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On Wednesday, the California Transportation Commission (CTC) voted to allocate $336.6 million in state goods movement bond funding for the San Gabriel railroad trench project proposed by the Alameda Corridor-East Construction Authority (ACE) — the largest goods movement funding from a transportation bond approved by voters in November 2006.

ACE plans to construct a 1.4-mile railroad trench within existing Union Pacific Railroad right of way through the city of San Gabriel. Bridges over the trench will be built at four congested grade crossings that average 14 UP trains each day and six Amtrak trains each week. Archaeological excavation in advance of main construction is scheduled to start in November.

The trench is the largest project proposed in ACE’s program calling for grade separations in the San Gabriel Valley along a 70-mile corridor carrying goods to and from San Pedro Bay ports.

“With this allocation of construction funds, we can move ahead with awarding a main construction contract for the San Gabriel trench project in spring 2012,” said ACE Chairman Tim Spohn in a prepared statement.

The CTC also will provide funding for the Port of Long Beach’s Pier F support yard and Ocean Boulevard track realignment projects that are designed to help make rail operations more efficient.