Golden Gate Bridge directors OK $75 million for Doyle Drive

Golden Gate Bridge directors on Friday committed $75 million toward rebuilding Doyle Drive, the span’s treacherous southern approach, despite not having a source for the money identified.

On a 13-3 vote, directors entered an agreement with regional transportation agencies to pay for the more than $1 billion project that is expected to begin in 2010.

The pledge helps close a funding shortfall and gives officials the momentum they need to lobby for the remaining amount in Sacramento and Washington.

“It was tremendously critical,” said Tilly Chang, deputy director of planning for the San Francisco Transportation Authority. “It really showed the ability of the region to come together.”

Sonoma County Supervisor Mike Kerns and Director Brian Sobel of Petaluma voted with the majority. Sonoma Mayor Joanne Sanders voted no. Sanders said Caltrans should be making a bigger contribution to the project because it is a state highway.

Celia Kupersmith, the bridge’s general manager, said the bridge would immediately begin to look for ways to pay the $75 million. She said tolls would not be increased for the project.

Asked what would happen if the bridge could not meet the obligation by the 2014 deadline, she said, “I think what you then have is a legal problem.”