When the City Council approved a $9,089,653.35 construction contract for the Parkway Drive and Denholm Drive Traffic Calming Project on Jan. 14, the price drew attention. Residents soon asked a direct question: Where is the money coming from?
Council minutes state the project will use funds from the Active Transportation Program Cycle 6, the Metro ExpressLanes Net Toll Revenue Reinvestment Grant Program, and a federal earmark through the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023. The minutes do not list a dollar breakdown for each source. They also do not identify a contribution from the city’s general fund.
That distinction shapes how residents view the nearly $9 million investment.
State Active Transportation Program Funds
One funding source is California’s Active Transportation Program, known as ATP. The competitive state grant supports projects that improve pedestrian and bicycle safety.
Communities across California compete for ATP dollars based on collision data, equity measures, and project readiness. If Parkway and Denholm secured Cycle 6 funding, the corridor met statewide safety criteria. Those criteria often include crash history, proximity to schools, and gaps in sidewalk or bike infrastructure.
ATP funds are controlled by the state and do not come from El Monte’s general operating budget. The program details are available through the California Transportation Commission at https://catc.ca.gov/programs/active-transportation-program.
Regional Metro ExpressLanes Toll Revenue
A second source is Metro’s ExpressLanes Net Toll Revenue Reinvestment Grant Program. The program directs toll revenue from regional freeway express lanes into local transportation projects within affected communities.
In practice, toll payers on Los Angeles County freeways help finance street improvements in cities such as El Monte. The reinvestment program aims to address congestion and safety impacts linked to freeway traffic patterns.
By tapping this grant, the city leverages regional transportation dollars rather than relying solely on local revenue. The minutes do not specify how much of the $9,089,653.35 contract will come from this source.
Federal Earmark Through 2023 Appropriations
The third listed source is a federal earmark through the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023. Congressional earmarks direct federal funds to specific projects.
If the Parkway and Denholm project received such an allocation, federal dollars would flow directly into El Monte’s capital improvement program. Federal earmarks often require local matching funds. The Jan. 14 minutes do not clarify whether a local match applies to this contract.
The minutes reference the funding programs but do not mention a general fund contribution for the capital improvement project identified as CIP 001.
Why The Funding Breakdown Matters
For residents along Parkway and Denholm, traffic calming represents a neighborhood change years in the making. For taxpayers citywide, the funding mix determines whether the project brings outside investment or redirects local resources.
If most of the $9 million comes from state, regional, and federal grants, the city has attracted external funding into its transportation network. If matching dollars are required, residents may seek clarity on whether those funds come from Measure M sales tax allocations, restricted capital accounts, or the general fund.
At the Jan. 14 meeting, the council did not present a percentage breakdown in open session. As construction moves forward, residents may look for a clearer accounting of how the Parkway Denholm funding sources align with broader city priorities.
