AASHTO Journal - California Issues $1B For Transit, Highway Safety Projects

The California Transportation Commission recently allocated nearly $1 billion to expand the state’s transit capabilities and add new highway safety features.

[Above image by Caltrans]

That $988.7 million tranche of funding includes $184 million from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act or IIJA and $336 million in support from Senate Bill 1 – known as “SB 1” or the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017.

“Creating a brighter future in the Golden State is about addressing big challenges with meaningful investments like these,” noted Toks Omishakin, secretary of the California State Transportation Agency, in a statement.

“This level of support funds wide-ranging transportation upgrades that provide the backbone of California’s vibrant economy by improving goods movement, expanding transit and rail systems and making our system more bikeable and walkable,” he said. “These benefits will be experienced by every region, including disadvantaged communities throughout the state.”

“The long-term investments allocated today will power our ongoing effort to provide the safest, most accessible transportation system possible for all users, while continuing to serve as responsible stewards of California’s environment,” added Dina El-Tawansy, director of the California Department of Transportation or Caltrans.

“From new sidewalks and bicycle lanes to bridge repairs and highway reconditioning, we are improving our transportation system for the benefit of all Californians and creating thousands of jobs in the process,” she said.

Caltrans noted that the list of projects funded by that $1 billion includes:

$96 million to improve travel times and enhance traffic safety between Ventura County and Goleta with high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes, pedestrian and bike paths, plus transit enhancements.
Roughly $73 million to improve tractor-trail operations and safety on I-10 in San Bernardino County.
$63 million for a new bridge, bike lanes, and wildlife crossing as part of an upgrade to the Ramona Expressway in Riverside County.
$60 million to help rehabilitate Union Station in the city of Los Angeles; $17 million for 20 electric buses for the City of Glendale; and $21 million for eight new light rail vehicles for Sacramento Regional Transit.

In addition, the commission allocated $18.8 million for the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing in partnership with the California Natural Resources Agency. This crossing will provide a safe wildlife passage over U.S. 101, reducing wildlife-vehicle collisions and support long-term species viability through improved movement, Caltrans noted.