Federal lawmakers are calling for additional funds to be allocated for Los Angeles River restoration projects. (photo by Edwin Folven)

U.S. Reps. Adam Schiff, Grace Napolitano, Lucille Roybal-Allard and Jimmy Gomez recently sent a letter to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers requesting increased funding for the Los Angeles River Ecosystem Restoration Project and the Public-Private Partnership Pilot Program in the Corps’ Fiscal Year 2021 Work Plan.

“We respectfully request you include $3 million for preconstruction engineering and design work for the L.A. River project and $50 million for the P3 Pilot Program as part of the Revolutionize USACE Civil Works initiative,” the letter read. “Together, this funding will support crucial engineering work needed for the project to move forward and enable the analysis and preparation necessary to begin the P3 process and develop financing options.”

In March, the Army Corps formally designated the L.A. River project as a public-private partnership project. This innovative development approach, a partnership between the Army Corps of Engineers and the city of Los Angeles, will reduce the federal government’s cost and risk while accelerating project delivery, the lawmakers said.

Schiff, Roybal-Allard, Gomez and colleagues from the Los Angeles area have consistently urged the House Appropriations Committee to provide funding for the Army Corps of Engineers. The Work Plan for Fiscal Year 2020 included $1.857 million for preconstruction engineering and design activities for the L.A. River project, the first federal funding since 2017.