Washington, D.C.--Rep. Diane E. Watson (D-Los Angeles),standing by her decision to join 13 members of Southern California’s bi-partisan Congressional delegation in a letter Wednesday urging MTA’s board of directors to seek federal funding for a broad array of local transportation projects, pointed out that three major rail projects are in development or under consideration in her district.

“The Expo Line is already under construction, the Crenshaw line is finalizing its route to LAX, and the proposed "Subway to the Sea" will travel through my district from Western Avenue to La Cienega Boulevard,” said Congresswoman Watson. "In addition to Measure R funding the county will need additional dollars to complete those projects. Why not ask the Federal Government?" Congresswoman Watson explained that her hope is to encourage MTA to submit multiple projects to the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) for grant funding rather than see other regions of the country capture monies that could be used to improve the underdeveloped transit system in the Southland.

The October 20th letter reminded MTA that, the transit agency has projected, based on population, Los Angeles County should be drawing $200 million in funding under the Federal New Starts Projects program, but is only slated to receive $9.5 million in FY 2010. Moreover, the letter noted, other regions of the country often apply for and receive federal funding for more than one major transportation project at a time, including New York City, Seattle, Denver and Salt Lake City. Three transportation projects in the greater Los Angeles area were listed as potentially eligible for Federal New Starts funding, including the Crenshaw/South Bay Transit Corridor which the Congresswoman hopes will eventually extend from Wilshire Boulevard on the north to LAX on the south.

"I have always supported funding for the regional connector and the Subway to the Sea," Watson noted, in response to speculation that she and other signatories on the bi-partisan letter are opposed to Mayor Villaraigosa's effort to expedite subway and downtown construction. "I would be satisfied if MTA would pay special attention to the development of neglected minority communities in South Los Angeles."