California Invests $540 Million to Support Zero Emission Projects, Transit System Improvements, Storm Resiliency and Walkable Communities

District: District 11 - San Diego and Imperial Counties
Contact:
Phone: (619) 688-6670

Additional investments are helping power the state's ongoing transportation efforts to increase highway safety, enhance connectivity for all users, and restore highways damaged by extreme weather, fire, and other natural disasters.

San Jose - The California Transportation Commission (CTC or Commission) last week allocated approximately $540 million in transportation investments to improve travel times, shore up aging facilities, and add new layers of safety around schools and community centers. Guided by Governor Gavin Newsom's Build More, Faster - For All initiative, this support also fuels alternative transit options, maintains critical transportation assets such as bridges and freight corridors, and generates nearly 6,000 new jobs.

The total includes $152 million from the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 (IIJA) and $253 million in support from Senate Bill 1 (SB 1), the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017. The remaining $135 million is funded through the State Highway Account, the general fund, and other state and federal programs. Several projects funded by IIJA and SB1 are combined with these other sources. The allocations have helped Californians, businesses, and visitors who rely on the state's transportation network for employment and educational opportunities, access to goods and services, and connection to recreational attractions.

"Californians deserve a transportation system that is safe, reliable,e and built for future growth," said California Transportation Secretary Toks Omishakin. "The Commission's action today helps support Governor Newsom's goals of improving multimodal connectivity."

"The support made possible by these forward-thinking investments will help Caltrans increase sustainability, maintain safer and more connected bridges and roadways, and bolster our efforts to counter the effects of extreme weather on critical transportation assets," said Caltrans Director Dina El-Tawansy.

"Once again, the Commission and Caltrans are making tremendous investments in our communities. These decisions will make a real difference in how we get to jobs, schools, and other essential services, and will create a safer, healthier California," said CTC Chair Clarissa Falcon.

The single largest proposal winning support this month is a $117.8 million project to replace the fender system on the West Span of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge. Bridge fenders are structures installed around bridge piers or towers that provide an additional layer of protection in the event of an accidental ship allision by absorbing the impact before the ship hits the bridge.

In addition, the Commission approved $53 million to complete a communication-based train control system for BART. As the Bay Area prepares for upcoming events like the FIFA World Cup 2026 soccer tournament, the new system will enable more frequent service capable of handling a daily increase of more than 200,000 riders.

CTC also provided nearly $70 million to address weather-related highway repairs statewide. Heavy rains earlier this year caused slope erosion above Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles, requiring $2.3 million in stabilization work. Another $1.4 million will be used to restore a rest area in Lebec that was covered under nearly six feet of sediment. And in Santa Barbara, damage from the 2024 storms still requires $4.3 million in additional work. These investments will repair existing concerns and improve system resiliency by hardening transportation assets against future threats posed by severe weather, wildfires, and other natural disasters.

Other noteworthy investments include:

• • $6.7 million to create a pedestrian priority area with new sidewalks in downtown Long Beach.
• • $520,000 to support new walking and biking routes to schools and community centers in the Highland neighborhood in Visalia.
• • $35,000 to design new safe routes to two public elementary schools in northeast San Bernardino.

District 11 Projects

• $1.3 million - Construction of a multilane roundabout at the intersection of SR-67 and Mussey Grade Rd.
• $700,000 - Plant establishment and biological monitoring near Jamul, Campo, and Boulevard, on SR-94, from just east of SR-54 to I-8, and also from the Mexico border to SR-94.
• $6.5 million - Emergency repairs to roadways and culverts in Imperial County. An August 2025 storm caused flash flooding that inundated sections of SR-86. Subsequent assessments found that over 170 culverts were either damaged/clogged or had eroded embankments/medians that needed regrading or debris removal. December 2025 storms exacerbated the unaddressed damage and caused additional damage. The supplemental is necessary to address the additional damage caused in December 2025.
• $1.2 million - Emergency repairs to the I-805/I-8 separation bridge due to a March 3, 2026, semitruck fire on the bridge deck that resulted in localized heat damage on the deck surface and joint seal.
• $36 million to SANDAG - Otay Mesa East (OME) Port of Entry (POE) technology package to enhance efficiency at the POE and commercial vehicle enforcement facility.
• $20 million to SANDAG - Otay Mesa East (OME) Port of Entry (POE) early work package. The OME early work package includes southbound passenger-vehicle lanes and northbound truck lanes, as well as the construction of drainage facilities, earthwork/paving, and the placement of temporary federal and state facilities.
• $1.2 million to Imperial County Transportation Commission (ICTC) - Pedestrian safety improvement project in the city of El Centro at various locations.
• $1.18 million to ICTC - Calexico East Port of Entry - Design of a new intermodal transportation center, including station amenities that include shade structures, benches, restrooms, and drinking fountains. Also, design of bus bays and designated areas for taxis and vehicle pick-up/drop-offs. The goal is to improve the experience at the Calexico East PEO by making trips safer, easier, and more comfortable, while increasing transit ridership and reducing vehicle emissions that contribute to climate change.
• $1 million to ICTC - Calexico East Port of Entry - Acquisition of private property to construct a new intermodal transportation center.

Approximately 30 percent of today's total funding comes from IIJA. California has received approximately $16.7 billion in annual infrastructure funding since IIJA's passage. That includes investments to upgrade the state's roads, bridges, rail, public transit, airports, electric-vehicle charging network, ports, and waterways.

Other investments are supported by SB 1, which provides approximately $5 billion annually for transportation projects. SB 1 calls for splitting the money between state and local agencies. Road projects progress through construction phases more quickly, depending on the availability of funds, including those partially funded by SB 1.

For more information about transportation and other infrastructure projects funded with state and federal investments, visit build.ca.gov.