Eminent Domain Report

Caltrans just announced that California will be receiving $155 million in extra funding for launching its new construction projects before federal deadlines.  Caltrans will receive about $97 million of that award, with local and regional agencies receiving the balance.  States that fail to meet federal deadlines lose funds, which revert to a pool that benefits states like California, that consistently launch projects on time.  This year, California received the largest share of that pool, with New York the next highest at $81 million.

"The federal government has rewarded Caltrans -- yet again -- for using all of its federal funding to launch new construction projects before federal deadlines...This year's funding increase enables Caltrans to build even more projects that create jobs and improve the state's transportation system."

- Brian Kelly, California Transportation Agency Secretary

Caltrans' press release highlights several recent projects demonstrating California's history of transportation successes:

• The $391 million Caldecott Tunnel Project is building a new tunnel that will elimnate the need to reverse traffic direction in the existing center bore twice a day.

• The $439 million Devil's Slide Project features the state's fist new highway tunnels in nearly 50 years.

• The $122 million I-5 North Stockton Improvement Project is adding 16 miles of new carpool lanes and rebuildilng four miles of the highway.

• Caltrans is ivesting $3 billion to reduce congestion and improve safety on I-5 in Los Angeles County.