More Transportation Funds Needed to Provide Jobs

$67.7 million approved for the project, which will create more than 2,000 jobs
ORANGE – The check is in the mail for the Riverside Freeway (SR-91) improvement project from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

The federal government on Friday approved $67.8 million in stimulus funds for the construction of an additional eastbound lane from the Eastern Toll Road (SR-241) to the Corona Expressway (SR-71).

“Orange County is leading the way for an economic recovery in the region,” said OCTA Chairman Peter Buffa. “The SR-91 project kicks off the creation of thousands of jobs for the county while bringing much needed traffic relief to commuters who travel that stretch of freeway daily.”

Caltrans, in partnership with the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA), secured the money well ahead of the June 30 deadline to use the funds, as required by the federal government.

With funding in place, Caltrans will begin soliciting bids for construction. The project is expected to break ground in September, creating nearly 2,000 jobs.

In total, OCTA expects to receive $209 million for highway, transit and city specific improvements. In addition to the 91, these projects include:

$76 million for bus operations
$1.2 million to installing positive train control safety systems on Metrolink
$26 million for the West County Connectors project, which will improve traffic flow by directly connecting carpool lanes on the San Diego Freeway (I-405), San Gabriel River Freeway (I-605) and Garden Grove Freeway (SR-22).

For the latest information on transportation projects in Orange County funded by the American Economic Recovery and Reinvestment Act, visit www.octa.net/recovery.