[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 113 (Friday, July 24, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1997]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          EARMARK DECLARATION

                                  _____
                                 

                          HON. MARY BONO MACK

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 24, 2009

  Mrs. BONO MACK. Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican Leadership 
standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information 
regarding earmarks I received as part of H.R. 3288, Transportation, 
Housing, and Urban Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act:
  Requesting Member: Mary Bono Mack
  Bill Number: H.R. 3288
  Account: Department of Transportation--Federal Highway 
Administration--Interstate Maintenance Discretionary
  Entity Requesting: Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, 5401 Din 
ah Shore Drive, Palm Springs, CA 92264
  Description of Earmark: $500,000 to be used for improvements to the 
Interstate 10 and Bob Hope Drive. This project is critical to 
alleviating traffic congestion in the Cochella Valley and funding for 
the project was sought in cooperation with the Cochella Valley 
Association of Governments (CVAG). The existing road facility at this 
location was constructed approximately 47 years ago. This interchange 
provides primary cross freeway access between the north and the south 
sides of the Valley as well as area connectivity with the Interstate 
Highway System. In addition to relieving traffic congestion on Ramon 
Road this project will also improve safety by replacing the dated on- 
and off-ramps at Ramon Road with a new modern interchange design at Bob 
Hope Drive.
  Spending Plan: The requesting entity plans to obligate the funds 
towards construction costs. CVAG has allocated $15,200,000 for this 
project and the State of California has budgeted $40,400,000 as well. 
Right of way purchases were completed in April of 2009 the construction 
should begin in September 2009.
  Requesting Member: Mary Bono Mack
  Bill Number: H.R. 3288
  Account: Department of Transportation--Federal Highway 
Administration--Surface Transportation Priorities
  Entity Requesting: Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC) 
4080 Lemon Street, 3rd Floor, Riverside, California 92502
  Description of Earmark: $750,000 for the Alameda Corridor East Grade 
Separation in Riverside County, California. The Alameda Corridor Grade 
separation is a high priority of the Riverside County Transportation 
Commission, and state. More than 68 million tons of freight pass 
through Riverside County to the rest of the country, but very little of 
this freight originates or ends in the County. Traffic and trains are 
halted at a number of crossings throughout the Coachella Valley. This 
grade separation will allow the flow of traffic, reduce congestion and 
delays, cut down on the air pollution, and increase efficiency of 
freight transportation.
  Spending Plan: The requesting entity plans to obligate the funds 
towards construction costs. RCTC's Grade Separation Funding Strategy 
calls for a 55 percent federal share of the entire program cost. 
Sources of the funding include voter-approved Measure A, developer 
fees, and city general funds.
  Requesting Member: Mary Bono Mack
  Bill Number: H.R. 3288
  Account: Department of Transportation--Federal Transit 
Administration--Buses & Bus Facilities
  Entity Requesting: SunLine Transit Agency, 32-505 Harry Oliver Trail, 
Thousand Palms, CA 92276
  Description of Earmark: $750,000 to be used for paratransit buses and 
commuter coaches to expand service in the Coachella Valley to meet 
transportation and mobility needs of seniors and persons with 
disabilities. As the regional transit provider in the Coachella Valley, 
SunLine provides fixed route and paratransit services in an area of 
1,120 square miles, with an annual ridership of 3.5 million. As traffic 
continues to increase, more residents are interested in commuting 
rather than driving. To implement the commuter service, SunLine will 
need to purchase coaches to operate the commuter service to the Pass 
Area, as well as Riverside.
  Spending Plan: SunLine Transit anticipates purchasing the paratransit 
buses by December 2009 and commuter coaches by December 2010.
  Requesting Member: Mary Bono Mack
  Bill Number: H.R. 3288
  Account: Department of Transportation--Federal Transit Administration 
Capitol Improvements Grants
  Requesting: Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC) 4080 
Lemon Street, 3rd Floor, Riverside, California 92502
  Description of Earmark: $5,000,000 is provided for the Perris Valley 
Line to extend existing Metrolink service 22.7 miles further into 
Riverside County creating better access to popular commuter rail 
transportation for residents. Most of the Perris Valley Line parallels 
the I-215 which is expected to carry as many as 400,000 vehicles per 
day by 2020. The Perris Valley Line provides commuters a mass transit 
alternative to the I-215, one of the fastest growing corridors in the 
county.
  Spending Plan: The requesting entity plans to obligate the funds 
towards construction costs to continue to ongoing development of the 
project. The total cost of the project is expected to be $193,000,000 
with small starts funding of $75,000,000. The remainder are expected to 
be paid by FTA 5307 funds, CMAQ funding and at least $29,000,000 of 
Measure A local funding approved by Riverside County voters and funding 
from the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP).

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