$1 million quick release granted to California

The immediate release of $1 million in emergency relief funds to California will help pay for urgent repairs to roads and bridges damaged by wildfires, U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary E. Peters announced Oct. 29.

“We’re making this down payment because the last thing local officials should have to worry about is how to pay for needed road repairs,” Peters said. “We’re taking uncertainty and delay out of the equation when it comes to repairing the state’s damaged highways.”

Peters said the $1 million quick release was intended to help California address repairs that need immediate attention, such as damaged or destroyed guardrails, signs or traffic signals, and to get essential sections of the highway system working again until the state completes a full assessment of the damage.

The FHWA’s emergency relief program provides funds to states for the repair or reconstruction of federal-aid highways damaged by natural disasters or catastrophic events. The program typically works on a reimbursable basis.

"Transportation is key for communities to get back up and running again after a natural disaster,” said FHWA Administrator J. Richard Capka.