70,000 jobs throughout the country upon 
completion of the Alameda corridor. This project is a win-win situation 
for the Nation. This country needs to invest in its infrastructure and 
the Alameda corridor is the perfect project to invest in.
  The other project that I would like to bring to your attention is the 
Intelligent Vehicle Highway System research going on in the city of 
Anaheim. Although this IVHS research is not in my district I feel that 
this body should know about this project.
  Based on previous congressional authorizations and awards by the 
Secretary of Transportation, Federico Pena, the city of Anaheim is 
working on a state-of-the-art regional integrated traffic management 
center that is scientifically helping to facilitate the movement of 
highway and interstate vehicular traffic throughout the Los Angeles/
Orange County region.
  Mr. Chairman, the city of Anaheim in coordination with the aerospace 
and defense industry in southern California has proposed an IVHS 
research program that will use existing Regional Integrated Traffic 
Management Center, sponsored by the Department, to develop new vehicle 
and traffic management technology of the kind that the 1991 ISTEA 
authorization encouraged the Secretary to carry out.
  Unfortunately the Anaheim regional IVHS project was not included in 
the bill H.R. 4385, although the intent of this bill is to help upgrade 
the Nation's ability to reduce traffic congestion. I would urge the 
Secretary to consider the eligibility of the Anaheim project for 
inclusion in DOT's IVHS Development Program.
  Mr. Chairman, I would like to quickly talk about another part of H.R. 
4385 and that is section 103. Section 103(b) requires a value 
engineering analysis for all projects on the National Highway System. 
This provision will result in two clear benefits: the first, the 
analysis will permit the identification and elimination of excess 
project costs and harm without sacrificing project quality. The second 
benefit is the value engineering analysis will provide an objective and 
effective process to resolve any disputes that may have arisen 
regarding a particular project. To this end, the evaluation of every 
NHS project by a multidisciplined team of persons not originally 
involved in the project or activity will assure that any 
predispositions as to design--e.g., route, mode, or configuration of a 
project will be replaced by an objective review of each proposal, 
regardless of the results of prior analyses, or when such reviews were 
conducted, or by whom. Accordingly, not until a de novo value 
engineering analysis is completed as part of NEPA review will any 
project proposed for inclusion in the NHS obtain the approval of the 
Secretary in a record of decision. In this way, each NHS project 
submitted for approval by the Secretary will represent the most 
efficient and cost effective way to meet specific transportation needs 
without questions as to cost, quality or disputes as to design.
  I would like to thank the gentleman once again for yielding me time 
to discuss the National Highway System legislation and I yield back any 
remaining time that I might have.

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