Archive for the ‘Caltrans & DOT Info’ Category
$668M To Upgrade CA’s Transportation System
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.
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FTA Comments On Latest US DOT Press Release
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.
US DOT Seeks Changes in DBE Requirements
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.
NEW DBE Goal Submission Schedule
Effective March 5, 2010, the U.S. Department of Transportation Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program rules were amended to change how often recipients are required to make goal submissions documenting the methodology and process used to establish the annual overall goal to be implemented each fiscal year.
Read the Federal Register here.
Caltrans & FHWA Want Public Input
The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) are seeking public input on the proposal to continue assigning to Caltrans the responsibility to conduct environmental reviews on transportation projects.
Caltrans would continue being responsible for determining if projects meet the requirements for being categorically excluded from the preparation of an environmental assessment or an environmental impact statement under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) would also continue assigning to Caltrans FHWA’s responsibility for conducting environmental review, consultation, and other related activities on these excluded projects under federal environmental laws.
The Section 6004 MOU granting Caltrans its existing authority has been in place since June 7, 2007, and is set to expire on June 7, 2010. Comments must be received by May 14, 2010, and should be identified by the Federal Dockets Management System Docket Number FHWA-2010-0035.
Find out how to submit your comments by reading the entire press release here.
Prop 1B Provides $50M To Widen SR 99
Caltrans today announced the completion of a $70 million project that expanded two miles of State Route 99 (SR-99) in Atwater from a four-lane expressway to a six-lane freeway. The project received nearly $50 million from Proposition 1B, the $19.9 billion transportation bond championed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and approved by voters in 2006.
“When the voters passed Proposition 1B, they wanted action and action is what they’re getting. Proposition 1B is paying for vital transportation projects all over California,” said Governor Schwarzenegger, “Investing in our infrastructure is strengthening our economy and creating jobs when we need them most.”
Nearly $5.7 billion in Proposition 1B funding has been allocated to improve California’s transportation system during the past three years.
Continue reading the Caltrans Press Release.
US Transportation Secretary Hosts National Business Summit in the Nation's Capitol
On March 24 and 25, small and disenfranchised business owners from across the country gathered in Washington, DC, to network, celebrate successes, and discuss the problems they face during these difficult economic times.
“The Road to Recovery,” a two-day summit hosted by the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU), provided guidance about how small businesses can compete for government contracts and awards, work more effectively with the Department of Transportation (DOT), and take advantage of existing business development programs.
“America’s economic recovery depends in large measure on having healthy, vibrant small businesses to create jobs and help stabilize our communities,” said Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood during his welcome remarks.
As a way of supporting these small businesses and the jobs they create, LaHood announced three efforts to improve and strengthen small business programs beyond the $1.3 billion dollars of Recovery Funds that have already been dispersed by state and local transportation agencies.
Continue reading the press release here.
$706M Allocated to Create Jobs, Improve State's Transportation Infrastructure
Today, Caltrans Headquarters released a statement on the$706 million the California Transportation Commission (CTC) has allocated to 121 projects statewide. The funding includes $479 million for 28 projects from Proposition 1B, a $19.9 billion transportation bond championed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and approved by voters in 2006. The remaining $227 million in allocations came from assorted state and federal transportation accounts.
“When California voters approved Proposition 1B they wanted action, and we are delivering that action,” said Business, Transportation, and Housing Agency Secretary Dale E. Bonner. “This funding will not only help relieve the traffic congestion that clogs our freeways – it will create jobs and help stimulate California’s economy when we need it the most.”
Nearly $5.7 billion in Proposition 1B funding has been allocated to improve California’s transportation system during the past three years.
Continue reading the press release here.
CA Receives $2.7M in Stimulus Grants to Increase Transportation Job Training
Caltrans released a statement March 31 explaining the stimulus grants that are designed to increase transportation job training.
Caltrans today announced that the state has been awarded $2.7 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) job training grants for eight California workforce development centers. California received more than 20 percent of the national share of the grants awarded to 19 states and two territories.
The grants, from the Federal Highway Administration’s “On the Job Training/Supportive Services” program, will fund pre-apprenticeships and training centers in California for women, minorities, veterans, and disadvantaged individuals pursuing careers in the highway construction industry.
“These grants will help to create opportunities during these tough economic times. We are providing crucial job training to people that will help lay the groundwork for jobs and drive California on the road to economic recovery,” said Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
See grant recipients and read the rest of the press release.
U.S. Transportation Secretary LaHood Announces More Than $1.3 Billion in Recovery Act Funds Have Gone to Economically Disadvantaged Businesses
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today opened a summit on helping small, disadvantaged and minority-owned businesses by announcing that under the Obama Administration more than $1.3 billion worth of Economic Recovery Act contracts have gone to these kinds of small businesses.
Secretary LaHood welcomed more than 700 small and disadvantaged business owners, government executives and representatives of major corporations to “The Road to Recovery,” a two-day summit to help small firms owned and controlled by economically disadvantaged individuals compete for U.S. Department of Transportation contracts.
“We’ve made significant strides over the last year in reaching out to small businesses around the country and providing the tools they need to compete and to thrive in this tough economy,” said Secretary LaHood. “The contracts we have awarded have kept a lot of small businesses going and many jobs were saved or created.”
Secretary LaHood said there was more potential revenue for these firms in the pipeline, as many of the largest stimulus projects in the country will get under way this spring.
