California releases another $1.6 billion in federal stimulus money

Further illustrating the California’s commitment to ensuring that it is prepared to put federal stimulus funding into the economy as quickly as it is available, another $1.6 billion in federal stimulus funding was allocated today for transportation projects across California, bringing the total amount allocated to date to $2.2 billion.

The California Transportation Commission approved the allocation along with $50 million for the Doyle Drive reconstruction project in San Francisco. Doyle Drive is the 60-year-old southern access to the Golden Gate Bridge and a vital transportation link between San Francisco and Marin and Sonoma counties.

“We are delivering on our promise to get this economic recovery money allocated as quickly as possible and put people to work,” said California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) Director Will Kempton. The $1.6 billion allocation of new funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) will be distributed to regional agencies for transportation projects throughout the state. Projects will be selected based on a combination of their “shovel-ready” status, job creation and their benefits to the state’s transportation infrastructure.

Caltrans has launched a website (www.dot.ca.gov/Recovery) designed to provide the public and the transportation industry with up-to-date information on using the ARRA funds on transportation projects to create jobs and jump-start the economy.