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Recovery Act Delivers $83 Million to Jump Start Construction on Presidio Parkway's Signature Tunnel

Project’s construction contract lower than expected;
Savings will help pay for other projects

July 21, 2010, San Francisco, CA... Caltrans today announced construction has begun on the Presidio Parkway (Doyle Drive) Project’s second major contract – a $116 million effort to build the Battery Tunnel and a temporary bypass. This contract is partially funded by President Obama’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act), along with $33 million in local funding. This project is starting sooner than expected thanks to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s efforts to expedite Recovery Act funding.

“My Administration is working hand-in-hand with President Obama's team to ensure Recovery Act dollars are pumped into California quickly and responsibly to stimulate the economy and in this instance – invest in the future of California's transportation infrastructure," said Governor Schwarzenegger.

R&L Brosamer, Incorporated of Walnut Creek, was awarded the construction contract with a low bid 41 percent under Caltrans’ original estimate. The savings in stimulus funds will help pay for additional highway projects.

“We are delivering on our promise to get economic recovery money out on the street as quickly as possible and put people to work,” said Caltrans Director Cindy McKim. “The Presidio Parkway is a vital infrastructure investment in the Bay Area that will assure seismic and traffic safety while creating much-needed jobs.”

The Presidio Parkway Project has been very successful in helping small businesses. The first contract achieved a remarkable 82.04 percent small business participation rate. The second contract for utility relocation has achieved a 62.03 percent small business participation rate which equates to $9,674,026 being paid directly to small businesses. Contract number four exceeded the Underutilized Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (UDBE) amount with more than $3.7 million going to UDBE firms.

"As a Bay Area company, we are truly pleased be part of this critical safety project and to build the first tunnel of the future Presidio Parkway," said William Faoro, Project Manager, R&L Brosamer.

The key feature of the second major construction contract is the Battery Tunnel, one of two short tunnels that will enhance the connection between the Presidio and Crissy Field. The top of the tunnel will ultimately provide a connection between the upper Presidio and Crissy Field area with new pathways and pedestrian and bicycle trails. In addition, a temporary bypass will be built that will allow traffic to flow unimpeded during construction. For more information about the Presidio Parkway Project, visit www.presidioparkway.org.

In May, the California Transportation Commission approved the Presidio Parkway Project as a public-private partnership, a historic first under legislation signed in 2009 by Governor Schwarzenegger that allows Caltrans and regional transportation agencies to enter into such partnerships.

Under Governor Schwarzenegger’s leadership, California has obligated nearly $2.5 billion in Recovery Act funding obligated to 931 highway, local streets, and job training transportation projects statewide.

For more information on the Recovery Act visit: http://recovery.ca.gov/