California Invests $2.7 Billion to Improve Highway Safety, Enhance Transit Options and Prepare for a Changing Climate

What you need to know: California is investing in transportation projects throughout the state to enhance safety across the state highway system, strengthen infrastructure resiliency to extreme weather and climate change, and improve access for transit users and people who walk and bike.

San Diego - The California Transportation Commission (CTC) has approved $2.7 billion in funding for more than 150 new projects designed to improve travel times, increase multimodal options and strengthen the state's transportation assets against severe weather and other climate-related threats. These investments align with Governor Gavin Newsom's build more, faster agenda, delivering critical infrastructure upgrades and creating thousands of jobs across the state.

Of the combined total, nearly $1.6 billion is funded by the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 (IIJA) and another $542 million from California's Senate Bill 1 (SB 1), the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017.

"These investments fuel the state's mission to deliver a transportation system that is evolving and continuing to serve all Californians, regardless of their travel mode," said California Transportation Secretary Toks Omishakin. "The action taken today supports Governor Newsom's vision to improve the state's infrastructure and further prepare and equip us against the current and future effects of climate change."

"This slate of projects builds on our goals to create and maintain a safer transportation network that addresses current needs and also prioritizes long-term objectives," said Caltrans Director Dina El-Tawansy.

"Today's investments support a transportation system that meets the diverse needs of communities throughout California," said California Transportation Commission Chair Clarissa Falcon. "By improving safety, strengthening resilience, and expanding transportation options, these projects will deliver lasting benefits for Californians."

This month's list of approved projects includes:

• Caldecott Tunnel in Orinda - $267 million to rehabilitate and upgrade the ventilation systems of three of the four bores that make up the tunnel.

• LA28 Infrastructure Improvements - $2.45 million to add infrastructure improvements, landscaping and safety upgrades to four transit stations in Los Angeles County in time for the 2028 Summer Olympics.

• State Route 37 Project - $63 million to add two new lanes to State Route 37 in Sonoma County between Sears Point and Mare Island.

• Safe Route to School - $1.8 million to install warning beacons, signs and other features for a new Safe Route to School project in the community of Oildale in east Bakersfield.

Projects approved in District 2 include:

• Alturas Pavement Rehabilitation Project (Modoc County): This project will rehabilitate pavement, upgrade guardrails and drainage systems, and upgrade curb ramps to ADA standards on U.S. 395 in and near Alturas and a portion of State Route 299. The project will extend pavement service life and improve ride quality. This project includes approximately $21.25 million in IIJA funding and $2.75 million in SB 1 funding.

• Flume Creek CAPM Project (Shasta and Siskiyou counties): This project will rehabilitate pavement, upgrade guardrails, bridge rail, concrete barrier, signs and drainage systems; install lighting and wildlife crossing and fencing; rehabilitate bridge deck; and upgrade Transportation Management System (TMS) elements. The project will extend pavement service life and improve ride quality. This project includes approximately $70.1 million in IIJA funding and $6.46 million in SB 1 funding.

• Fawndale Culverts Project (Shasta County): This project will rehabilitate drainage systems along Interstate 5 in and near Shasta Lake City, from south of Pine Grove Avenue to north of Bridge Bay Road. This project includes $7.25 million in SB 1 funding.

• Diddy Roost Culverts Project (Shasta County): This project will rehabilitate drainage systems at various locations on State Route 299 near Redding, from west of Seamans Gulch Road to west of Fenders Ferry Road. This project includes $4.88 million in SB 1 funding.

• Thompson Creek Bridge Project (Siskiyou County): This project will replace a portion of the Thompson Creek Bridge deck and apply a polyester concrete overlay on State Route 96 near Happy Camp to maintain safety and reliability. This project includes approximately $7.57 million in SB 1 funding.

• Mineral Multi-Use Path and Shoulders Project (Tehama County): This project will construct a multi-use path, widen shoulders, reconfigure an intersection, construct crosswalks and install flashing beacons on State Route 36 near Mineral. This project includes approximately $2.99 million in IIJA funding and $582,000 in SB 1 funding.

• Burnt Ranch Pavement Rehabilitation Project (Trinity County): This project will rehabilitate pavement and drainage systems and upgrade guardrails, signs and pavement markings on State Route 299 near Burnt Ranch. The project will extend pavement service life and improve ride quality. This project includes approximately $9.99 million in IIJA funding and $1.3 million in SB 1 funding.

• Herlong to Johnstonville Culverts Project (Lassen County): This project will rehabilitate drainage systems and upgrade guardrails on U.S. 395 near Milford, from north of County Road A26/Garnier Road to north of Johnstonville Dump Road. Funding will support project development for this long-lead project.

