The Golden State is upgrading transportation systems with a focus on withstanding extreme weather. The California Transportation Commission has allocated $1 billion for projects designed to strengthen the state’s transportation infrastructure against climate change while expanding mobility options that don’t contribute to pollution.
The funding draws $623 million from the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and $295 million from California’s 2017 Senate Bill 1 Road Repair program. SB1 has provided approximately $5 billion annually for transportation projects. Since the federal infrastructure law passage in 2021, California has received nearly $62 billion in federal funding, creating over 170,000 jobs statewide.
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California has seen more than its fair share of climate impacts from recent wildfires to drought. With rising concerns about infrastructure resilience and the transition to clean transportation, this allocation represents California’s latest push to modernize its transportation network while addressing climate challenges. The projects span from electric vehicle charging infrastructure to complete streets designs that accommodate multiple modes of transportation.
Among the largest allocations, San Mateo County will receive $155 million for pavement rehabilitation and infrastructure upgrades along US-101, including the installation of trash capture devices. In Santa Clara County, $9.5 million will fund new bike lanes, crosswalks and safety upgrades along an 8-mile segment of SR-82. The San Mateo County Transit District secured $15 million to install electric charging infrastructure for its bus fleet.
Several projects focus on improving climate resilience. In Alameda County, $1.88 million will repair four pump stations that failed during winter storms. A $34.8 million project in Del Norte County will upgrade roadways and guardrails on US-101 near the Klamath River Bridge. In Orange County, $8.42 million will repair and reconstruct a failed slope embankment on SR-241 near Lake Forest.
The program also emphasizes public transit improvements. Sacramento will receive $6 million to construct a new light rail station serving Sacramento City College. Sonoma County secured $1.18 million to purchase battery-electric buses, replacing its compressed natural gas (CNG) fleet. In Humboldt County, $114,000 will support maintenance facilities for a new fleet of fuel cell electric buses.
Urban mobility projects feature prominently in the allocations. In Vallejo, $35.7 million will fund downtown pedestrian improvements, including widened sidewalks, new bikeways, and LED lighting. Half Moon Bay will receive $38.8 million for roadway rehabilitation and improvements to pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure along State Route 1.
The California Transportation Commission will begin distributing funds immediately, with projects scheduled to commence throughout 2025.
Photo courtesy Myriam Thyes, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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