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On Wednesday, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission's (MTC) Programming and Allocations Committee recommended approval of a $19 million allocation of bridge toll funds to the Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) to help advance construction of a $463 million extension of the East Contra Costa Bay Area Rapid Transit (eBART).

Construction of the extension began in October 2010. The latest MTC commitment includes $15 million for construction and management to accommodate eBART in the median of State Route 4, plus another $4 million for eBART crossings over local roadways that will be built as part of the California Department of Transportation’s and CCTA's ongoing highway widening project, MTC officials said in a prepared statement.

"The committee’s approval is a crucial step in keeping the eBART project on schedule and on budget," said MTC Vice Chairwoman Amy Rein Worth. "The project will not only deliver much-needed congestion relief in the years ahead, but BART estimates it will generate more than 600 jobs during construction and dozens of permanent positions once the trains begin service."

The full commission is scheduled to consider the recommendation on March 23.