California Gov. Schwarzenegger Announces $394 Million for Transit Projects to Keep Economy Moving and Protect Environment

03/07/2008 -- Continuing his efforts to stimulate California's economy, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today announced approximately $394 million in Proposition 1B bond funding for 106 transit projects statewide. In total, these projects will create 7,200 jobs and more than $256 million in wages and leverage total investment of $1.9 billion.

"In addition to giving our economy a shot of adrenaline, these projects will help reduce traffic and protect the environment," said Governor Schwarzenegger. "This is a perfect example of how our investment is helping the people of California. Up and down the state, our transit money will expand rail lines, buy vehicles for persons with disabilities and help systems upgrade to cleaner, more efficient buses."

These are the first transit projects to be funded by Proposition 1B, the 2006 voter-approved $19.9 billion transportation bond championed by Governor Schwarzenegger. This round of funding is the first of two annual funding cycles from the bond's $3.6 billion Public Transportation Modernization, Improvement and Service Enhancement Account. The transit projects announced today build on the more than $1.6 billion already allocated under Proposition 1B.

"Governor Schwarzenegger wants to immediately put this $394 million to work on projects that will improve public transit and air quality and keep people working," said Caltrans Director Will Kempton.

"These projects will improve air quality by taking cars off the road and further encourage the use of public transit, benefiting California's environment for years to come," said California Environmental Protection Agency Secretary Linda Adams.

Some of the more notable projects approved for funding include:

Bay Area

* $24 million to Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) for the seismic retrofit and improvements of BART from the Transbay Tube to the Berkeley Hills Tunnel. These measures will allow service to be restored faster following an earthquake.
* $12.1 million to the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority to construct improvements in the Santa Clara Street / Alum Rock Avenue corridor to be used by two Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) lines.
* $15.6 million to Alameda-Contra Costa Transit to replace more than 50 older buses.

Sacramento

* $7 million to Sacramento Regional Transit for a variety of projects, including rebuilding 36 light rail vehicles to assure they reach their projected use of 30 years.

Fresno

* $2.5 million to the city of Fresno to purchase cleaner Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses to replace older buses that emit more air pollutants.

Los Angeles

* $171 million to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority for a wide range of transit improvements, including expanding the Mid City/Exposition light rail line, purchasing 95 new CNG buses, converting 12 miles of an existing lane on Wilshire Boulevard between Los Angeles and Santa Monica to a bus-only lane and rehabilitating older buses.

Orange County

* $25.2 million to the Orange County Transportation Authority to build CNG fueling infrastructure in Garden Grove, Anaheim and Irvine, and to purchase paratransit vehicles for persons with disabilities.

San Diego

* $18.6 million to the San Diego Metropolitan Transit Development Board to replace older buses with new buses.
* $8.6 million to North San Diego County Transit to convert 22 miles of what is now freight rail lines into a diesel passenger rail system between Oceanside and Escondido. Passenger rail service will be provided to 15 stations, including four existing transit centers.

For a complete list of all the projects that received funding visit:
http://svdtsucp.dot.ca.gov:8084/bondacc/documents/PTMISEAProjectList.pdf

The Governor has taken a number of actions to stimulate California's economy this year, including:

* Announced $10.5 million to train workers displaced by the housing slump.
* Awarded $73 million for affordable housing projects in Proposition 1C and Proposition 46 funds to help more than 1,600 California families rent or purchase affordable housing.
* Awarded $5.6 million to help displaced mortgage and banking workers find new jobs.
* Awarded more than $2.7 million to registered nurse training programs to help boost the health care workforce in underserved areas.
* Awarded more than $6 million in grants to help more than 1,500 newly discharged veterans as they return to the civilian workforce
* Announced $69.5 million in permanent low-interest loans from the Proposition 1C housing bonds to jumpstart 14 affordable multi-family projects up and down the state, helping more than 1,000 California families and individuals realize the dream of an affordable rental home.
* Expedited implementation of $211 million in Proposition 1E funds to four critical levee improvement projects in three counties.
* Called an emergency meeting of his Cabinet and instructed them to recommend ways to work with the legislature and speed the release of $29 billion in unallocated funds from the 2006 infrastructure bonds for the construction of roads, schools and levee repairs.

Source: California Governor

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