EUREKA — The California Transportation Commission (CTC) this week invested nearly $2 billion into improving the state’s transportation infrastructure while approving an additional $2.3 billion for future projects.
The nearly $2 billion allocation reflects more than $571 million in funding from the 2021 federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and more than $257 million in funding from Senate Bill (SB) 1, the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017. The $2.3 billion is comprised of $1.75 billion representing the third funding cycle of programs established by SB 1 and $540 million in active transportation projects sponsored by local metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs), charting the course for future allocations.
“SB 1 and IIJA funding are helping rebuild and transform California’s transportation future, and we are putting that investment to work to create a system that allows all of us to travel in an equitable, safe and sustainable way,” said Caltrans Director Tony Tavares.
Projects that the CTC approved in its nearly $2 billion worth of investments include:
- Approximately $5.5M in federal IIJA funding toward guardrail and roadway improvements along Route 1 from north of Route 128 to south of Navarro Ridge Road near Albion in Mendocino County.
- Approximately $3.2M including more than $2.9M in federal IIJA funding and $98K in SB1 funding toward roadway and drainage upgrades on Route 1 at Navarro Ridge Road near Albion in Mendocino County.
- Approximately $3M in support allocations toward roadway and guardrail improvements and bridge replacement on Route 36 near Carlotta from west of Fisher Road to west of Wilder Road in Humboldt County.
- Approximately $2.4M in support allocations toward roadway and guardrail upgrades, the construction of left-turn lanes, installation of lighting, pedestrian activated flashing beacons and sidewalk and curb ramps on Route 29 near Middletown from south of Central Park Road to north of Young Street in Lake County.
- Approximately $1M in SB1 funding in support allocations toward drainage and fish-passage improvements on U.S. 101 near Cooks Valley in Humboldt County.
- Approximately $2M in SB1 funding in support allocations toward drainage and lighting upgrades at various locations along U.S.101 from the Eel River Bridge to north of the Mendocino County line near Cooks Valley in Humboldt County.
- Approximately $1.4M including more than $1.2M in federal IIJA funding in support allocations toward mitigation work for freshwater wetland expansion and tidal restoration of salt marsh habitat at various locations on U.S. 101 from 11th Street in Arcata to the Eureka Slough Bridge in Humboldt County.
- Approximately $947K including more than $838K in federal IIJA funding in support allocations toward mitigation work for freshwater wetland expansion and tidal restoration of salt marsh habitat at various locations on U.S. 101 from south of Jacobs Avenue in Eureka to north of the Bayside Cutoff in Humboldt County.
- Approximately $612K including more than $541K in federal IIJA funding and $40K in SB 1 funding in support allocations toward mitigation work for freshwater wetland expansion and tidal restoration of salt marsh habitat at various locations on U.S. 101 between Arcata and Eureka from south of the Jacoby Creek Bridge to north of the Gannon Slough Bridge in Humboldt County.
- Approximately $7.1M of emergency allocations toward drainage and roadway repairs as well as the removal of hazardous trees at various locations on U.S. 101 and U.S. 199 and Route 169 and Route 197 in Humboldt and Del Norte Counties.
- Approximately $6.5M of emergency allocations toward drainage, embankment and roadway repairs on Route 254 near Miranda from north of Redwood Lane to Cathey Road in Humboldt County.
- Approximately $2.7M of emergency allocations toward embankment repairs and drainage improvements on Route 175 near Lakeport in Lake County.
- Approximately $1.9M toward emergency allocations for embankment, roadway and guardrail repairs on Route 175 west of Arroyo Vista Road to west of Socrates Mine Road near Whispering Pines in Lake County.
- Approximately $11.2M toward emergency allocations for roadway and drainage repairs along with the removal of hazardous trees at various locations on U.S. 101 and Routes 1, 20, 29, 53, 128 and 175 in Humboldt, Mendocino and Lake Counties.
The $1.75 billion for future investments cover three SB 1 competitive grant programs: $1.08 billion for the Trade Corridor Enhancement Program (TCEP); $532.8 million for the Solutions for Congested Corridors Program (SCCP); and $142.5 million for the Local Partnership Program (LPP). The programs included, for the first time, input from the new Interagency Equity Advisory Committee in the evaluation of projects. This funding round also marks the first cycle to incorporate all principles of the state’s Climate Action Plan for Transportation Infrastructure.
The TCEP funding will go to 26 projects that support infrastructure improvements on corridors that carry a high volume of freight traffic with the goal of increasing efficiency, improving safety, and constructing an equitable and sustainable freight system. More than a third (10 of 26) of the TCEP projects include zero-emission technology components to support the deployment of a zero-emission freight transportation system and invest in light, medium and heavy zero-emission vehicle infrastructure. The SCCP funding will go to 10 projects to achieve a balanced set of transportation, environmental, and community access improvements to reduce congestion throughout the state. All 10 SCCP projects are multimodal, and five include active transportation improvements. The LPP funding will go to 11 projects that support counties, cities, districts, and regional transportation agencies where voters have approved fees or taxes dedicated solely to transportation.
Local LPP projects include:
- Approximately $6M to fund the City of Ukiah Urban Core Rehabilitation and Transportation Project in Mendocino County.
The CTC also adopted the 2023 MPO Active Transportation Program, totaling $540 million for future investments. The 134 projects approved for funding include a broad range of active transportation infrastructure improvements, including more than 120 miles of new bikeways, 60 miles of new sidewalks, and many other improvements to intersections, crosswalks, shade and signage. More than 90 percent of the funding, $494 million, will fund projects benefitting disadvantaged communities, and $290 million (54 percent) will fund Safe Routes to School projects.
MPO active transportation projects include:
- Approximately $2.3M to fund the City of Eureka C Street Bike Boulevard in Humboldt County.
- Approximately $9M toward the City of Eureka Bay to Zoo Trail in Humboldt County.
The IIJA, also known as the “Bipartisan Infrastructure Law,” is a once-in-a-generation investment in our nation's infrastructure to improve the sustainability and resiliency of our energy, water, broadband and transportation systems. Since November 2021, California has received more than $20 billion in federal infrastructure funding. That includes more than $15.1 billion in federal transportation funding to upgrade the state’s roads, bridges, rail, public transit, airports, electric vehicle charging network, ports, and waterways. These transportation investments alone have already created nearly 48,000 jobs.
The influx of federal funding is on top of California’s multiyear infrastructure investments in transit and intercity rail projects, safe walking and biking options, and upgrades to the state’s economy-powering supply chain, in addition to SB 1, which provides $5 billion in transportation funding annually that is shared equally between state and local agencies. Road projects progress through construction phases more quickly based on the availability of SB 1 funds, including projects that are partially funded by SB 1.
To review the latest news and information on state and federal infrastructure investments, visit RebuildingCA.ca.gov, which contains data on the increased funding. Website visitors can learn more about the different state and federal infrastructure programs, track the amount of funding California is receiving, and find projects on an updated interactive map.
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