The California Transportation Commission allocated $1 billion for 95 transportation projects statewide, including $15 million in federal economic stimulus funding May 14.

“This is economic power in action. We’re putting people back to work and building better roads, bridges, and transit for California,” said California Department of Transportation Director Will Kempton.

The allocated $490 million are funded through Proposition 1B, the 2006 voter approved transportation bond championed by Governor Schwarzenegger, and are going to 23 projects throughout California. Since its passage, more than $6 billion in bond funding has been put to work on transportation projects — creating more than 100,000 jobs.

California received nearly $2.6 billion in stimulus funding for highways and local streets and $1 billion for transit projects. Discretionary programs could add another $300 million, and California expects to be very competitive in securing a portion of $8 billion set aside nationally for high-speed rail and intercity rail.

Highlights of allocations include:

• $72.6 million to build one bus/carpool in each direction on Interstate 5 (I-5) in Los Angeles from State Route 170 (SR-170) to SR-118 and a direct bus/carpool lane connection at the I-5/710 interchange.

• $90 million to expand the Caldecott Tunnel on SR-24 at the Alameda/Contra Costa County line.

• $238 million to replace the aging Antlers Bridge on I-5 above Lake Shasta with a modern five-lane bridge nearly 2,000-ft. (609 m) long.