District: District 11 — San Diego and Imperial Counties
Contact: Barbara Cosio Moreno
Phone: (619) 688-6670
State Invests Nearly $2 Billion in CA Transportation Infrastructure, Approves Another $2.3 Billion for Future Projects
SAN DIEGO —The California Transportation Commission (CTC) has awarded and approved hundreds of millions of dollars in funding to the San Diego region for the advancement of critical transportation projects, including transit, freight, rail, bikeways, and safety improvements.
The awards include more than $260 million in competitive grants for the SR-11/Otay Mesa East Port of Entry, the Batiquitos Lagoon Bridge, and Harbor Drive 2.0/Vesta Bridge Port Access Improvements Project, through the Trade Corridor Enhancement Program (TCEP) and Solutions for Congested Corridors Program of Senate Bill (SB) 1, the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017.
CTC Commissioner Clarissa Falcon presented a check on behalf of the State of California to Caltrans District 11, SANDAG, the Port of San Diego, and the North County Transit District at a press event on Friday, June 30. The event follows a meeting this week where the CTC invested nearly $2 billion into improving the state’s transportation infrastructure while approving an additional $2.3 billion for future projects.
“The infrastructure projects funded by this commitment are important because they create more mobility options and can help provide better access for people in our region and across our border,” said Commissioner Falcon. “We will continue to fund and build projects that follow the Climate Action Plan for Transportation Infrastructure and ensure complete streets and multi-modal options are available for all.”
Caltrans District 11 Director Gustavo Dallarda credits the unique partnerships in the San Diego region in stewarding these funds for local projects.
“Multi-modal projects that connect communities, adapt to climate change, and enhance existing transportation corridors serve as our blueprint for the next generation of San Diego infrastructure,” Dallarda said.
“In just a few days, Caltrans will celebrate its 50th anniversary. It was formed, at first, as an agency that just built highways. We are seeing what the next 50 years will build upon – strengthening relationships between regional partners to benefit the people we all serve.”
SANDAG and Caltrans received the largest award of TCEP funds: $140 million for the advancement of the federal State Route 11/Otay Mesa East Port of Entry project (OME POE). The OME POE will create a new, modern land border crossing for the Cali-Baja region. The new Port of Entry will improve mobility and air quality at the border using state-of-the-art technologies. It will also help boost the economy and increase trade between the US and Mexico.
“These state grants are great news for the San Diego region and represent a significant investment in improving our community infrastructure,” said SANDAG and San Diego County Supervisor Chairwoman Nora Vargas. “By allocating $260 million for these projects, we can continue to enhance infrastructure that will greatly improve the quality of life for the residents of San Diego County. This includes improving rail lines in north county and ensuring the completion of the East Otay Mesa Port of Entry; both are essential projects for our bi-national region.”
A significant investment of $103 million will allow SANDAG and the North County Transit District (NCTD) to implement crucial rail infrastructure for the Build NCC Los Batiquitos Bridge project. Funds will go towards replacing an 80-year-old wooden bridge with a modern concrete rail bridge, adding 0.6 miles of double track across the Batiquitos Lagoon, connecting the cities of Carlsbad and Encinitas. These rail improvements are a crucial part of the double track upgrades from the Orange County line to Downtown San Diego, a vital part of the LOSSAN corridor.
“This investment in the LOSSAN Corridor by the State of California moves a critical project forward,” said NCTD Chair of the Board of Directors Jewel Edson. “Replacement of the Batiquitos Lagoon Bridge and the addition of approximately 0.6 miles of double tracking will add capacity to support future service increases and ensure the LOSSAN Corridor is resilient for years to come.”
An additional $18.5 million will benefit the Harbor Drive 2.0/Vesta Bridge Port Access Improvements Project, a partnership between the Port of San Diego, SANDAG, and Caltrans. The Port of San Diego’s Tenth Avenue and National City Marine Terminals are critical to San Diego’s Working Waterfront industrial area. These terminals handle a wide range of cargo for both domestic and international trade. The Port has invested tens of millions of dollars to reduce air emissions to improve air quality around the terminals and in neighboring communities.
Harbor Drive 2.0 will bring several enhancements, including the construction of dedicated truck lanes, queue jumps, and the implementation of Intelligent Transportation System technologies.
The project will also include state-of-the-art electric charging infrastructure to support zero-emission trucks.
“This funding covers additional steps needed before our partners, and we can break ground on Harbor Drive 2.0 – a breakthrough vision to improve the main transportation corridor between the Port of San Diego’s cargo terminals and surrounding communities,” said Chairman Rafael Castellanos, Port of San Diego Board of Port Commissioners. “Everyone wins. Our neighbors in Barrio Logan and National City win with fewer trucks in their streets, easier transit, and more bike lanes and sidewalks; industry wins because cargo trucks can get in and out of the terminals and to the freeways faster; and the environment wins with urban greening and improvements that will reduce truck idling, leading to fewer emissions and cleaner air. We couldn’t be more thrilled or grateful to the California Transportation Commission for approving this funding and to Caltrans and SANDAG for bringing home vital planning dollars as we continue to pursue funding for construction.”
Additional Funds Throughout San Diego County
The CTC’s nearly $2 billion allocation invested into improving the state’s transportation infrastructure this week 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 SB 1.
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 over $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.
