It’s Give-Me, Give-Me Time As Agencies Vie For Funding

It should come as no surprise that the amount of Prop. 1B bond money being requested for California goods movement infrastructure projects - $4.1 billion - is more than twice the $2 billion available for those projects. The region seeking the largest amount is the Los Angeles-Inland Empire corridor - which alone is asking for more than $2.2 billion. The region is seeking the funding to help pay for 54 projects whose costs exceed $6.6 billion.

The California Transportation Commission will conduct more hearings later this month before preparing its final plan for how to allocate the money for trade corridor improvement projects. The CTC expects to finalize the list of projects at its April 9-10 meeting in Sacramento. When the list is complete, it will go to the state Legislature and governor.

The hearings come on the heels of last month's deadline for regions to submit their wish lists of projects they want to see funded. That list, known as the Trade Corridors Improvement Fund Project Nominations, is posted on the CTC's web site.

The $2 billion earmarked for goods movement is part of the $19.925 billion Proposition 1B transportation bond package approved by voters in 2006. Since then, local and regional agencies have been getting ready to fight for their share - a battle that has mainly pitted north against south. That process has resulted in the CTC pushing for an additional $1 billion for the program - which seems unlikely at a time when the state is facing a $14.5 billion deficit.