Print Article(SACRAMENTO) – Legislation that will help generate construction jobs by providing $300 million in Proposition 1B and 1C funding for housing and transportation projects passed the Senate today on a bipartisan 35-0 vote.
The bill, AB 1252 by Assembly Member Anna Marie Caballero (D-Salinas), appropriates money from two of the "Rebuild California" bond measures voters approved in 2006 to build affordable housing, improve goods movement and upgrade streets and roads. Senate President pro Tempore Don Perata (D-Oakland), who authored the Rebuild California bond measures, served as the Senate floor jockey for AB 1252.
"Getting these bond dollars out the door will give the construction industry a much-needed boost," Perata said. "Every corner of the state will see increased economic activity and better roads as this money is put to use as voters intended – to overhaul California´s infrastructure."
For housing, AB 1252 appropriates $150 million from Proposition 1C for the Infill Incentive Grant and the Transit Oriented Development Programs. With these funds, the state will immediately program an additional 29 urban infill and transit-oriented development projects that will provide 2,900 housing units.
As a result, the state Department of Housing and Community Development will be able to award nearly $500 million total from Prop 1C programs this year. That translates into 7,500 decent-paying jobs in California´s beleaguered housing industry, which has shed 88,000 jobs in the last year as the national mortgage crisis hit and the economy slowed.
For transportation, the bill appropriates $87 million from Prop 1B for street and road improvement in all of California´s counties. In addition, the legislation provides $63 million from the Grade Separation Program contained in Prop 1B that funds projects that enhance the flow of freight and safety at locations where streets and railroad tracks cross. The California Transportation Commission will select eligible projects for this funding in the next 60 days.
The bill moves next to the Assembly.
The bill, AB 1252 by Assembly Member Anna Marie Caballero (D-Salinas), appropriates money from two of the "Rebuild California" bond measures voters approved in 2006 to build affordable housing, improve goods movement and upgrade streets and roads. Senate President pro Tempore Don Perata (D-Oakland), who authored the Rebuild California bond measures, served as the Senate floor jockey for AB 1252.
"Getting these bond dollars out the door will give the construction industry a much-needed boost," Perata said. "Every corner of the state will see increased economic activity and better roads as this money is put to use as voters intended – to overhaul California´s infrastructure."
For housing, AB 1252 appropriates $150 million from Proposition 1C for the Infill Incentive Grant and the Transit Oriented Development Programs. With these funds, the state will immediately program an additional 29 urban infill and transit-oriented development projects that will provide 2,900 housing units.
As a result, the state Department of Housing and Community Development will be able to award nearly $500 million total from Prop 1C programs this year. That translates into 7,500 decent-paying jobs in California´s beleaguered housing industry, which has shed 88,000 jobs in the last year as the national mortgage crisis hit and the economy slowed.
For transportation, the bill appropriates $87 million from Prop 1B for street and road improvement in all of California´s counties. In addition, the legislation provides $63 million from the Grade Separation Program contained in Prop 1B that funds projects that enhance the flow of freight and safety at locations where streets and railroad tracks cross. The California Transportation Commission will select eligible projects for this funding in the next 60 days.
The bill moves next to the Assembly.
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