Obama’s Budget Includes Over $1 Billion for California Transportation, Construction Projects

Workers cut loose metal plates in a project to relocate DWP lines for the Metro’s expansion. Mayor Eric Garcetti said the Metro extension along Wilshire Boulevard is the nation’s largest public works program and his top priority. (Credit: Ricardo DeAratanha, Los Angeles Times)

by: Los Angeles Times

Posted: Feb 3, 2015 / 05:55 AM PST

Updated: Feb 3, 2015 / 05:56 AM PST

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The budget proposal unveiled by President Obama on Monday earmarks more than $1 billion for California transportation and construction projects, including $330 million that Los Angeles officials called crucial to extending the Purple Line from the Mid-City area to Century City.

Overall, Obama would spend more than $800 million on transit throughout the state — including $165 million to expand the Bay Area Rapid Transit system to San Jose and $150 million toward a light-rail project in San Diego — as he tries to make the case that infrastructure spending will propel a faster economic recovery.

The plan also would seed California with money for weapons systems, allot more than $600 million to build and renovate Veterans Affairs facilities and set aside more than $200 million to help the Jet Propulsion Laboratory send another rover to Mars.

L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti said the city’s slate of transportation projects, including the Metro extension along Wilshire Boulevard are now the nation’s largest public works program and a top priority of his administration.

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