405 PLAN MAY BE ACCELERATED STRATEGY AIMED AT PUSHING CAR-POOL LANE PROJECT.

Byline: Lisa Mascaro Staff Writer

Transportation leaders from both sides of the political aisle launched a two-part strategy Monday to get the 405 Freeway car-pool lane project started as soon as possible so as not to jeopardize $130 million coming from the federal government.

Meeting over breakfast at a Sherman Oaks deli, a who's who of San Fernando Valley-area leaders praised Rep. Howard Berman, D-Van Nuys, for securing the funds in last week's federal highway bill.

But the group then set out to secure $270 million needed to fully fund the project and to introduce legislation allowing construction under the controversial design-build method opposed by many Sacramento legislators.

Design-build is the system in which one company or firm delivers a project from blueprint to completion.

``We're going to do what we have to do to get this thing built,'' said Richard Katz, a board member of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

Berman wowed his colleagues by bringing home $130 million last week in the massive federal highway bill - jump-starting the $500 million project that was not slated to get under way until 2015.

But the windfall was less than the $400 million he had sought. With MTA and the state already committed to a $100 million match, a $270 shortfall remains.

The group was short on specifics for making up the difference, but said pledged to work with Sacramento and the MTA to secure additional funding.

``We've got to grow the pot here,'' Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky said later. ``If we can't, we're going to have a shorter segment of the diamond lane.''

Work must be under way by December 2009 or federal funds will be lost.

The project would put a 10-mile car-pool lane northbound through the congested Sepulveda Pass.

Assemblyman Keith Richman, R-Granada Hills, took on the job of introducing design-build legislation this summer, saying it could shave valuable time and money off the project.

The Legislature shot down a more sweeping design-build proposal backed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger earlier this year that would have shifted design work from Caltrans' engineers to private contractors.

Among those opposed was Assemblyman Paul Koretz, D-West Hollywood, who said he would likely support a change to speed up relief for the 405.

``While it wouldn't be my choice in the ideal world, I suspect in this one case we would have to do that; otherwise it might not get done in time.''

Chris Nance, a spokesman for the state agency that oversees Caltrans, said the state would ``absolutely support'' design-build efforts on the 405. But securing extra funding was up to the MTA, which decides how the state funds are spent in Los Angeles County, he said.

The group included Berman, legislators, California Transportation Commission member Allen M. Lawrence, MTA board member David Fleming and others.

Yaroslavsky said he knows car-pool lanes are controversial, but it's the only project on the books for any north-south traffic relief.

The meeting was held at Solley's Deli, where Richard Close, president of the Sherman Oaks Homeowners Association, first broached Berman with the idea for federal funding at the deli three years ago.

``This is probably the most important day in the San Fernando Valley in many a decade,'' he said. ``We're finally getting the funds from Washington, from the state and locals to expand the 405 and relieve congestion.''

Lisa Mascaro, [phone]

lisa.mascaro(at)dailynews.com

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Rep. Howard Berman, D-Van Nuys, stands with Valley officials at Solley's Deli in Sherman Oaks on Monday to discuss how to move forward in building the proposed 405 car-pool lane.

Michael Owen Baker/Staff Photographer