http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/paffairs/news/pressrel/index.htm Recent Press Releases from the California Department of Transportation en-us http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/paffairs/news/pressrel/08pr6.htm Sacramento – Sacramento - The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) will observe its Annual Workers Memorial in conjunction with the National Work Zone Awareness Week kick-off at 11 a.m., April 8, 2008, on the west steps of the State Capitol. The ceremony, themed after Caltrans' "Slow for the Cone Zone" slogan and highway safety public awareness campaign, will honor the 170 Caltrans employees who have died... April 8, 2008 http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/paffairs/news/pressrel/08pr4.htm Sacramento –The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) today awarded $52 million to cities and counties for 139 projects funded through the state’s Safe Routes to School program, which is designed to give students in grades K-12 easier and healthier ways to safely travel to and from schools. "Safety is Caltrans' number one priority, and nothing is more important than assuring the health and safe mobility of our children," said Caltrans Director Will Kempton.... March 18, 2008 http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/paffairs/news/pressrel/08pr5.htm Sacramento – The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is utilizing its electronic message signs on freeways, Highway Advisory Radio and the media to remind motorists that it is now the law to turn on their headlights when driving in the rain. "Rain is forecasted for Northern California over the next few days and some drivers may not realize that it is now the law to turn on their vehicles’ headlights ... March 14, 2008 http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/paffairs/news/pressrel/08pr3.htm Sacramento – $57.4 million in new transportation funding has been allocated from Proposition 1B, the voter-approved transportation bond, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) announced today. The funding will be used for two projects: One will construct a High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lane and auxiliary lanes at various locations on Interstate 580 north of Pleasanton and in Livermore in Alameda County and widen the freeway to accommodate the future conversion of an HOV lane to a High Occupancy Toll lane... March 13, 2008 http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/paffairs/news/pressrel/08pr2.htm Sacramento – The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) today announced it has teamed with the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) to make it easier to purchase surplus state properties for affordable housing projects. New Web information (http://www.dot.ca.gov/property or http://www.hcd.ca.gov) has been established to assist developers in locating these Caltrans-owned properties.... January 29, 2008 http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/paffairs/news/pressrel/08pr1.htm Sacramento – Ridership on the state-supported Amtrak California trains continued an upward trend during the final quarter of 2007 with an increase of 7.7 percent. A total of 1,266,751 passengers used the popular intercity trains, compared to 1,183,150 during the same three-month period in 2006. "Clearly, we are filling an important need for the traveling public in California," said Caltrans Director Will Kempton. "We have been aggressively marketing the state supported train service, and it’s really paying off... January 16, 2008 http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/paffairs/news/pressrel/07pr28.htm Sacramento – The California Transportation Commission (CTC) has allocated a round of new investments from Proposition 1B, the $19.9 billion transportation bond approved by voters in 2006. "These projects will relieve traffic congestion, improve air quality, and more importantly, enable Californians to spend more time with their friends and families instead of being stuck in traffic," stated Caltrans Director Will Kempton... December 14, 2007 http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/paffairs/news/pressrel/07pr29.htm Sacramento – Ridership on the state-supported Amtrak San Joaquins Corridor service exceeded all expectations during the month of November with a dramatic jump of 13.1 percent, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) announced today. 78,577 passengers rode the line last month, compared to 69,450 in November 2006... December 11, 2007 http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/paffairs/news/pressrel/07pr27.htm Sacramento - Seven employees of the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) were honored in a ceremony today when Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger awarded them the Medal of Valor for performing extraordinary acts of heroism. The Governor's Medal of Valor is the highest honor the state can bestow on its employees. The Caltrans recipients were among 31 State employees who received awards and public recognition for their courage and concern for others in life-and-death situations... December 4, 2007 http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/paffairs/news/pressrel/07pr26.htm Sacramento – Before heavy rains and snow fall on the Golden State from cloudy winter skies, California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) Director Will Kempton announced today that "Caltrans is ready to meet the challenge of keeping the state’s vital transportation corridors open to the traveling public and trucking industry during the 2007-08 winter storm season."... November 29, 2007