Things are kind of quiet this month, so I will simply present status reports on funding issues (federal and state) plus LAX master plan continued squabbling:

It seems clear a stalemate has developed between the Congress and Administration regarding TEA21 renewal. Veto threats and veto proof votes have escalated the situation and so far compromise hasn't been a serious part of the equation. I have to think the Congressional Republicans don't want to undermine Bush as the re-election effort gather steam. But perhaps emotions and grand-standing has created a situation that is hard to back away from. I suspect eventually things will be worked out but the outlines of any such deal seem dim at this time.

Governor Schwarzenegger is still likely to follow thru on his plans to divert transportation funds to help close the budget gap. The interesting aspect is transportation has a larger and more diverse constituency than it had in the past. There are signs some funds will be made available for priority projects. And even some of the recently passed bond used to pay back past transportation trust fund "loans". While transportation is not high on his list of priorities Schwarzenegger has promised to address long term funding issues. Some advocates hope this will include reforms that bring an end to the threat of future transportation fund raids.

Mayor Hahn may come to see LAX as his Waterloo. Nobody is satisfied with his LAX modernization proposal--not residents near the airport, or the airlines or most other stakeholders. Meanwhile the recent audit of contracting practices at the airport released by the City Controller has created a sense of "blood in the water" as valued allies resign and candidates to challenge Hahn's re-election start lining up. Hahn isn't dead in the water yet but he certainly appears vulnerable. I predict the LAX process will go back to square 1 and finally address fundamentals.

P.S. - can anyone explain why Los Angeles claims to support a regional approach yet stopped sending representatives to meetings of the Southern California Regional Airport Authority? SCRRA eventually disbanded partly due to lack of support from L.A. This looks like a perfect example of
Hahn dropping the ball...

I'd like to conclude with a fond farewell to Trinh Nguyen, who is leaving the Surface Transportation Policy Project as its California Field Director. Thankfully Trinh will continue to be involved in transportation/ land use activism in her new job. Good luck, Trinh!