“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 equitably, safely, and sustainably,” said Caltrans Director Tony Tavares.
Additional local projects include:
- $ 23 million to replace damaged culverts, modify inlets and junctions, replace damaged pavement, replace damaged guardrail and concrete barrier, reconstruct embankment, and place erosion control for the Winter Storm Sinkhole Emergency Project on SR-78.
- $14 million to SANDAG for the Bike Up & Down Uptown project to construct 3.2 miles of protected bikeways, traffic calming, safety improvements, and pedestrian improvements, closing a missing link between Uptown San Diego to the San Diego Trolley.
- $7.2 million will go to Caltrans and SANDAG for the I-805/SR-15 Transit Priority Connectors project to construct transit connectors on I-15 from the I-805/SR-15 separation to 0.7 miles north of the I-805/SR-15 separation and on the I-805 from Market Street to Landis Street. The connectors would serve the Rapid Transit (bus rapid transit) Route 680 and ride-sharing vehicles.
- $2.4 million to remove and replace damaged guardrail, restore damaged pavement, restore eroded slopes, break and dispose of boulders and debris, perform rock scaling, and install erosion control for the winter storm emergency project on SR-94.
- $2.3 million to clean, inspect, and line existing culverts, import, borrow, and repair the embankment, install Rock Slope Protection (RSP), replace damaged culverts, and install erosion control on State Route 52 in San Diego.
- $1.5 million to fund the installation of trash capture devices on Interstate 5, Interstate 8, Interstate 15, State Route 15, State Route 94, and State Route 125.
- $1.09 million to the city of National City and SANDAG for the Central Community Mobility Enhancements project to implement a north-south bicycle boulevard, close a sidewalk gap, and provide pedestrian enhancements in National City along M, N, and L avenues between 4th and 30th Street.
- $1.09 million to the city of La Mesa and SANDAG for the La Mesa Bike and Sidewalk Connections project to construct Class I bike lanes, Class III bike routes, sidewalks, ADA ramps, and install crosswalks and pedestrian signals.
- $240,000 to SANDAG for San Diego Metropolitan Transit System’s Connections Zero Emission Transit Enhancement Project to design the replacement of 78 variable message signs (VMS) with an enhanced version at 19 stations.
- $150,000 to fund a biological monitoring project along Interstate 8 in East San Diego County.
The CTC also adopted the 2023 MPO Active Transportation Program, totaling 134 projects and $540 million for future investments. The San Diego Region has been awarded $61.9 million for 15 Active Transportation Grants over four years, of which 92 percent will benefit disadvantaged communities.
Active transportation projects include:
- $20.7 million to SANDAG for the Bayshore Bikeway Barrio Logan phase 2 intersection safety improvement, the Robinson Bikeway: Bridging the North Park/Mid-City Gap, the Bayshore to Imperial Bikeway, and the Uptown phase 4: Mission Hills to Old Town Bikeway.
- $12.8 million in the City of Lemon Grove for Connect Main Street phases 2-6.
- $12.7 million in the City of Chula Vista for phase 1 of the F Street Promenade from Bay Boulevard to Broadway and the Bayshore Bikeway segment 6A.
- $7.4 million in National City for the 8th Street Bicycle and Pedestrian Rail Crossing Enhancements, the Bayshore Bikeway segment 5, and Class I separated bike path and protected Class IV bikeways along 22nd Street to connect residents to transit, affordable housing, the Boys and Girls Club and the YMCA.
- $5.9 million in the City of El Cajon for the Main Street Green Street Phase 2 roundabout.
- $1.7 million in the City of San Diego for the Accessibility Safety Plan for Individuals with Disabilities in Disadvantaged Communities and the CicloSDias Pilot.
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.
About Caltrans
Caltrans’ mission is to provide a safe and reliable transportation network that serves all people and respects the environment. District 11 in San Diego and Imperial counties serves one of the country’s most geographically and culturally diverse areas, spanning the entire California-Mexico Border from the Pacific coast to Arizona and reaching north from the international border to Orange and Riverside counties.
For real-time traffic information, including traffic speed, lane, and road closures due to construction and maintenance activities, go to http://quickmap.dot.ca.gov/.
About SANDAG
SANDAG is the regional agency that connects people, places, and innovative ideas by implementing solutions with our unique and diverse communities. We are committed to creating a San Diego region where every person who visits, works, and lives can thrive.
About the Port of San Diego
The Port of San Diego serves the people of California as a specially created district, balancing multiple uses on 34 miles along San Diego Bay, spanning five cities. Collecting no tax dollars, the Port manages a diverse portfolio to generate revenues that support vital public services and amenities.
The Port champions Maritime, Waterfront Development, Public Safety, Experiences, and Environment, all focused on enriching people’s and businesses’ relationships with our dynamic waterfront. From cargo and cruise terminals to hotels and restaurants, marinas to museums, 22 public parks to countless events, the Port contributes to the region’s prosperity and remarkable way of life daily.
Motorists are reminded to be Work Zone Alert if traveling in the area and to watch for highway workers and moving construction equipment.
The construction schedule is subject to change due to weather conditions, traffic incidents, or other construction-related reasons.
For real-time traffic information, including traffic speed, lane and road closures due to construction and maintenance activities, and more, go to http://quickmap.dot.ca.gov/
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