MERCED, Calif. – The California Transportation Commission approved $4.9 billion on Thursday to enhance safety and mobility on local streets and state highways. The funding will also support new alternative transportation options and zero-emission projects across the state.
More than half of this allocation will go toward 600 local governments and regional transportation agencies to address road, bridge, and other transportation needs statewide.
“This nearly $5 billion investment highlights California’s strong commitment to creating a modern, resilient transportation system that enhances local streets and strengthens connections between neighborhoods, job centers, and schools,” said California Transportation Secretary Toks Omishakin.
Caltrans Director Dina El-Tawansy emphasized the importance of local partnerships in maintaining California’s transportation network. “When added to the various highway projects also approved, this month’s action ensures that hundreds of essential improvements in our cities and neighborhoods will better enable people and goods to flow throughout the state and beyond,” said El-Tawansy.
Among the approved projects is $700 million for critical upgrades to the Vincent Thomas Bridge in the Port of Los Angeles. Another $140 million will fund truck climbing lanes and other improvements to Interstate 80 in the Sierra foothills, a major freight thoroughfare.
Pedestrian facilities are also receiving support with $97 million allocated to replace a pedestrian bridge near the City College of San Francisco campus and other improvements to Interstate 280. Additionally, $6.3 million will be spent on new sidewalks, bike lanes, and traffic controls in Santa Barbara, Santa Rosa, and Santa Clara County.
Other notable projects include $10 million for a floating charging station for zero-emission ferries in San Francisco Bay and $9.7 million for electric buses at the University of California, Los Angeles campus.
In District 2, several projects were approved, including the Elam Safety Project in Tehama County, the Whiskey Creek Bridge Emergency Repair Project in Shasta County, and the Lake Boulevard Project in and near Redding. These projects will enhance safety and infrastructure with funding from Senate Bill 1 and the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).
Of the total allocation, $470 million comes from SB 1, known as the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017, while $4.2 billion is from the federal IIJA. California is expected to receive nearly $42 billion in federal infrastructure funding over five years.
These investments aim to upgrade the state’s roads, bridges, rail, public transit, airports, ports, and electric vehicle charging network. SB 1 has been providing approximately $5 billion annually for transportation projects since 2017, supporting both state and local agencies.
For more information about the funded transportation and infrastructure projects, visit build.ca.gov.