CA Gov. Schwarzenegger Announces Groundbreaking of Largest Highway Project in the Nation Through ARRA

Over $1 Billion Project To Create 18,000 Jobs, Ease Traffic Congestion on I-405

05/08/2009 -- California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today announced the construction groundbreaking of the largest highway project in the nation using American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) funds known to date.

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On hold since 2001, the over $1 billion I-405 Sepulveda Pass Widening Project in Los Angeles is proceeding due to the state’s quick and effective implementation of the Recovery Act. The project will utilize $190 million in state expedited Recovery Act funding and is anticipated to create an estimated 18,000 jobs.

“We are working around the clock to effectively pump Recovery Act money into the California economy to create jobs, move our economy forward and in this instance - decrease traffic on the 405,” said Governor Schwarzenegger. “Today is a shining testament to the tremendous power of teamwork and cooperation - from City Hall all the way to the White House. When you combine California’s leadership on infrastructure with President Obama’s Recovery Act, it’s a recipe to put Californians back to work and rebuild our great state.”

To this, United States Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood added, “With this project, California continues its tradition as a national leader in transportation improvements. America is better for the efforts that California’s leaders - and its highway workers - are doing to keep the state moving and getting people back to work.”

One of the most congested freeways in the nation, I-405 serves nearly 280,000 commuters and freight haulers daily. The project will reduce traffic congestion by constructing 10 miles of a new bus/carpool lane from the Santa Monica Freeway (I-10) to the Ventura Freeway (Highway 101). When completed, there will be 72 continuous miles of bus/carpool lanes on I-405 from the San Fernando Valley to Orange County. This lane will save more than 7 million vehicle hours of traffic delay each year.

“With today’s start of the long overdue carpool lane on the 405, we’re helping goods and people keep moving in Southern California and we’re creating 18,000 jobs,” said Assembly Speaker Karen Bass. “That is definitely a win-win, and it’s great to see this investment in federal stimulus dollars pay off in putting people to work and helping relieve the infamous congestion on this vital roadway.”

SB 1026, signed by Governor Schwarzenegger in January 2006, provided the authorization to use the design/build strategy to accelerate delivery of this project.

Governor Schwarzenegger recently announced that California was the first state in the nation to obligate $1 billion of Recovery Act funding to transportation infrastructure projects - doing so over two months ahead of federal deadline. Under the Recovery Act states were given 120 days to obligate the first half of their transportation infrastructure funding, and California obligated this funding in less than 60 days.

California is estimated to receive a total of nearly $2.6 billion from the Recovery Act for highways and local streets and $1 billion for transit projects through the federal government’s implementation of the Recovery Act. Discretionary programs could also add another $300 million in funding, and California expects to be very competitive in securing a major share of the $8 billion set aside nationally for high-speed and intercity passenger rail.

Source: California Governor