Jerrod KingeryCalifornia is making a big investment in upgrading the state’s transportation infrastructure.
Last week, the California Transportation Commission (CTC) announced an allocation of approximately $3.8 billion for projects to refurbish coastal rail lines, freight corridors, bridges and highway interchanges.
The funding will also go toward system enhancements designed to increase accessibility for multi-modal users of walking and bike paths.
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Nearly $3.5 billion of this investment is funded by the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 (IIJA), also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
Over 75% of that allocation is going to local governments to replace bridges, reduce travel times for commuters, address planet-warming pollution, improve highway and rail safety and efficiency and provide new transportation services.
Another $330 million in funding comes from Senate Bill (SB) 1, the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017.
Some of the projects receiving funding include:
- Improvements for locations along the coastal LOSSAN (Los Angeles-San Diego-San Luis Obispo) rail corridor.
- Four hydrogen fueling stations near the I-215/SR-60 interchange.
- A freeway-to-freeway connector linking southbound SR-99 to westbound SR-58 in Bakersfield.
- A Class 4 bikeway in Redding and a bicycle/pedestrian overcrossing in Berkeley.
“These projects will create safer and more equitable and climate-resilient transportation options for all Californians,” says Caltrans Director Tony Tavares. “Investments made possible since IIJA was enacted are establishing a legacy that will benefit all people who use and rely on our vast transportation system for employment and educational opportunities, access to goods and services, and connection to recreational attractions.”
For more information on the projects receiving funding, click here.
Photo courtesy Mds08011
