SACRAMENTO — Under heavy political attack, the California Transportation Commission staff Monday recommended cutting loose an additional $1.7 billion to fund high-profile freeway projects around the state.

The action, likely to be ratified Wednesday by the commission, clears the way for construction of two projects of great interest to Ventura County commuters: the widening of a six-mile stretch of Highway 101 between Ventura and Santa Barbara, and the addition of a high-occupancy-vehicle lane on northbound Interstate 405 between Highway 101 and Highway 10 near Los Angeles International Airport.

Both projects had been jeopardized by the initial recommendations released two weeks ago. The release of that list of proposed projects ignited a firestorm of political protest, led by Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and joined by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who took the unusual step of asking that 10 specific projects be added to the list.

The initial recommendations sought to allocate only $2.8 billion.

The new recommendations seek the allocation of the full $4.5 billion, which would be the first wave of money earmarked under Proposition 1B, a $20 billion transportation bond approved by voters last fall. In the bond, that $4.5 billion is specifically set aside for "corridor mobility" projects designed to deliver relatively quick, highly visible projects to relieve congestion.

The Highway 101 widening, which will entail the addition of a southbound HOV lane between Casitas Pass Road and Mussel Shoals, was rescued by an agreement that will set aside $20 million from a different state highway account. The staff initially sought to require Ventura and Santa Barbara counties to come up with the $20 million on their own — a requirement local officials said would have scuttled the project.

"This is now all state-funded," said Ginger Gherardi, executive director of the Ventura County Transportation Commission.

John Barna, executive director of the state Transportation Commission, said Caltrans' officials "came forward and said this was an important enough priority" that they pledged $20 million from a separate Proposition 1B account.

Barna said the Caltrans funding agreement will be noted in the state commission's action on Wednesday. The money, however, will not be allocated until June, when the commission is scheduled to consider allocations from the other account.

The estimated total cost of the project is $151 million, $131 million of which will come from the corridor mobility account.

Gherardi said local officials will seek to have the commission clearly formalize the agreement to provide $20 million in other funds to make the 101 project possible.

"We'll make sure it's in the record," she said.

Gherardi said construction should begin in 2011.

The 405 widening, along a 10-mile stretch of congested urban highway, is the most expensive project to be funded. It is now scheduled to receive $730 million from Proposition 1B, with an additional $220 million coming from the federal government.

"It's by far the largest single amount we are recommending," Barna said. "We've always recognized that the 405 HOV lane is sort of a poster child for corridor mobility projects."

Transportation officials estimate when the project is completed it will cut 20 minutes off rush-hour commute time on that stretch of the 405.

In all, 50 projects are recommended for funding, 21 in the southern part of the state and 29 in the north.