[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 131 (Tuesday, November 16, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1984]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           A TRIBUTE TO WALTER D. KREUTZEN ON HIS RETIREMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. CHRISTOPHER COX

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 16, 2004

  Mr. COX. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a Californian 
whose dedication to the betterment of southern California has never 
wavered. Wally Kreutzen, retiring this month, will leave behind a 
remarkable legacy: A 51-mile network of toll roads he helped to 
propose, finance and build.
  Wally has over 30 years of combined public and private sector 
experience. He started his professional career working for a major U.S. 
oil company, and transitioned to the public sector where he worked for 
the citizens of Costa Mesa and Irvine.
  In 1989, Wally began as executive vice president--Finance and 
Administration for the Transportation Corridor Agencies, TCA, joint 
powers agencies charged with building new urban toll roads in Orange 
County. In that role, he coordinated the development of the initial 
plans of finance for the Foothill/Eastern and San Joaquin Hills 
Transportation Corridors, which resulted in the issuance of over $2.7 
billion in toll revenue bonds. Wally made it a priority to rely on 
alternative financing methods to build highways instead of relying on 
State and Federal gasoline taxes--the first time such innovative 
methods had ever been used in California.
  In 1997, Wally was appointed chief operating officer of the TCA, and 
in January 1999, he became chief executive officer. He has been 
responsible for all planning, construction, financing, and operations 
associated with the Foothill, Eastern and San Joaquin Hills toll roads, 
used by 290,000 drivers every day--and saving them an estimated 21 
minutes per trip.
  Wally has an undergraduate degree in Political Science and a masters 
degree in Public Administration from California State University, 
Fullerton. He is a former instructor for the University of California 
Irvine. He is active in a number of organizations dealing with public/
private transportation partnerships and with the funding and 
maintenance of public infrastructure.
  On behalf of my colleagues, let me join the many friends, coworkers 
and admirers in wishing Wally Kreutzen nothing but the best in his 
retirement. He leaves behind an enormously positive legacy for Orange 
County's residents.

                          ____________________