Bay Area may get cash for projects

Bay Area may get cash for projects: "




Posted on Sun, Oct. 29, 2006


Bay Area may get cash for projects

By Marton Dunai
CONTRA COSTA TIMES

Two transportation measures are on the Nov. 7 ballot, and if voters approve them, they will rain money on California's infrastructure. Their total impact of about $20 billion could jump-start Bay Area projects such as a fourth bore in the Caldecott Tunnel, ambitious public transit improvements and highway expansions.

Although the largest portion of the money will likely end up in Southern California, about $4 billion could find its way to the Bay Area, according to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has pledged to spend at least 25 percent of state contracting on projects involving small businesses. To that end, he issued an executive order appointing a Sacramento-based management consultant named Samuel Wallace to the post of Small Business Enterprise Officer. Wallace's initial focus is to make sure small businesses get their share of the contract spree expected in the transportation sector -- and then in other sectors.

The billions can only find small businesses if they are prepared, Wallace said. He started a statewide tour trying to prepare local governments, prime contractors and small businesses for the task ahead. "