"These projects are a direct investment in our state's public transit system and will help energize California's economy," said Caltrans Director Malcolm Dougherty. "Not only will these projects help create jobs, they will also reduce traffic congestion, clean the air, and provide Californians with more viable alternatives to rising gas prices."

Some of the rail-specific projects awarded Proposition 1B funding include:

• $27,661,806 to the Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) for the eBART Program
• $48,400,000 to the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency for the Central Subway Project
• $9.3 million for the Sacramento Regional Transit to refurbish the light rail vehicles
• The San Diego Association of Governments will receive $21.5 million for the purchase of light rail vehicles for the trolley Blue Line and the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System will receive $69.5 million to purchase 29-light rail vehicles
• $12.53 million to the Southern California Regional Rail Authority for renovation/rehabilitation of Metrolink equipment and facilities.

To date, Proposition 1B has provided $1.7 billion in funding to more than 700 transit projects statewide, with 216 completed.