Overview
An effective infrastructure network, including a transportation system that efficiently moves people, goods and services, is essential to California’s economic prosperity and quality of life. California’s business climate and lifestyle are endangered by decades of underinvestments and poor planning for roadways, schools, housing, levees and other infrastructure.
Goals:
Develop and maintain a statewide transportation network that is adequate for the needs of business, agriculture and individual citizens.
Major Victories:
- Supported legislation signed into law in 2010 authorizing use of design-build by the Riverside County Transportation Commission (AB 2098).
- Stopped new tax on goods movement in 2008 by leading a coalition of associations and businesses that persuaded former Governor Schwarzenegger to veto a bill to increase the cost of shipping goods and make California less competitive by imposing an illegal per-container tax in the ports of Long Beach, Los Angeles and Oakland (SB 974).
Issue Summaries
Federal Surface Transportation Funding
Position: Many transportation projects in California rely on funding from the federal government. The California Chamber of Commerce supports a well-financed, dependable and efficient transportation reauthorization that allows for maintenance of frail infrastructure, encourages new construction projects, and ultimately creates well-paying, reliable jobs for Californians. The CalChamber encourages California’s congressional delegation to ensure a fair share of funding for the state in transportation proposals and policies that encourage growth.Federal Surface Transportation Funding 
High-Speed Rail in California
Position: The CalChamber opposed Proposition 1A because of concerns with sustaining additional indebtedness when the state is facing such massive budget deficits. The CalChamber remains skeptical regarding funding plans that rely heavily on uncertain federal funds and ambiguous ridership numbers. In addition, there are many other high-priority issues that deserve legislative attention and funding.
Nevertheless, the CalChamber recognizes that voters passed Proposition 1A to make the initial investment in a high-speed rail system in California. Until the will of the voting public changes, the CalChamber seeks to limit further increases in costs. The CalChamber will seek to ensure that all interested private firms—whether foreign, out-of-state, or California-based—can bid for contracts without constraints so that the system can be built in the most cost-efficient manner. High-Speed Rail in California
Port Competitiveness
Position: The CalChamber supports policies that result in improved trade volumes, increased employment, and enhanced economic growth. Improvements in infrastructure will ensure that the state’s ports remain vibrant and competitive. California lawmakers should focus on policies that improve public-private partnerships to invest in port infrastructure and remove unnecessary regulatory barriers to growth.
The CalChamber supports the following policies in order to make California ports more competitive:
- A fair, balanced, workable regulatory environment;
- An enhanced public-private partnership for immediate investment in trade-supporting infrastructure;
- Strategic trade policies that stabilize and improve state and national economies. Port Competitiveness
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