SCHWARZENEGGER PUSHES PROPOSALS IN VALLEY VISIT.

Byline: Rick Orlov Staff Writer

SHERMAN OAKS - With the jammed 405 Freeway as a backdrop, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger made a pitch Monday for changing how freeways statewide are built, while also pushing one of his reform proposals on the November ballot.

Speaking at a news conference atop the Sherman Oaks Galleria parking structure, Schwarzenegger would not comment on reports that he would have vetoed a bill to expedite funding for a car-pool lane for the northbound 405 Freeway, but did say he wants to see a change in how freeways are improved.

``You have to build as quickly as possible,'' Schwarzenegger said. ``The current law says it would take seven years to build a new freeway. I don't think we should have to wait that long.''

The state Senate last month adjourned without approving a package to provide money to draw $130 million in matching funds for the HOV lane, over the objections of Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

State Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata said last week that Schwarzenegger told him he would have vetoed the measure unless it applied the ``design-build'' concept on a statewide basis. The concept is opposed by unions representing state workers.

The governor also was trying to build support for Proposition 76, one of the four reform measures on the Nov. 8 ballot. Called the ``Live Within Our Means Act,'' the measure asks voters to give the governor more leeway on a variety of voter-approved programs.

Also, the governor insisted the measure would not reduce funding to education, but Robin Swanson of the No on Proposition 76 Committee disputed that claim.

``We believe this would underfund the schools by $4 billion a year - that's $600 a student,'' Swanson said. ``Proposition 76 puts these funds at risk. What the measure does is give the governor more power without having to deal with the state Legislature.''

Rick Orlov, [phone]

rick.orlov(at)dailynews.com