As Riverside seeks to redefine its economic efforts to compete effectively for the future, we must continue to improve our infrastructure, particularly in the areas of energy, water, air, housing, transportation and technology. These systems provide the foundation for accelerated business growth, increased capital, investment, and an improved quality of life. Worthy improvements require smart investment, sound management, and a creative partnership between the public and private sectors. As government budgets continue to shrink, spending priorities will become more difficult to identify. The business community must emphasize the importance of continued infrastructure investment, as well as responsible and rational rate making decisions.

TRANSPORTATION – The Chamber Supports:

• Promoting fairness and competition for other transportation infrastructure funding opportunities based on impact.
• Engaging the Chamber membership and leadership in policy discussions with local, state and federal representatives as it pertains to options for public/private partnerships and alternate funding for infrastructure improvements.
• Recommendations regarding the development of alternative transportation solutions.
• Facilitating regional support for increased funding for grade separations and additional projects that mitigate the impact of goods movement, such as Proposition 1B Transportation Corridor Improvement Funds (TCIF) funding.
• Legislation, tax credits and incentives that promote more efficient movement of trucking traffic on highways in and out of the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.
• Local sources of aggregate and construction materials necessary to keep the cost of projects down to avoid costly transportation/imports.
• Toll roads as an alternative funding source.

WATER – The Chamber Supports:

• Measures that increase water supply and storage facilities within the region and allow for economically feasible water transfers solely within the system.
• Efforts to modernize the Endangered Species Act and other laws and regulations to allow water infrastructure projects, water supply conveyance, storage and water quality activities to proceed while protecting species and habitats.
• Measures to educate businesses on reducing usage and increasing efficiency and/or effectiveness of water conservation efforts, including the use of recycled water.

ENERGY – The Chamber Supports:

• State and federal regulations that will preserve the ratemaking authority of publicly owned utilities.
• The responsible phase-in of AB 32 implementation requirements such as the cap and trade system.
• Measures that promote additional transmission capacity and greater participation in the statewide grid improvement system.
• Programs and initiatives that provide for phasing in new “green” technology and provide local governments with adequate incentive to support such technology changes.

The Chamber Opposes:

• Green-based regulatory approached or mandates that are unduly punitive or costly and that would unnecessarily damage the region’s competitiveness or cause significant loss of employment.