The California Transportation Commission (CTC) allocated $298 million for 81 transportation projects, which includes $181 million from Proposition 1B, the 2006 voter-approved transportation bond, and $62 million in federal economic stimulus funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The remaining $55 million was allocated for pavement maintenance, bridge preservation, safety and environmental enhancement projects.
“These projects will create thousands of jobs and boost the economy while improving the state’s highway system,” said California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) Director Will Kempton.
The Recovery Act funding provides $49 million to advance a widening project on I-215 in San Bernardino County. The additional $13 million will fund two highway improvement projects in Monterey and Fresno counties.
The Proposition 1B allocation went to four projects in San Bernardino County. In order to complete the projects, additional funding is being made available from a private placement of bond sales financed through the San Bernardino Associated Governments. For information about all of the projects that received funding allocations and financial advancements, visit: http://www.dot.ca.gov/docs/ctcprojectallocationsandfinancialadvancementsapril2009.pdf
In addition to the allocations, the CTC voted to allow Caltrans to advance $261 million in ARRA funds to three Proposition 1B projects. The funds will go to projects on I-405 at the Sepulveda Pass in Los Angeles County, State Rte. 905 in San Diego County and the Caldecott Tunnel in Contra Costa and Alameda counties. The San Diego County project was previously approved by the CTC, but was stalled due to the state’s difficulty in funding the project through its bond sales.
