Business Wire, Updated 04.12.2010

On Wednesday, the California Transportation Commission(CTC) took historic action and authorized two regional projects to move forward under the state's new Design-Build Program. The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro)/Department of Transportation (Caltrans) Express Lane Project (I-10 and I-110) and the Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC) SR-91 Corridor Improvement Project are the first local design-build projects authorized by the CTC under the landmark legislation (Senate Bill 4, SBX2 4) signed in 2009 by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. The CTC had previously authorized three Caltrans projects at their February 2010 meeting.

"The Commission's action represents the start of a new era for highway construction in California and is a welcome addition to the state's public contracting toolbox," said Caltrans Director Randy Iwasaki. "Both projects are excellent design-build procurement candidates that have the potential for achieving improved delivery efficiency and significant job creation."

The LA Metro/Caltrans Express Lane Project is a joint state/local project slated for implementation by Caltrans on the state highway system utilizing one of the ten slots allocated to Caltrans. The LA Metro Express Lane Project will take existing carpool lanes on the Interstates 10 and 110 Harbor Transitway and convert them to high-occupancy toll (HOT) lanes, or Express Lanes, scheduled to open in 2012. The project will provide commuters with new and better travel options along two of LA County's most congested corridors and create 2,400 construction-related jobs.

The RCTC SR-91 Corridor Improvement Project is a local transportation entity project slated for implementation by a regional entity on the state highway system. The Commission's decision provides an important approval for RCTC to move forward with a $1.3 billion plan to widen State Route 91 through Corona with the addition of new freeway lanes, toll/express lanes, expanded freeway-to-freeway connectors and better access to and from the freeway at congested locations. The project is expected to create 20,000 jobs.