U.S. Transportation Chief Prods State to Catch Up on Funds

Transportation Secretary Samuel K. Skinner, in his first visit to Southern California since joining the Bush Administration, chided the state Monday for being “dead last” among the states in per-capita spending on transportation, saying, “You’ve got a lot of catching up to do.”

While Skinner, the former chairman of the Regional Transportation Authority of Northeastern Illinois, was critical of the state for not spending more on transportation--it spends about $6 billion a year--he said he would not presume to tell officials in the state what should be done to change the situation.

Addressing a luncheon sponsored by the Los Angeles World Affairs Council, Skinner said his top priority was to establish a national transportation plan that included both state and local government cooperation. “It’s only through cooperation . . . that we can find the resources for safe, efficient and affordable transportation,” he said.

Skinner also toured both light- and heavy-rail construction sites in Los Angeles.

“I’m very impressed with what is going on,” he said, commending local agencies for raising the needed money to start the projects.

However, when asked to react to reports that the Metro Rail project was behind schedule and possibly over budget, he warned that the federal government would not pay for any cost overruns.

“The federal government is not in the business of paying for cost overruns,” Skinner said. He said his agency is committed to fully funding the project, at the contracted costs.

When reporters pressed him on what course the federal government might take if cost overruns do develop, Skinner said he would not “second guess” the U.S. Inspector General’s Office investigation of Metro Rail spending or have any comment until he could study the final report.