Barmack: We need a national policy for goods movement, accompanied by a reliable source of transportation funding to serve the mobility needs of this nation. The Los Angeles and Long Beach ports bring more imports into the nation than any other port. We’re advocating for the nation to better understand and recognize that this really is a system including ports, railroads, and highways that deliver goods not just for Southern California but for the country. In San Bernardino County we have the state’s largest concentration of logistics centers along the Interstate 10 Freeway. We’re taking in the imports and trans-loading them onto rail and exporting them to the rest of the nation.

Dolce: What resources do you have?

Barmack: Fortunately the county, like many others in the state, has a half-cent transportation sales tax dedicated to improving transportation. While the economy has certainly affected this revenue stream, it remains a source of income that we can count on to deliver our projects. This isn’t the case at the federal and state level. This is why projects are delayed. State and federal funds once were primary sources of funds are secondary.

Dolce: What projects are you working on?

Barmack: SANBAG has been very effective in the last several years developing a number of priority projects. We’re engaged in some of the largest and most aggressive transportation programs today totaling approximately $350 million. The plan is to put another $300 million out there in 2011. Transportation is absolutely crucial to the economic vitality of any region, especially ours. If you look at the bigger national and global businesses in San Bernardino County, such as Home Depot, Newell Rubbermaid, and UPS, they depend on an effective transportation network. They depend on a predictable timeframe to get their goods to market. Transportation is critical to our county’s businesses and SANBAG is helping them succeed.

We’re also creating lots of jobs in the county, particularly in the construction industry. SANBAG has developed unprecedented partnerships with the ports and air quality district to cooperatively highlight Southern California’s capability for economic growth and transportation improvement. SANBAG is an active member of the Inland Empire Economic Partnership and Inland Action. We work with the business community to understand and highlight their needs as well as gain their support for transportation improvement projects.

Dolce: How much of an impact does your work have on the county?

Barmack: One prime example of SANBAG’s impact is the widening of Interstate 215, one of SANBAG’s largest projects. When completed, it will change the character of the city of San Bernardino. All told, it’s an $800 million project that will improve traffic operations along the corridor. The project adds a carpool lane in both directions between I-10 and SR-210, connector ramps from I-215 and SR-210, and auxiliary lanes along the corridor. On a larger scale, it’s an opportunity for the city to reposition itself with a new profile.

Another good example is the reconstruction of the heavily-traveled Interstate 15/Interstate 215 interchange in Devore. It’s a $350 million design/build demonstration project. California is one of the few states that does not allow for design/build. This year however it authorized 10 demonstration projects to test the viability—and Devore was chosen as one. Improvements are expected to reduce traffic delays, improve the flow of goods through the region and enhance the reliability of goods headed to and from freight facilities in the San Bernardino Valley and the Victor Valley.

Dolce: What does the Inland Empire’s transportation future look like?

Barmack: There’s a lot of opportunity in the east end of the valley because that area is not yet fully grown. Many of our cities share a strong desire to plan for the future and protect transportation corridors for public transit. We’re seeing that now in San Bernardino, for example. SANBAG is working with all cities in the County to develop sustainability programs. In this way, each community can decide its own character and help to facilitate cleaner air and better land uses, while working proactively to integrate transit. In this way, we’re changing the nature of the city today and for the future.

When you look at the vast transportation challenges of a local community and a regional goods movement industry, you can see why there is a distinct advantage to having a forum such as SANBAG. Here cities can come together to discuss what works and what doesn’t. More importantly, and this is a big value to what we can do, we can work at integrating commerce, manufacturing and logistics, and learn from each other as to how to make it happen in our own communities.

Dolce: What is the future of goods movement in the County?

Barmack: Transportation will always be part of San Bernardino County, including rail and trucking. These are historically the “polluting” industries. I’m proud of a recent $20 million federal grant for the nation’s first large-scale diesel conversion program in this County. We’re working with trucking companies to actually clean the air. In this way, we’re proactively finding ways for our communities to live in close quarters with the logistics industry, and still benefit from the jobs and economic investment it brings to the region.

Dolce: What would you tell businesses looking to locate to the Inland Empire?

Barmack: They will find a government that welcomes them, one that works with the private sector to make things happen. We’re lucky to have active private sector businesses that are advocating on behalf of both large and small companies. Working together, we’re all about finding solutions to make this a great place to work and live and for business to thrive.

For more information on San Bernardino County, check out GlobeSt.com’s recent Q&A with Mary Jane Olhasso, Economic Development Agency administrator for the county. Olhasso oversees four county departments including redevelopment, work force development, economic development and housing and community development. Click here to read the Q&A titled: “Seize the Advantage.”