The California Transportation Commission on Tuesday approved a $988.7 million transportation infrastructure package designed to improve highway safety, expand public transit and strengthen walkable and bike-friendly communities across the state as part of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Build More, Faster – For All agenda. The vote marks another significant step in the state’s ongoing effort to modernize its transportation network and support economic growth.
The funding combines $184 million in federal dollars from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 (IIJA) with $336 million in state support from Senate Bill 1 (SB 1), California’s Road Repair and Accountability Act. Together, investments from IIJA and SB 1 have helped create an estimated 684,000 jobs and support projects that connect residents to jobs, schools and essential services.
The commission said the approved funds will support a broad slate of highway, transit, community and environmental projects statewide. Highlights include:
Highway safety and mobility funding
- $96 million to improve travel times and enhance safety between Ventura County and Goleta with high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes, along with pedestrian and bike paths.
- $81.8 million for the final phase of the U.S. 101 Multimodal Corridor Project in Santa Barbara County, adding HOV lanes and other improvements.
- $73 million for semi-truck safety and operational improvements on Interstate 10 in San Bernardino County.
- $63 million for a new bridge, bike lanes and a wildlife crossing for the Ramona Expressway in Riverside County.
- $12.5 million for bridge repairs on Route 36, Route 211 and U.S. 101 in Humboldt County.
Planned transit enhancements
- $60 million to help rehabilitate Los Angeles’ Union Station, a key passenger rail and transit hub.
- $17 million for the city of Glendale to procure 20 electric buses, supporting cleaner local service.
- $21 million for eight new light rail vehicles for Sacramento Regional Transit to modernize its fleet.
Environmental and community investments
In addition to the funding on the Ramona Expressway, the commission allocated $18.8 million for the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing, a project developed with the California Natural Resources Agency to provide safe passage for wildlife over U.S. 101 near Los Angeles, reduce vehicle-wildlife collisions and improve long-term species connectivity.
Officials say these projects reflect the state’s broader transportation priorities, which include improving safety, increasing travel options and advancing climate goals. The portfolio spans urban and rural regions and is intended to deliver benefits across multiple modes of travel while supporting jobs in construction and related industries.
With this latest allocation, California continues to invest heavily in its transportation network as part of a multiyear strategy that leverages federal and state funding to address congestion, safety and sustainability challenges. The projects approved by the Transportation Commission are expected to begin moving forward in the coming months, with construction timelines and local agency coordination dependent on individual project schedules and permitting.
Photo by José Oliveira from Pexels
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