An "incredible growth" of cargo entering the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach -- expected to double by the year 2020 -- is the driving force behind the $2 billion Alameda Corridor project. The planned railroad freight corridor, runs 20 miles north from the ports to the transcontinental railheads near downtown Los Angeles.

This was among the central comments made by Gill V. Hicks, general manager of the Alameda Corridor Transportation Authority, during the September dinner meeting of the AIR in downtown Los Angeles.

In addition to maintaining our ports in a preeminent position with such competitors as Seattle-Tacoma, Hicks said the Alameda Corridor will have a major positive impact on traffic along that route.

Hicks explained that over 200 unseparated grade crossings along the corridor, which currently result in significant traffic tie-ups, will be eliminated by what he said will be the first consolidated railroad link of its kind.

"With the dramatic increase in cargo coming through the ports, the increased rail traffic would become a substantial problem if we don't build the Alameda Corridor," Hicks told a capacity AIR gathering of industrial real estate brokers, property owners and developers.

Citing specific benefits, Hicks said the Corridor will result in a 90 percent reduction in rail crossing delays, and a 23 percent decrease in truck traffic on the Long Beach Freeway because of increased rail capacity.

Hicks noted that the ACTA is close to awarding a contract for the 10-mile "mid-corridor" segment of the project, which will feature a below grade 33-foot trench through the cities of Lynwood, South Gate, Huntington Park and Vernon. South and north of the mid-corridor, trains will travel at street level, ultimately crossing the Los Angeles River just north of Washington Boulevard where they will divert to their respective railroad mainlines.

ACTA is currently negotiating with the low bidder for the mid-corridor, with the matter going before the Board in October.

Responding to audience questions concerning the impact of the project on property owners, Hicks said a concerted effort is being made to minimize impact along the route, adding that without the Alameda Corridor project, it could be "disaster" for local businesses once trains are at full capacity.

Hicks added that while he could not be specific about the impact on property values, he expected that they would be positively influenced because of landscaping and commercial improvements that are part of the corridor plan

A "directed focus, undertaking a limited number of high quality projects receiving the benefit of intensive and continuing involvement of the firm's principals", is central to a company philosophy that has distinguished Tooley & Company, a Trammell Crow Company, for over two decades.

Tooley & Company, an AIR member for over five years, is a full-service real estate firm specializing in development, leasing, management, consulting, acquisitions and dispositions for office, industrial and retail properties throughout the United States.

Based in West Los Angeles, Tooley & Company's current inventory of projects totals in excess of 20 millions sq. ft., according to Kent Jakobsen, senior vice president.

Moreover, the firm is responsible for developing, leasing and managing some of California's most prestigious projects, including Century Plaza Towers in Century City, Westwood Gateway in West Los Angeles, Jamboree Center in Irvine, The Water Garden and Wilshire Palisades in Santa Monica, the 201 California Building in San Francisco, Airport Marina Center in Marina Del Rey and La Jolla Gateway in La Jolla.

In order to broaden services the company could deliver to its clients, Tooley & Company merged in 1998 with the Trammell Crow Company, providing the leadership of the company the financial resources and national support to continue its steady course of expansion, Jakobsen said.

Implementing its stated strategy to real estate services, Tooley & Company has become recognized in the industry as an innovative problem solver, based on a goal of creating value for both the company and its clients.

The firm achieves this in part by integrating real estate expertise across diverse disciplines, from strategic planning and development to marketing and management.

We all know that AIR stands for the American Industrial Real Estate Association. We also know what the AIR does for its members in terms of Forms, Industrial and Commercial Data, Ethics, Education, etc. But, few realize the side benefits that Associations have on American society.

" Association budgets now exceed $21 billion. They employ 260,000 full time people and pay $1.1 billion each year in local/state/federal taxes.

" Association meetings account for 26 million overnight stays in U.S. hotels each year. Members pay $10 billion each year in education/training programs and spend $1.1 billion complying with association standards.

" Members devote 173 million volunteer hours annually to charities and community service activities.

" 28% of association dollars go to education and public information, 13% to convention planning, 10% to lobbying, 7% to product/service standards, 5% to industry research, and 37% to other categories.

" Members belong to associations mainly for education and training, lobbying, networking and information to the public.

" For the future, more emphasis will be placed on web site and e-mail communica-tion, education programs, public information, industry research, grassroot programs, and convention planning.

As we can see, Associations have a huge direct and indirect benefit to the economy and society in general, above and beyond the benefits to their own members. The next time someone asks why you are a member of an association, remember that through associations, we benefit others as well as ourselves.