SSS" Congress of the Hnited States “sons House of Representatives Washington, BC 20515-0531 March 22, 2016 Secretary Anthony Foxx United States Department of Transportation 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, D.C. 20590 Re: San Bemardino Associated Governments TIGER Grant Application Dear Secretary Foxx ‘Lam writing to express my support forthe Transportation Improvement Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant application submitted by the San Bernardino Associated Governments (SANBAG) forthe Redlands Passenger Rail Praject (RPRP) in San Remmanina County, California, This nine-mile ral extension will benefit the region by providing residents and businesses with safe and affordable travel service from Redlands to San Bernardino while generating thousands of jobs, whichis vital tothe economic growth ofthe Inland Empire. San Bemardino County is expected to grove from our current population of 2.1 million people to nearly 3.4 mallion by 2060. Transit options like the RPRP willbe instrumental in giving thousands of residents and commuters safe and reliable options to travel throughout the region. Moreover, this project will create roughly 3,000 jobs and support many more for our community, which is still recovering from the Great Recession. Investing in our commuter rail infrastructure is important for future economic development and the environmental sustainability of our region, ‘The RPRP will provide a transit ink that starts atthe University of Redlands, includes stops in downtown Redlands and atthe Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI), continues onto the ‘VA Ambulatory Care Center at Loma Linda University Hospital, and ends in downtown San Bemardino. While everyone will benefit from the RPRP, low-income residents, veterans and students ‘who rely on altematives to automobile travel will be especially well-served with exsy access to schools, work and hospitals. The new stops will help support development, especelly in San Bernardino where downtown revitalization efforts are helping to create new jobs. I strongly encourage you to give SANBAG's efforts to secure a TIGER grant full and fair consideration, consistent with applicable laws and regulations. Ifyou have any questions, please contact Curt Lewis, our grants coordinator at 909-890-4445, Sincerely, Phe ApcBe Pete Aguilar ‘Member of Congress