A last-minute firestorm of angry urban politicians has thrown February 16 recommendations by the California Transportation Commission staff, which included setting aside $177 million to build the Willits bypass, into limbo.

A transportation funding workshop held February 20 in Sacramento featured a number of elected representatives and transportation citizen group leaders who criticized the CTC staff recommendations. Those recommendations included funding construction of the Willits bypass, giving $141 million to widen Highway 101 between Santa Rosa and Windsor, and setting aside $74 million to widen Highway 12 through Jameson County in Solano County.

The Willits bypass was singled out several times as an example of irresponsible work on the part of the CTC staff.

Jim Wunderman of the Bay Area Council said staff recommendation to fund the bypass broke faith with California voters. Assemblywoman Noreen Evans (Democrat-Santa Rosa) said the bypass took funding from what she regarded as worthier projects located elsewhere.

Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez said he would try to block funding for all programs unless the CTC's list of recommendations was reconsidered.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger also sent a letter to the CTC, which noted 13 transportation projects, most of them in Southern California, not recommended for funding by CTC staff. Schwarzenegger also asked the staff reconsider its recommendations.

As a result of the meeting, the CTC directed its staff to re-evaluate its list of recommendations and to come up with a new list by Monday, February 26. The CTC is scheduled to approve a final list of projects for funding at a February 28 meeting in Irvine.

According to David Brewer, deputy director of the CTC staff, neither he nor the staff knew at noon Thursday whether the Willits bypass wouldl make the revised list. Brewer noted the final decision will be made by the nine-member commission, and not by staff, adding he couldn't tell how the commission as a whole was leaning based on comments individual members made or did not make at the Sacramento workshop.

"A majority of members didn't speak," Brewer said. "I don't know where some commission members stand at all."

Brewer said the commission asked the staff to re-evaluate all the recommendations it made on February 16, and to consider new projects recommended by individual commission members and by Schwarzenegger.

"It is possible some of our recommendations will not be in the final adoption," Brewer said. "Whatever those recommendations say, the commission may select other projects, other than the ones we recommend.

"I don't know if Willits is going to make the final list or not," Brewer added. "And if it is on the list, it doesn't mean it is going to stay there. If it is not on the list, that doesn't mean it's not going to come back."