California Eminent Domain Report

We noted in our 2010 year-in-review E-Alert that the stimulus dollars were starting to make their way towards local agencies so infrastructure projects could be built.  2011 is now off to a fast start:  according to a recent Caltrans press release, the California Transportation Commission has announced the allocation of $1 billion towards 107 California transportation projects, including $838 million from Proposition 1B bond funds (which was approved by voters in 2006).

Here are some of the highlights as to how these funds will be utilized:

• $46.55 million to install rail collision avoidance technology along the Metrolink
  

  system and Pacific Surfliner Intercity Rail Corridor.

• $2.94 million to install rail collision avoidance technology along the Burlington
  

  Northern Santa Fe Railroad

  tracks from Los Angles to Fullerton.

• $20 million to convert high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes to high occupancy toll
  

  (HOT) lanes along the I-10 and I-110 corridors.

• $33.99 million for the acquisition of 100 compressed natural gas (CNG) buses by
  

  the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transit Authority.  

To find out the specifics about the fund allocations and the 107 projects, you can check out Caltrans' project allocation spreadsheet.