DBE Compliance News

Archive for May, 2010

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today announced the appointment of Cindy McKim as director of the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans).

“Cindy McKim is committed to improving our roads and infrastructure to meet the needs of future generations,” said Governor Schwarzenegger. “With many years of experience with Caltrans, she understands the impact that our transportation system has on businesses and job creation. Cindy shares my desire to see California grow and change to meet the needs of an ever growing population.”

C0ntinue reading the Governor’s Press Release.

Caltrans issued a press release detailing the allocation of $668 million to 79 transportation projects statewide.

Sacramento – The California Transportation Commission (CTC) today allocated $668 million to 79 transportation projects statewide. The funding includes $152 million for nine projects from Proposition 1B, a $19.9 billion transportation bond championed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and approved by voters in 2006. The remaining  $516 million in allocations came from assorted state and federal transportation accounts, including $2.9 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

Continue reading the press release here.

The FTA website posted a letter from FTA Administrator Peter Rogoff in response to the recent US DOT Press Release. In it, Rogoff emphasizes the important of small businesses and the impact on local agencies.

Read the FTA letter here.

The US DOT released information regarding Proposed Rule Broadens DBE Program Inclusions, Requires Greater Accountability from Administering Agencies.

The proposed rule would require greater accountability from state and local transportation agencies. Those that fail to meet established goals to include disadvantaged business enterprises in their spending plans must analyze the reasons for the short-fall and offer corrective actions.

In addition, the proposed rule would prevent DBEs from being removed from the program prematurely. It would raise the personal net worth limit for DBE owners from the present $750,000, to an inflation-adjusted $1.3 million. This personal net worth limit was set in 1989 and has not been adjusted since.

The proposed rule would also add safeguards to make sure that prime contractors fulfill commitments to use DBE subcontractors. State and local agencies would have to conduct post-award monitoring of each contract for this purpose, and prime contractors could not dismiss DBE subcontractors without good cause.

Read the entire press release here.