$23.8 million in federal funding could soon be headed towards local and regional transportation projects in California's 41st House District as part of the 2024 Fiscal Year Transportation, HUD Appropriations bill, according to Congressman Ken Calvert (R-CA).
According to a July 28 press release, the bill has been approved by the House Appropriations Committee and will now make its way through the U.S. House of Representatives.
"Riverside County continues to be one of the fastest growing regions in the state and country, which is why we need additional resources to build long-overdue infrastructure projects for our residents,” Rep. Calvert said in the release.
The Coachella Valley Rail Project is set to receive $5 million under the current bill. Major highway projects including resurfacing for Highway 111, the Interstate 10 interchange project, and Interstate 15 multimodal corridor enhancements are all expected to receive millions of dollars. Some money was also set aside for the Regional Flood Mitigation Project, according to the press release.
Calvert added he prioritized funding for these projects, and has worked with different agencies and local governments to achieve this goal. He stated when it comes to infrastructure, the work is not done, and that he will keep trying to find solutions to "get people moving."
Scott Stiles, Palm Springs City Manager, was one of several regional leaders to express gratitude over funding included in the legislation. In the release, Stiles said, “We are grateful Rep. Calvert was able to secure much-needed funding for the City of Palm Springs’ Regional Flood Mitigation Project."
Calvert has lived in Riverside County his entire life. According to his biography, he's worked as both a restaurant and real-estate entrepreneur for almost two decades. He's known for giving back to the community by serving in volunteer groups such as Corona Rotary and Corona-Norco Family YMCA.