City hits road-funding bump

Just a week ago, Fontana was a big winner in the fight for a new bankroll of state highway dollars when the California transportation officials set aside $85.7 million to widen a leg of Interstate 10 that slices through the mushrooming city.

But that was before Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, upset that L.A. freeway projects were shortchanged, walked down Wilshire Boulevard urging motorists to complain to state leaders in Sacramento -- and before other big-city politicians across California added to the chorus of complaints.

In response, the California Transportation Commission recommended an extra $1.7 billion for freeway upgrades -- for a total of $4.5 billion in projects funded by state bonds -- but stripped away money for highway projects in Fontana and many other small towns and rural areas.

“I think it’s definitely a sign of big government versus small government,” said San Bernardino County Supervisor Josie Gonzales. “As the Inland Empire is becoming a force, we are competing one on one with Los Angeles for the same funds. We are a metropolis in the making, and we are trying not to experience the same problems as Los Angeles.”

On Wednesday, before a standing-room-only crowd at Irvine City Hall, the commission stood by its new recommendations despite pleas from Inland Empire officials.

Although the Inland Empire received $176 million under the current funding proposal, including money to widen Interstate 215, traffic in Fontana is expected to worsen without the I-10 improvements. That freeway is a major thoroughfare for commuters and truckers moving goods from Southland ports to other parts of the country.

“We are already in gridlock most of the day,” Fontana Councilman John Roberts said. “Emergency vehicles can’t get from one side of the freeway to the next.”

The commission agreed that the area was becoming more congested and recommended it be considered for improvements through goods-movements bonds. The state bond money for those projects, which cater to major routes used for ports and trucking, is scheduled to be given out within the next couple of years.

“There have been some good proposals left on the table, and we are very concerned, but we want to respect and recognize that this is an ongoing dialogue,” said commission Chairwoman Marian Bergeson.

The money would have been used to modify bridges over Interstate 10 at Riverside, Cherry and Citrus avenues. The space between the bridge supports is too narrow to allow the addition of carpool lanes.

Fontana’s predicament mirrored other less-populous areas. A Mendocino County representative called the gathering “an urban versus rural battle.”

While saying they were not envious of the committee’s difficult task of divvying the funds, officials from areas stripped of funds or clamoring for more voiced their arguments in different ways.

San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed said Silicon Valley congestion needed to be reduced because “some of the most productive people in the world are sitting in traffic too long.”

About 15 San Gabriel Valley officials came to the meeting, but because of time constraints, many could only state their name for the record.

As the commissioners explained throughout the meeting, there just weren’t enough funds to satisfy all of California’s worthy road improvements.

But Gonzales said this was an opportunity for her to argue on behalf of her constituents and express their frustration.

“If we don’t fight now,” she said, “we will always be last.”

jonathan.abrams@latimes.com