Public transit and air quality projects across California are receiving bond funds to upgrade transit service, purchase eco-friendly buses, modernize transit stations, build new park and ride facilities and for other transit-related purposes that will reduce emissions. All told, 107 projects will receive $235.4 million from Proposition 1B, the 2006 transportation bond, which includes $3.6 billion to improve public transit in California.

“These projects are a direct investment in our state’s transportation infrastructure and will help stimulate the California economy right when we need it the most,” said Gov. Schwarzenegger. “Not only will these projects help stimulate our economy and create jobs, they will also reduce traffic congestion and transportation-related pollution, improving our air quality and bringing us another step closer to reaching our emissions-reduction goals.”

An additional $115 million in bond transit funding from fiscal year 2008-09 could be released this fall (contingent on bond board approval of bond sales) along with all or a portion of $350 million in bond transit funding for fiscal year 2009-10.

“We need to immediately put this $235 million to work on projects that will improve public transit and air quality and keep people on the job,” said Caltrans Director Randy Iwasaki.

Some of the more notable projects receiving funding include:

Bay Area

• $20 million to modernize all 43 stations in Bay Area Rapid Transit’s (BART) 103-mi. (165.7 km) system. Items such as lighting redesign, improving station amenities and a general clean up are high-priority elements in this program.

• $30 million to extend San Francisco Municipal Transit’s (MUNI) T-Line 1.7 mi. (2.7 km) and build four new stations with underground transfers to BART and all other Muni Metro lines.

Sacramento

• $6.5 million to Sacramento Regional Transit to replace older buses that emit more air pollutants with four cleaner Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses and build a CNG fueling station.

Los Angeles

• $64.4 million to purchase 53 new CNG buses, modernize older buses, expand bus rapid transit in the San Fernando Valley and construct a new transit maintenance facility in downtown Los Angeles.

Inland Empire

• $4.1 million to construct a bus rapid transit project along San Bernardino’s E Street corridor.

• $800,000 to build a commuter transfer facility and a park & ride facility in the city of Perris.

• $1.5 million to construct a new CNG vehicle maintenance facility in Riverside.

Orange County

• $26.3 million to the Orange County Transportation Authority to expand Metrolink service and upgrade a transit radio system.

Kern County

• $2.1 million to purchase five CNG buses for the city of Bakersfield.

• $300,000 to Kern Regional Transit to purchase seven diesel mini-buses.

For a comprehensive list of all projects that received funding, visit: http://www.dot.ca.gov/docs/Prop1BTransitProjectsJuly2009.pdf. CEG

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