Director's Corner

Looking back and, as always, to the future as well

Reflect and intent. Those are two themes that dominate this time of year. Here at Caltrans, we are proud of all we accomplished in 2023 (video), and are focused on what we can achieve in 2024.

Twelve months ago, a series of storms pummeled our entire state, causing widespread damage to our transportation system. Fully 2,500 of our employees (314 road crews) responded to the mighty challenge. In a time that required one of our greatest and boldest efforts, Caltrans crews bravely overcame the storms’ brutal elements to safely restore order on our roads and highways.

In April, Caltrans released its Road Safety Action Plan 2023-2024, which addresses our aspirational goal of zero fatal and serious injury crashes by 2050Throughout the year, Caltrans and its partners continued their transformative Clean California efforts and made significant progress on the Middle Mile Broadband Initiative.

In July, we marked the 50th anniversary of the Caltrans’ formation. That milestone provided us with an opportunity to emphasize that today, the department’s innovation-infused work is guided by its mutually reinforcing Core Four foundational principles of Safety, Equity, Climate Action, and Economic Prosperity. The first of those principles was reflected in August when Headquarters’ Division of Safety Programs team won the 2023 American Association of Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO) President’s Transportation Award for Safety.

Learn about some of Caltrans’ later 2023 accomplishments in this issue of CT News, including our support for Maui’s fire recovery, heroic actions by two District 10 workers, and our rapid response to a freeway closure in Los Angeles.

Looking ahead to 2024, Caltrans has far too many plans to mention in this one column. I will discuss many of those plans in future correspondence and presentations throughout the year. Spoiler alert: Plenty of what I have to say and what we have to accomplish is related to climate change, whose impact on transportation is increasingly felt in California and on the planet.

Last year, Caltrans issued a call for Carbon Reduction Program funds for managed lanes projects. This is part of the historic federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) that is focused on reducing planet warming pollution, reducing impacts on adjacent communities, and generating revenue that can be reinvested in transit. Related to that, we intend to recommend a priority project list to the California Transportation Commission in early 2024.

Caltrans has supported many municipalities in their climate planning work with the SB1 Adaptation Planning Grants. These grants have supported innovative projects in their communities, such as high school students creating YouTube videos to weigh in on Alameda City’s Climate Action and Resiliency Plan.

California’s share of the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program will support 270 fast chargers (150 kW+) at 26 sites in the state. Funding will ensure there are at least four fast chargers every 50 miles along the project corridors and no more than one mile from the corridor.

So much to reflect on, so much to plan for … and so much to be thankful for as we enter 2024. Happy New Year, everyone. Keep healthy and, as always, stay safe.