Transportation Projects Receive $145 Million : Government: The San Fernando Valley and nearby areas are targeted for the funds, part of $1.1 billion OKd by the MTA.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has approved about $145 million in federal, state and local dollars for transportation projects in the San Fernando, Santa Clarita and Antelope valleys.

The projects include the addition of freeway car-pool lanes, road widening, walking paths, bikeways, shuttle services and bus and train station construction.

They were among 218 applications for projects totaling $1.1 billion approved Wednesday by the MTA out of 728 applications from local governments and public agencies for $6.2 billion worth of work.

Nonetheless, there were few complaints that not all requests were approved.

“We are all very pleased with the amount we got for the projects submitted, considering the economic conditions we are in,” said Judy Schwartz, a project manager for the MTA’s San Fernando Valley area team.

Antelope Valley officials were also pleased, particularly with $1.4 million approved to purchase six new commuter buses for service to the San Fernando Valley and downtown Los Angeles.

“I’m glad to see that the Antelope Valley is finally being recognized as an important part of transportation planning in the county,” said Lancaster City Councilman George Root, who is also a member of the Antelope Valley Transit Authority. “We all pay our fair share in taxes and I’m thrilled to see that money is coming back to benefit the people who live in the Antelope Valley.”

Those sentiments were echoed in Santa Clarita.

“I think Santa Clarita submitted some good, competitive projects and we got rewarded,” said Santa Clarita Mayor Jan Heidt. “I think we did better than the year before.”

The projects were approved after being ranked by the MTA staff based on such criteria as regional significance, environmental enhancement and cost-effectiveness.

Those that were rejected can be submitted again in 1995, when the MTA will allocate additional funds.

In the three northern Los Angeles County valleys, the MTA approved: * $127.5 million for car-pool lanes. * $7.8 million for surface street improvements. * $3.4 million for walking paths and train station restoration projects. * $2.7 million for regional bikeways. * $843,000 for van-pool and shuttle bus programs. * $2.1 million to buy new buses. * $1.1 million for bus and train station improvements.

The single largest allocation to the three northern valleys was for the $30-million project to add car-pool lanes to the Simi Valley Freeway between the Ventura County line and the Golden State Freeway.

Funds were also approved for car-pool lanes on the Antelope Valley Freeway between San Fernando Road and Sand Canyon Road in Santa Clarita; the Ventura Freeway between the Hollywood Freeway and the Foothill Freeway; the San Diego Freeway between the Ventura Freeway and the Golden State Freeway; the Golden State Freeway from the Antelope Valley Freeway to the Ventura Freeway; and the Antelope Valley Freeway from Escondido Canyon Road to Avenue P-8.

The added car-pool lanes--one in each direction for each segment--are to be installed on the median within the next seven years.

Other projects approved include: * $2.2 million for roadway and bridge improvements to ease congestion at the intersection of Barham and Cahuenga boulevards near Universal City. * $2.2 million to extend the Sierra Highway Bikeway from Avenue P to Avenue M. * $1.5 million for a natural-gas-powered minibus line to serve Ventura Boulevard in Sherman Oaks. * $1.8 million to buy and remove billboards along the Ventura Freeway in Agoura Hills as part of that city’s effort of beautify the freeway corridor. * $1 million for a 14.5-mile regional bikeway along the Santa Clara River in Santa Clarita. * $199,000 to provide commuters along the Antelope Valley Freeway incentives to join a van pool or bus pool. * $112,000 for shuttle service to and from the Chatsworth Metrolink station.