Federal Funds Sought to Extend Autry Way

City officials are lobbying for federal funds to extend Gene Autry Way west to link the Anaheim Stadium area with Anaheim Convention Center.

Mayor Tom Daly traveled to Washington last week to meet with members of Congress and Department of Transportation staff members and to testify at a Public Works Committee hearing of the House of Representatives.

Councilman Tom Tait also made a trip to Washington last December as part of the city’s continuing efforts to obtain federal assistance for the $45-million project

The city proposes adding carpool ramps from the Santa Ana Freeway onto Gene Autry way that would carry visitors to and from the resort area. Gene Autry Way would be extended westward to Harbor Boulevard.

Public Works Director Gary Johnson said extending the street to the west has been on the city’s General Plan for decades.

But Johnson said the project is “dependent on our ability to get the funding. It’s not a viable project without federal funds.”

Johnson said city, state and federal funds have already been earmarked to create an eastbound freeway interchange at Gene Autry Way to serve the stadium, the Pond of Anaheim and the surrounding business district.

Carpool ramps will be built in both directions of the Santa Ana Freeway to take those motorists directly to and from the stadium and the surrounding area.

That project, expected to cost about $26 million, will be constructed in mid-1998 and is part of a $1.1-billion Santa Ana Freeway improvement project through Anaheim, Fullerton and Buena Park.