Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger recently signed into law a sunset extension bill that will allow Caltrans to continue participating in a federal pilot program aimed at streamlining federal environmental processes while maintaining full environmental protections.
 
Assembly Bill 2650, carried by District 62 Assembly Member Wilmer Amina Carter (D-Rialto), will give Caltrans more time to complete the Surface Transportation Project Delivery Pilot Program, and determine its effectiveness.  The pilot program allows Caltrans to act on behalf  of the federal government for approvals and consultations under the National Environmental Policy Act and other federal laws.

Preliminary results are inconclusive, but a study, which was presented to the California State Legislature, suggests that the project may be reducing the time it takes Caltrans to complete the environmental  review process. "California must continue to find ways to conserve its resources, and speed up the time it takes to begin construction of transportation projects,"  Assembly Member Carter said.  

"The pilot project has resulted in transportation projects getting out to construction faster," said Karla Sutliff, interim district director of Caltrans District 8. "This translates into significant savings to taxpayers while getting congestion relief delivered to the traveling public sooner."

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Visit State Assembly Member Wilmer Amina Carter's web site