• State Route 44/Silver Bridge Road Intersection Safety Project (Shasta County): This project will construct a new roundabout at the intersection of State Route 44 and Silver Bridge Road near Palo Cedro. Funding will support project development.

• Yreka Interstate Pavement Project (Siskiyou County): This project will rehabilitate roadway and drainage systems, upgrade bridge rails, guardrail and TMS elements, construct retaining walls and sidewalk, install lighting, and complete work on the Oberlin Undercrossing bridges on Interstate 5 in and near Yreka. Funding will support project development for this long-lead project.

• Mineral Pavement Project (Tehama County): This project will rehabilitate pavement and drainage systems, construct Class I bikeway, upgrade guardrail and signs, and install concrete barrier and guardrail transitions at a bridge.

• Flume Creek Leftover Culverts Project (Shasta County): This project will rehabilitate drainage systems near Dunsmuir from 0.7 mile south of Sims Road Undercrossing to 0.3 mile south of Crag View Drive Undercrossing. This project includes $1.74 million in SB 1 funding.

• District 2 TMS Improvements Project (Shasta, Tehama and Trinity counties): This project will upgrade TMS elements and guardrail and construct maintenance vehicle pullouts at various locations on Interstate 5 and State Routes 36, 44 and 299. This project includes $2.26 million in SB 1 funding.

• Harlow-Pondosa Project (Shasta County): This project will rehabilitate pavement and drainage systems, construct rumble strips, add concrete anchor blocks to bridge rail, upgrade guardrail and signs, and apply delineation near Burney, from 1.2 mile south of Cayton Valley Rd to Siskiyou County line. This project includes $1.54 million in SB 1 funding.

• Bartle CAPM Project (Siskiyou County): This project will rehabilitate pavement and drainage systems, construct shoulders and rumble strips, and upgrade TMS elements on State Route 89 near McCloud. This project includes $2.34 million in SB 1 funding.

• Grass Lake Pavement Rehabilitation Project (Siskiyou County): This project will rehabilitate pavement and drainage systems, relocate the Weigh-In-Motion scale, and upgrade guardrail and signs on State Route 97 near Weed. This project includes $1.21 million in SB 1 funding.

• North Shore Drainage Project (Trinity County): This project will rehabilitate drainage systems along State Route 3 near Trinity Center, from north of Norwegian Ranch Road to south of Coffee Creek Bridge. This project includes $1.7 million in SB 1 funding.

• Trinity Dam Pavement Project (Trinity County): This project will rehabilitate pavement, upgrade guardrail, and replace signs near Douglas City, from east of Lewiston Rd to west of the Shasta County line. This project includes $1.07 million in SB 1 funding.

• Burnt Ranch Left Turn Lane Project (Trinity County): This project will construct a left turn lane in Trinity Center at and near Burnt Ranch from east of Hennessey Rd.

• Modoc 299 Pit River Bridge Rehabilitation Project (Modoc County): This project will rehabilitate the Pit River Bridge deck on State Route 299 near Canby by replacing the polyester concrete overlay and unsound concrete, replacing joint seals and upgrading bridge rails. This project includes approximately $10.09 million in SB 1 funding.

• Downtown Redding CAPM Project (Shasta County): This project will rehabilitate pavement and drainage systems, upgrade traffic signals, guardrail, TMS elements and ADA facilities, and install fiber optic cable at various locations on Routes 44, 273 and 299 in Redding. The August allocation provides additional funding for project development.

• SHA-299 Buckhorn Summit Slip-Out Project (Shasta and Trinity counties): This project will address unforeseen conditions associated with the February 2026 slide on State Route 299 near the Shasta-Trinity county line. Work includes additional excavation, rock slope protection and installation of a permeable rock drainage layer. The additional allocation includes $850,000 in SB 1 funding and brings the revised project allocation to $2.8 million.

• Potato Cut Project (Shasta County): This project will improve curves, widen shoulders, correct cross slope and install guardrail on State Route 299 near Montgomery Creek. The improvements are intended to reduce the number and severity of collisions. This project includes approximately $9.29 million in IIJA funding and $1.03 million in SB 1 funding.

California has invested approximately $21.5 billion in infrastructure projects since IIJA's passage, creating nearly 280,000 jobs. Those dollars are leveraged along with SB 1, which invests an estimated $5 billion annually, split between state and local investments. Road projects progress through construction phases more quickly based on the availability of funds, including projects that are partially funded by SB 1.

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