California Bicycle Coalition seeks projects for funding

The CBC wants to hear from California bicyclists about bicycle and pedestrian projects that might qualify for federal stimulus money. From the CBC:

CBC is calling on its members, local bicycle coalitions, cycling clubs and other advocates to identify local bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure projects that can be built with federal economic stimulus funding allocated to metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) and regional transportation planning agencies (RTPAs) throughout California.

California received $77 billion in stimulus funding specifically for transportation enhancements (TE), a category of federal transportation spending that includes bike-ped projects. Of this amount, $48 million goes to MPOs and RTPAs for local TE projects, with the remaining $29 million to be spent by Caltrans on TE projects located on the state highway system.

Earlier this year the state enacted legislation that set priorities for spending these funds. Assembly Bill X3-20 gives first priority to TE projects that can be built by the California Conservation Corps or local equivalents, and gives second priority to bike-ped projects. Caltrans plans to obligate as much of this funding as possible by June 30, 2009, so local bike-ped projects must be completely ready to go out to bid.

Leave your suggestions in the comments section and we will forward the list to the CBC.