ACR 98 passes Assembly, officially recognizing “Historic Highway 395”
Today, Assembly Concurrent Resolution 98 unanimously passed the State Assembly. Originally brought to Assemblyman Kevin Jeffries (R-Lake Elsinore) by Tom Casey with the Fallbrook Chamber of Commerce, ACR 98 designates the old alignment of Highway 395 as Historic Highway 395, and recognizes both the former and currently existing portions of Highway 395 as Historic Highway 395. By designating Old Highway 395 as a historic highway, local communities and cities may place appropriate signage along the route to commemorate its history and to promote tourism.
“It is my hope that with this resolution, there will be new recognition of the historical importance of Highway 395 and to the towns and people it has served for many decades. During these tough economic times it’s nice to be able to look back to a simpler time in California and hopefully preserve a little bit of our motoring history” said Assemblyman Jeffries. The effort to promote and recognize Highway 395 started with the Fallbrook Chamber of Commerce. “They came to my office with an idea to recognize part of their motoring history and it blossomed into a statewide recognition as other towns and cities got word of the effort” said Jeffries.
Historic Highway 395, which in many areas of California later become known as Interstate 15 and Interstate 215, ran through various communities such as Fallbrook, Temecula, Murrieta, Lake Elsinore, Perris, Riverside and San Bernardino County in its journey from San Diego to the Oregon border as the state’s only North-South route east of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. While Historic Highway 395 has largely been replaced in the more urban and suburban areas by current interstates, Historic Highway 395 remains completely intact in the High Desert and Northern California counties of Inyo, Mono, Sierra, Lassen and Modoc.
With the final passage of ACR 98, local governments and private entities along Old Highway 395 can now officially be designated with signs and other appropriate indicators as Historic Highway 395.
Assemblyman Kevin Jeffries (R-Lake Elsinore) today applauded Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger for signing an executive order declaring a drought and calling for concerted state action to conserve water and better coordinate Two areas hit hard…..
The Inland Empire. As significant population growth for California is occurring in the Inland Empire, we will be one of the hardest hit regions. The current drought conditions have already adversely impacted the ability of new businesses to expand into Riverside County (i.e. EMWD and the food company?).
Northern San Diego county. With large Ag operations, northern S.D. county Ag farmers have already been hit with drastic cut backs.
With the severe slump in the housing construction industry already causing significant job losses, a prolonged drought in California could have a devastating economic impact statewide.
Some quote along the lines of… “This past year I have seen good people come to the table in Sacramento, working to negotiate statewide solutions on behalf of everyone. Unfortunately a small number of powerful hardline environmentalists have derailed those negotiations, apparently preferring that we all move into grass huts or move out of the state”.
The first step in addressing the challenge is reasonable conservation efforts at the local level, followed with the prompt release of previously approved state water bond proceeds so that local water agencies can improve water treatment facilities and enhance ground water resources. Ironically, part of our state water problem is with the State Department of Water Resources. “I have heard an incredible amount of concerns indicating that DWR has been dragging its feet when it comes to approving bond funding for badly local water projects”. The 800 lb gorilla however remains the condition of the Delta and the need for new conveyance system around the Delta. Both projects need to get underway immediately if we are serious about our long term water supply.
Jeffries has been very vocal about the need to get started. He has repeatedly led the way on the Assembly floor in calling for the Legislature to stop attempting to micro-manage local water providers and start addressing the statewide needs.
Jeffries served nearly 16 years total on the Board of Directors of the Western MWD and Elsinore Valley MWD.