California panel approves $170 million for projects, including rail, transit

The California Transportation Commission (CTC) allocated $170 million in transportation funds to 49 projects around the state, including for transit and intercity rail projects, the agency announced late last week.

The funds will be used to improve California's aging roads and bridges, and encourage the use of alternative forms of transportation, such as transit, CTC officials said in a press release.

The approved funds include $17.8 million for transit and intercity rail capital program projects. Those include:
• $3 million to the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority to evaluate candidate projects and prepare project studies; and
• $11 million to the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District for the purchase of four rail cars.

"These allocations represent significant investments in the preservation of not only our existing infrastructure, but also the promotion of alternate forms of transportation, such as walking, biking and transit," said Malcolm Dougherty, director of the California Department of Transportation.