The California Transportation Commission (CTC) has approved nearly 1 billion USD in funding for transport projects aimed at improving road safety, public transport and walking and cycling infrastructure.
The allocation totals 988.7 million USD and forms part of Governor Gavin Newsom’s Build More, Faster – For All infrastructure programme. Funding includes 184 million USD from the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 (IIJA) and 336 million USD from Senate Bill 1 (SB 1), the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017.
The funding is intended to maintain and upgrade California’s transport network, which is used by residents, businesses and visitors for commuting, access to services and travel.
California Transportation Secretary Toks Omishakin said:Creating a brighter future in the Golden State is about addressing big challenges with meaningful investments like those made today. This level of support funds wide-ranging transportation upgrades that provide the backbone of California’s vibrant economy by improving goods movement, expanding transit and rail systems and making our system more bikeable and walkable. These benefits will be experienced by every region, including disadvantaged communities throughout the state.
Among the projects approved, 96 million USD will be used to improve travel times and safety between Ventura County and Goleta. The scheme includes high-occupancy vehicle lanes, pedestrian and cycle paths, and public transport enhancements.
In San Bernardino County, approximately 73 million USD has been allocated to improve safety and operations for freight traffic along Interstate 10. Riverside County will receive 63 million USD for a new bridge, cycling infrastructure and a wildlife crossing as part of an upgrade to the Ramona Expressway.
Several public transport projects have also received funding. These include 60 million USD for the rehabilitation of Union Station in Los Angeles, 17 million USD for the purchase of 20 electric buses for the city of Glendale, and 21 million USD for eight new light rail vehicles for Sacramento Regional Transit.
The commission also approved 18.8 million USD for the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing, delivered in partnership with the California Natural Resources Agency. The crossing will span U.S. Route 101 and is designed to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions while supporting animal movement across a heavily developed corridor.
Additional funding will be distributed across multiple Caltrans districts, including areas covering northern California, the Central Valley and the Central Coast.
California is set to receive nearly 54 billion USD in total federal funding under the IIJA for transport and infrastructure improvements, including roads, bridges, rail, public transport, airports, electric vehicle charging facilities, ports and waterways. State officials estimate that IIJA funding alone has supported around 269,000 jobs.
Since its introduction in 2017, SB 1 has provided around 5 billion USD annually for transport projects, with funding shared between state and local agencies. Projects supported by SB 1 have been associated with an estimated 417,000 jobs.
