Brady PieperCalifornia’s transportation sector is feeling the holiday spirit, securing hundreds of millions of dollars to kickstart equitable construction projectsand tackle climate injustice.
The California Transportation Commission (CTC) is announcing $830 million in strategic investments to reinvigorate the state’s transportation infrastructure. Concluding the commission’s December meeting, CTC will fund a series of projects that will rejuvenate California’s infrastructure, develop alternatives to driving and improve safety on highways and bridges.
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The commission will utilize funding from federal, state and local programs to fund these transportation initiatives, including $249 million in federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding and $306 million from the state-led Road, Repair and Accountability Act of 2017. The latter allocates over $5 billion in fuel taxes and vehicle fees annually to improve the state’s roads, bridges and highways.
The funding package includes a mix of large and small projects, all designed to improve access and mobility across the state. Spread across urban centers, suburban areas and rural communities, the funds will advance projects that repair aging infrastructure, expand public transit options and alternatives and address California’s state-wide and localized climate challenges.
With these new investments, California aims to strengthen its transportation networks and systems, ensuring safer, more sustainable and accessible mobility for all residents.
Some of the highest awarded projects are as follows:
- Santa Clara County – $258.3 million to complete the final design for a six-mile BART extension. The project is anticipated to improve passenger mobility and access to transit options in San Jose.
- Alameda County – $67.6 million to construct an additional 12.2 miles of new roadway, three miles of new bike lanes and several new tunnels and bridges on stretches of I-880 and State Route 260 in Oakland and Alameda.
- Alameda County – $13.5 million to reconstruct infrastructure on 7th Street within the Port of Oakland. The project will rebuild an existing underpass and multi use path while revitalizing rail tracks and rail infrastructure.
- Solano County – $9.9 million to develop separated bikeways, buffered bike lanes and roadside improvements to enhance pedestrians and cyclists’ safety.
- Contra Costa County – $4.3 million to initiate various infrastructure, safety, drainage and standards projects on I-680 in and around Concord and Pleasant Hill. The projects will develop pavement, drainage systems, lighting improvements, concrete barriers and facilities to adhere to Americans with Disabilities Act requirements.
While specific funding allocations were not released, CTC will also advance bridge rehabilitation and rail extension projects in Los Angeles and San Jose, respectively. The rehabilitation of the Vincent Thomas Bridge in Los Angeles and a rail extension on the Silicon Valley line in San Jose are included in this funding package.
In addition to large transportation initiatives, CTC intends to fund smaller local projects as well, including the pedestrian safety-oriented Orange Family Street project in San Diego and the L.A. River Greenway rail connection project between North Hollywood and East San Fernando Valley.
Supporting additional agenda’s, CTC’s transportation investment furthers the state’s Faster – For All initiative, which seeks to make committees cleaner, safer and happier through transformative infrastructure projects.
CTC’s list of featured projects is available here. For more information on California’s current and future funding opportunities for transit and public safety, see the Building CA initiative website.
Photo by RDNE Stock project
