Dennis Gillette Thousand Oaks Councilmember Dennis Gillette joined other civic leaders from Ventura County last week on a trip to cold, rainy Washington, D.C., to make a case for area transportation projects.

"We spent two full days walking the halls of the House and Senate, and I'm very pleased with the way we were received," Gillette said.

The longtime council member is vice chair of the Ventura County Transportation Commission. He made the trip with county Supervisor Kathy Long, chair of the commission, and Darren Kettle, executive director of the commission. Also in the group were Oxnard Councilmember Dean Maulhardt and Ventura Dep. Mayor Bill Fulton.

With stimulus money being offered and Congress beginning to work on a new sixyear highway plan, the Ventura County Transportation Commission members wanted to be the first in line, Gillette said.

At the top of his list is $30 million in federal highway funds for improvements to widen the 101/23 freeway interchange to relieve congestion and air pollution on Thousand Oaks streets.

That interchange is critically important in other ways besides local impact, Gillette said.

It's the gateway to Port Hueneme and an important part of a circular corridor that includes the 405, 118, 23 and 101 freeways. If a problem occurs on Highway 5—weather or disaster—the traffic goes through that interchange, Gillette said.

The group from Ventura County met with U.S. representatives Elton Gallegly (RThousand Oaks), and Brad Sherman (D-San Fernando Valley), along with the staff members of U.S. senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer, both California Democrats. They also met with Senate and House transportation committee members and chairs, he said.

Together they also asked for funding for the expansion of western Ventura County's Gold Coast Transit, he said.

"I'm optimistic. We made a strong case as we worked together to make sure all of our bases were covered," Gillette said.