The California Transportation Commission recently approved more than $2 billion to improve and maintain a transportation system that serves as the backbone for the world’s fifth largest economy, reports Caltrans. The approved funding will support the next generation of transportation projects, ranging from bridge maintenance and rail system upgrades to enhanced railroad safety features and increased access for bicyclists and pedestrians. These benefits will help power economic opportunity as well as mitigate the effects of climate change, said Caltrans.
The latest allocations include more than $483 million from the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 and approximately $443 million from Senate Bill 1, the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017.
“We are committed to providing a world-class transportation system by making smart investments to upgrade our infrastructure and better serve all travelers,” said Caltrans Director Tony Tavares. “Increasing mobility for Californians demands a multimodal approach that prioritizes improved safety, systemwide resiliency and sustainability, equitable access and continued support for the efficient movement of goods and services that help fuel the state’s economic engine.”
The latest CTC-approved projects for Caltrans District 2 include the following:
- Chester Causeway rehabilitation (State Route 36 in Plumas and Lassen counties from Melissa Avenue to 0.6 mile east of Red River Canal): pavement rehabilitation. This project includes $35.7 million in IIJA funding and $5.1 million in SB 1 funding.
- Almanor West rehabilitation (State Route 89 in Plumas County near Canyon Dam from just north of Lake Almanor Spillway to junction with State Route 36): roadway rehabilitation. This project includes $35.7 million in IIJA funding and $4.63 million in SB 1 funding.
- Crescent Mills capital preventive maintenance (State Route 89 in Plumas County in and near Greenville from 0.8 mile south of Dixie Canyon Road to Wolf Creek Bridge and from Mill Street to 0.4 mile north of Hillside Drive): pavement preservation. This project includes $13.65 million in IIJA funding and $1.77 million in SB 1 funding.
IIJA, 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,” says Caltrans. Since 2021, California has received more than $42 billion in IIJA funds, including more than $29 billion for transportation-related projects.
In addition, SB 1 provides $5 billion in transportation funding each year that is shared between state and local agencies. Road projects progress through construction phases more quickly based on the availability of SB 1 funds, even if only a portion of the project’s funding comes from SB 1.
For more information about California transportation projects funded by IIJA and SB 1, visit RebuildingCA.ca.gov and www.build.ca.gov.
Information provided by Caltrans District 2
