California Invests $1 Billion in Technology Upgrades, Storm Resiliency and Safety Improvements Across the State

Long Beach – The California Transportation Commission (CTC) today allocated $1 billion for projects across the state that will improve safety and enhance the state’s vast network of streets and highways, including bicycle lanes, sidewalks and transit facilities. Guided by Governor Gavin Newsom’s Build More, Faster – For All infrastructure agenda, these improvements will make California communities safer, cleaner and healthier.

 

Approximately one-third of the investment, nearly $311 million, comes from the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 (IIJA) and another $301 million is from Senate Bill (SB) 1, the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017. Among the investments are more than $138 million to address safety upgrades and repairs to drainage infrastructure designed to increase resiliency and protect the state’s roads during storms.

 

“As California continues adapting to evolving transportation realities, it is important that we invest in emergent technologies to enhance system-wide safety for the public,” said Caltrans Director Tony Tavares. “Today’s action dedicates vital funding for upgrades that will protect our infrastructure now and well into the future.”

 

Included in the approved projects are: 

• $40.9 million for State Route 99 in Tehama County near the Los Molinos Creek Bridge to improve drainage systems and safety.

• $27.8 million to build an integrated system that will include real-time traveler information along the Interstate 710 corridor in Los Angeles County between State Routes 91 and 60.

• $19.8 million to improve drainage systems and improve safety along 80-plus miles of U.S. Highway 101 in Humboldt County.

 

The latest CTC-approved projects also include:

• $6.9 million for the Butte County Association of Governments South Oroville Bike and Pedestrian Connectivity project to construct bike lanes, sidewalks and pedestrian crossing safety enhancements along various locations in the City of Oroville.

• $2.1 million for the Sacramento Area Council of Governments Bell Street Safe Routes to School project to construct new sidewalks and curb ramps and install new pedestrian signal within the West Arden community in Sacramento County.

• $1.5 million to perform scour mitigation and countermeasures at various bridges in Butte, Colusa, Sutter and Yolo counties along Interstate 5 and State Routes 16, 20, 70 and 505. Scouring causes degradation of the soil that provides support to the bridge foundations.

 

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. California has received nearly $62 billion in federal infrastructure funding since its passage. This includes investments to upgrade the state’s roads, bridges, rail, public transit, airports, ports, waterways and the electric vehicle charging network. The funding alone has already created more than 170,000 jobs in California.

 

Senate Bill 1 has invested approximately $5 billion annually toward transportation projects since 2017. 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.