Caltrans today announced it has awarded $63.3 million to fund 111 public transit and air quality projects across California to upgrade transit service and purchase eco-friendly buses. All of the funding comes from Proposition 1B, the 2006 transportation bond, which includes $3.6 billion to improve public transit in California.

“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 Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-Calif.), in a written statement from Caltrans. “Investing in our infrastructure is strengthening our economy and creating jobs when we need them most.”

Some of the more notable projects that were awarded Proposition 1B funding include the following:

Bay Area

• $3.9 million to the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Authority for the Caltrain Positive Train Control System, which will help prevent train-to-train collisions, derailments, and reduce the possibility of a train moving on the wrong track.
• $1.3 million to the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District to provide partial funding for the Warm Springs Extension Project that will add more than five miles of new rail line and a new station south of the existing Fremont Station.
• $10.3 million to Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority to replace and repair various segments of the light rail system and help purchase 70 hybrid diesel/electric buses.
• $4.8 million to the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency toward the repair of eight light rail vehicles, construction of the Central Subway light rail line and for high-speed connectivity and communications upgrades. 

San Diego

• $1.59 million to the San Diego Association of Governments toward the purchase of 57 light rail vehicles for the Blue Line Light Rail Corridor Project, which will increase light rail capacity and improve service.

Sacramento