California Invests $3 Billion to Enhance Safety, Improve Travel Times and Boost Multimodal Travel Options

California Invests $3 Billion to Enhance Safety, Improve Travel Times and Boost Multimodal Travel Options

San Diego, CA – The California Transportation Commission (CTC) today approved $3 billion in allocations to enhance safety and mobility across the state highway system and expand multimodal travel, including bike lanes and pedestrian pathways. Guided by Governor Gavin Newsom’s Build More, Faster – For All infrastructure agenda, these improvements will make California communities safer, cleaner and increase access to active transportation options.

Of the $3 billion allocated this month, $663 million derives from Senate Bill (SB) 1, the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017 and approximately $2 billion from the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 (IIJA). The funds will serve as a catalyst to increase the capacity of the state’s transportation system, rehabilitate aging roadways and improve travel times, while balancing community impacts and promoting environmental benefits.

“Today’s investments reflect California’s long-term commitment to safer roads, smarter traffic management and expanded transportation choices that get people where they need to go,” said Caltrans Director Dina El-Tawansy.

“The funds allocated today reflect the Commission’s commitment to investing taxpayer dollars strategically,” said CTC Chair Darnell Grisby. “These investments will improve the safety and reliability of the state’s transportation network and support a thriving economy by improving the movement of freight and reducing out-of-pocket expenses for all Californians.”

Among the larger projects approved by the Commission:

• $102 million — Improve segments of Interstate 5 (the Grapevine) in Kern County. Work includes pavement repair, upgraded drainage and lighting, installation of CCTV cameras, vehicle detection systems and changeable message signs to improve traffic monitoring and incident response.
• $21 million — Preservation of a bridge in Monterey County using an innovative electrochemical technique to remove corrosives from concrete, extending the structure’s service life.
• $12 million — Construction of a bicycle and pedestrian overcrossing of U.S. Highway 101 in Santa Rosa to serve students at Santa Rosa Junior College and Santa Rosa High School and nearby commercial destinations.
• $3 million — New sidewalks, landscaping and bike lanes along H Street in the city of Bakersfield, improving walking and bicycling access and neighborhood connectivity.

Local district projects include:

• $42,853,000 for a pavement rehabilitation project along State Route 4 in Alpine County to upgrade paving, guardrails, and bridge railings, construct rumble strips, repair drainage systems, implement rock slope protection, and enhance highway worker safety. The construction will take place on State Route 4 in Alpine County from the Calaveras County line to State Route 89, improving the ride quality and safety of the corridor for the traveling public.
• $7,014,000 to construct new Transportation Management System (TMS) elements, widen highway shoulders to accommodate semi-truck turning radius, rehabilitate pavement, repair drainage systems, and replace highways signs. Construction will take place at various locations along State Route 33 (SR-33), SR-140, SR-165, and I-5 in Merced and Stanislaus Counties. The funding will be used to improve highway infrastructure resulting in a safer and more reliable roadway for the traveling public.
• $321,000 to support the Stanislaus Council of Governments (StanCOG) Church Street Mobility Enhancement Project along State Route 132 (SR-132) in Stanislaus County. The funding will be used construct new crosswalks, curb ramps, rapid flashing beacons, flashing stop signs, streetlights, curb extensions, and approximately 6,000 feet of new sidewalk. The construction will take place along Church Street (SR-132) from Yosemite Boulevard to McCoy Avenue, from 1st Street to G Street, and from 2nd Street to G Street near the community of Empire in Stanislaus County.
• $4,500,000 for the eastern segment of the State Route 4 (SR-4) Wagon Trail Realignment Project near the town of Copperopolis and City of Angels Camp in Calaveras County. The project will construct a new alignment of SR-4 between Stallion Way and the SR-4/49 junction near Stockton Road. Construction will include approximately seven miles of new roadway, installation of new turn pockets, and shoulder backing along the highway. Once completed the project improve the traffic flow and highway safety, along the corridor.

IIJA is a once-in-a-generation investment in our nation’s infrastructure to improve the sustainability and resiliency of our country’s energy, water, broadband and transportation systems. The total funding for California is nearly $54 billion. This includes investments to upgrade the state’s roads, bridges, rail, public transit, airports, ports, waterways and the electric vehicle charging network.

SB 1 has invested approximately $5 billion annually toward transportation projects since its adoption. It provides funding split between the state and local agencies. Road projects progress through construction phases more quickly based on the availability of funds, including projects that are partially funded by SB 1.

Visit Build.CA.gov to learn more about transformative infrastructure projects happening in communities throughout the state.