Washington, DC– Almost $13 million in federal funding for transportation projects in the Inland Empire requested by Congressman Joe Baca (D-Rialto) was approved by the U.S. House of Representatives today as part of comprehensive transportation legislation known as “TEA-LU”, the Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy For Users.

The TEA-LU legislation provides federal funding for the nation’s highway and transit programs for the next six years. Differences between House and Senate versions of the bill have been resolved through negotiations. Today the House passed the final version, known as the conference report, and the Senate is expected to pass it this week before beginning its summer recess.

Rep. Baca said, “I’m pleased that the projects I requested for the Inland Empire have been included in the TEA-LU bill. These projects will enhance the quality of life in our district, enabling us to improve our roads and freeways to make them safer and less congested.”

Baca noted that investment in transportation infrastructure is important to meet the challenges posed by a fast-growing population in the region. “These projects will help families and commuters travel area roads safely and conveniently and also help businesses move cargo by truck and rail.”

In addition to providing funding for highway and transit projects, the bill addresses an unfair distribution of money to states from the federal gas tax receipts. California is considered a major donor state, meaning it contributes significantly more money than it receives for highway projects. The legislation gradually increases the minimum guarantee that every state will get back from the current 90.5 percent to 92 percent.

“Congress must continue to provide more funding to meet California’s vital transportation needs, but we are taking a step in the right direction to make the funding formula fairer,” said Baca.

Rep. Baca was able to include the funding for important projects for our communities in the Transportation Reauthorization Bill as listed by city on the following page.

Funding Approved for Highway and Transit Projects Requested by Congressman Joe Baca

Colton:

• $1.6 million for the Mount Vernon Avenue grade separation and bridge expansion in Colton
  
  
• $400,000 to construct grade separations at Washington Avenue and UPRR crossing east and Washington Avenue and La Cadena Drive in Colton

Fontana:

• $2.4 million to construct the I-10 Cypress Avenue over-pass to separate I-10 and Union Pacific Railroad Tracks in Fontana
  
  
• $1.2 million to construct the Inland Empire Transportation Management Center in Fontana (Sanbag Project) to better regulate traffic and dispatch personnel to incidents

Ontario:

• $2.4 million to implement I-10 interchange improvements at the Grove Avenue Corridor in Ontario
  
  
• $836,000 to construct the Omnitrans Transcenter in Ontario

Rialto:

• $1.6 million to reconstruct the I-10 interchange at Riverside Avenue in Rialto
  
  
• $400,000 to implement Riverside Avenue Railroad Bridge improvements, south of I-10 in Rialto

San Bernardino:

• $1.6 million to construct grade separation on State Street and Cajon Boulevard along BSNF tracks in San Bernardino
  
  
• $418,000 to implement Sante Fe Depot improvements in San Bernardino