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Press release from Caltrans District 1:

MERCED – The California Transportation Commission at its October meeting approved $4.9 billion to improve safety and mobility on local streets and state highways as well as fund new alternative transportation options and zero emissions projects.

More than half of the allocation will provide 600 local governments and regional transportation agencies with their annual funding to fix roads, bridges and other transportation needs statewide.

Read Governor Newsom announcement here.

“This nearly $5 billion investment highlights California’s strong commitment to creating a modern, resilient transportation system that enhances local streets and strengthens connections between neighborhoods, job centers and schools,” said California Transportation Secretary Toks Omishakin. “Thanks to Governor Newsom’s leadership, Caltrans’ work and the Commission, we are building a safer, more connected and future-ready transportation network that serves all Californians.”

“Our local partners are steadfast contributors and valued partners in keeping California’s vast transportation network safe and efficient,” said Caltrans Director Dina El-Tawansy. “When added to the various highway projects also approved, this month’s action ensures that hundreds of essential improvements in our cities and neighborhoods will better enable people and goods to flow throughout the state and beyond.”

“The Commission is committed to ensuring that California’s transportation system is safe and reliable for everyone who uses it,” said California Transportation Commission Executive Director Tanisha Taylor. “Today’s nearly $5 billion investment in projects will improve multimodal access to schools and employment centers, boost our growing economy, and reduce out-of-pocket expenses for all Californians.”

Among the projects approved is $700 million for repairs and critical upgrades needed for the Vincent Thomas Bridge, a 60-year-old span in the Port of Los Angeles that will soon undergo a major deck refurbishment. Another $140 million will fund truck climbing lanes among other improvements to Interstate 80 in the Sierra foothills between Applegate and Emigrant Gap, a major west coast freight thoroughfare.

Pedestrian facilities also received support from the allocations, including an award of $97 million to replace a pedestrian bridge that connects neighborhoods south of the City College of San Francisco campus and other improvements to Interstate 280 between San Francisco and San Mateo counties. And $6.3 million will be spent on new sidewalks, bike lanes and traffic controls in the cities of Santa Barbara and Santa Rosa and in Santa Clara County.

Other notable projects include:

• $10 million to build a floating charging station for zero emission ferries in San Francisco Bay.
• $9.7 million to purchase electric buses for use around the University of California, Los Angeles campus.
• $8 million to restore fire-damaged irrigation systems and landscaping near Lake Forest in Orange County. 

Projects approved in District 1 include:

• Approximately $87 million including more than $77.4 million in federal IIJA funding and more than $9.8 million in SB1 funding toward roadway realignment and storm damage repairs on Route 299 near Blue Lake in Humboldt County.
• Approximately $30.3 million including more than $4.6 million in federal IIJA funding and more than $16.3 million in SB1 funding toward replacement of the Albion River Bridge No. 10-0136 near Albion in Mendocino County.
• Approximately $10.2 million including more than $9.1 million in federal IIJA funding and more than $900,000 in SB1 funding toward curb, sidewalk, signage and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) improvements on Route 1 from the Route 20 to the Pudding Creek Bridge in Fort Bragg, Mendocino County.
• Approximately $3 million toward rockfall mitigation, roadway improvements, and vegetation management on Route 96 in Humboldt County from t Route 299 to the Siskiyou County line. This project seeks to improve evacuation route preparedness on Routes 96 and 169. 
• Approximately $3 million toward roadway improvements on Route 128 near Philo Greenwood Road in Philo, Mendocino County. 
• Approximately $2.2 million in SB1 funding toward pavement, drainage and other improvements on U.S. 101 from Bell Springs Road to Route 1 near Leggett in Mendocino County. 
• Approximately $1.2 million toward culvert rehabilitation and removal of fish passage barriers on Route 254 from north of U.S.101 to north of Holmes Flat Road near Weott and Miranda in Humboldt County. 
• Approximately $1.1 million in SB1 funding toward revegetation along a 1.5 mile stretch of U.S. 101 at the Outlet Creek Bridge near Willits in Mendocino County. 
• Approximately $1 million in SB1 funding toward revegetation on Route 20 from the North Calpella Overcrossing to east of County Road 144 near Ukiah in Mendocino County. 
• Approximately $570,000 in SB1 funding toward revegetation along Route 254 at Maple Hills Road near Miranda in Humboldt County. 
• Approximately $500,000 in SB1 funding toward revegetation, culvert and erosion control improvements on Route 299 from east of Route 200 to east of Boise Creek Campground near Willow Creek in Humboldt County. 
• Approximately $23 million in SB1 funding for emergency allocations toward the design and construction of a retaining wall, drainage improvements and roadway repairs on Route 299 at Chezem Road near Willow Creek in Humboldt County. 
• Approximately $10.5 million in SB1 funding for emergency allocations toward the design and construction of a retaining wall, roadway repairs and culvert improvements on Route 175 east of Buckman Drive near Hopland in Mendocino County.
• Approximately $4.8 million including more than $4.3 million in federal IIJA funding and $500,000 in SB1 funding toward the construction of a left turn lane at Timbers Boulevard, along with lighting and other roadway improvements on U.S. 101 from East Denney Street to Rowdy Creek Road near Smith River in Del Norte County. 
• Approximately $2.3 million in SB1 funding for emergency allocations toward erosion control and long-term solutions for stabilizing the embankment on Route 254 from Phillipsville Road to Maple Hills Road near Phillipsville in Humboldt County. 
• Approximately $2 million in SB1 funding for emergency allocations toward drainage improvements and roadway repairs on U.S. 101 near Big Lagoon in Humboldt County.

Of the total allocation this month, $470 million has come via Senate Bill (SB) 1, the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017, and $4.2 billion from the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). The larger than normal expenditure of federal money relates almost exclusively to the annual allocation provided to local governments and regional transportation agencies.

California is expected to receive nearly $42 billion in federal infrastructure funding over a span of five years. These investments will upgrade the state’s roads, bridges, rail, public transit, airports, ports and the electric vehicle charging network.

SB 1 has invested approximately $5 billion annually toward transportation projects since 2017. It provides funding split between the state and local agencies. Road projects progress through construction phases more quickly based on the availability of funds, including projects that are partially funded by SB 1.

For more information about transportation and other infrastructure projects funded with state and federal investments, visit build.ca.gov.