In turn Cal Trans asked for two weeks to consider the proposal and “discuss it internally,” said Field. On January 11th Amador County, along with the rest of the Tri-County members got their answer! A conference call was held between Executive Directors of the Tri-County Transportation Commissions, Caltrans District 10 Deputy District Director Kome Ajise, Program Project Management, Dennis T. Agar and STIP Project Manager Grace Magsayo. Charles Field indicated in a memo that, “During the conversation it was clear that Caltrans has taken seriously the Tri-Counties funding issues together with the desire to keep the Angles Camp Bypass project on schedule.” In fact, according to Field, Cal Trans even came up with an alternative solution to submitting an application to the Corridor Mobility Improvement Account to cover the $12.8 million dollar cost increase of the Angels Camp Bypass.

Field explained that the Corridor Mobility Improvement Account or CMIA “is a 4.5 billion dollar grant program that was part of Proposition 1b that was just approved by voters in November.” According to the program guidelines and description, “The Corridor Mobility Improvement Account (CMIA) presents a unique opportunity for the state’s transportation community to provide demonstrable congestion relief, enhanced mobility, improved safety, and stronger connectivity to benefit traveling Californians.”“Most of the money is going to urban areas…It is designed for congested areas and major Highways like 50, 80 and 99, not 49 and 88.” Cal Trans proposed a cost sharing approach which includes 3.2 million dollars from the Cal Trans Discretionary STIP, or State Transportation Improvement Program funds, 5.2 million from the Tri-County STIP Augmentation, and finally a 4.4 million dollar funding request from the Corridor Mobility Improvement Account. Field said,

He also mentioned that Cal Trans has already submitted a request for funding for 6.5 million dollars worth of projects.  In addition to the cost sharing approach Field said, “...the Tri-Counties will support ACTC's request for an additional $1 million to cover the increased cost of relinquishing old Highway 49 to Amador County with the completion of the Highway 49 Bypass as part of the 2000 STIP Augmentation.  The Tri-County 2006 STIP Augmentation target is $6.2 million, so it can include both the $5.2 million needed for the Angles Camp cost increases plus the $1 million needed for (the) 49 Bypass relinquishment.” The Tri-County executive directors agreed to Cal Trans’ proposal and tentatively accepted it. The next step is to submit a Corridor Mobility Improvement Account application which is due today. However, the process is far from over or approved at this point according to Field.  “This is all worked out in concept. Final approvals, if they come, are going to be weeks or months away. (While) we have a conceptual buy in from Cal Trans, the California Transportation Commission is another matter all together. We will not know what their recommendations are by the end of February.” And as far as damages go to Sutter Ione Road, it’s been moved to a side burner, take note not the back.

“The County can try to negotiate it as part of the million. It would increase the million and they will ask for it to be funded out of the Tri-County’s agreement…(but) when you are working on a 13.8 million dollar deal you cant necessarily get everything you want,” said Field. He also said that his understanding is that the County will be submitting a claim for damages. The public is invited to attend The Amador County Transportation Commission Meeting where the Cal Trans Proposal will be heard by the Commission. The meeting is Wednesday at 7pm at the Board of Supervisors Chambers.