Mileposts

CTC greenlights more than $1.8 billion for infrastructure work

These major investments include funding by nearly $458 million from Senate Bill (SB) 1, the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017, and more than $1 billion in funding from the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).

The approved projects include $43 million to reconstruct and upgrade the water and wastewater systems at the eastbound and westbound Cactus City Safety Roadside Rest Areas along Interstate 10 near Indio; $29 million to improve on-ramps and off-ramps near Fairfield; and a $41 million project near Pismo Beach that will include new bike lanes and bikeway designations.

For more information, visit this Division of Public Affairs webpage.

Caltrans awards $51.4 million for sustainable transportation projects

With most of the funding coming from Governor Gavin Newsom’s clean transportation infrastructure package and the California Climate Commitment, Caltrans on July 9 awarded $51.4 million in planning grants for 89 sustainable, climate-resilient transportation projects throughout California to help communities better withstand the impacts of extreme weather events fueled by climate change.

The selected projects will help reduce planet-warming pollution, improve resiliency of the state highway system, enhance access to safe walkways and bike paths, and expand natural disaster preparedness. Nearly $29 million comes from one-time state and federal sources made possible by Governor Newsom’s historic $15 billion clean transportation package in the 2022-23 state budget to further the state’s ambitious climate goals. Another $12.4 million comes from Senate Bill (SB) 1, the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017. The awards will fund project planning and conceptual design efforts, helping move the projects closer to construction. 

Included are:

• $28.8 million in Climate Adaptation Planning Grants to 30 local, regional and transit agencies to identify transportation-related climate vulnerabilities; 97 percent of these projects will benefit disadvantaged communities.
• $19.2 million in Sustainable Communities Competitive and Technical Grants to 50 local, regional and transit agencies for transportation and land use planning, as well as planning for electric vehicle charging infrastructure; 92 percent of these projects will benefit disadvantaged communities.

See the complete list of awardees.

CTC greenlights $2 billion-plus for infrastructure projects

The California Transportation Commission (CTC) on June 28 approved more than $2 billion to improve and maintain a transportation system that serves as the backbone for the world’s fifth largest economy. 

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.

The latest allocations include more than $483 million from the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 (IIJA) and approximately $443 million from Senate Bill (SB) 1, the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017.

The investments include $103 million for the North Coast Corridor Rail project in San Diego County; $17.8 million to improve State Routes 99 and 68 in Tulare County; $10 million to provide Santa Barbara residents with cleaner, climate-friendly electric buses and chargers; and $3.5 million for Stockton’s East Channel Street Streetscape, which will install bike lanes and sidewalk extensions. 

Nine Caltrans workers honored with governor’s award

The State of California on June 25 honored nine Caltrans employees by presenting them with the Governor’s State Employee Medal of Valor, the highest honor California bestows on its public servants. The awards are given annually to state employees for acts of heroism to save lives or protect state property.

The Gold Medal of Valor recipient was Geoff Clute, District 4 Bridge Maintenance Supervisor, for saving a man trapped inside a burning vehicle in Solano County on July 7, 2023.

The Silver Medal of Valor recipients were:

Sultan Abassy, District 12 Transportation Engineering Technician, for heroism during a dangerous rescue to save an unconscious motorcyclist after his bike skidded sideways in Orange County on July 20, 2023.

Danny Dube, District 2 Electrician, for saving a woman from her damaged vehicle that had rolled over into the center highway divide on a foggy day in Siskiyou County on February 7, 2023.

Kenny Myers, Bruce Perry and Darrell Van Natta, District 3 Equipment Operators, for rescuing a driver and five passengers who were trapped in their burning vehicle in the Sierra Nevada on December 28, 2022. 

Michael Butner and Gonzalo Garcia, District 1 Tree Maintenance Workers, for rescuing a couple after their RV became trapped in heavy snow and low hanging trees in Mendocino County on February 23, 2023. The trees crashed through the RV and split it in half.

Davidray Sumaya, District 7 Electrician, for rescuing two travelers that became trapped in their vehicle by flood waters on Interstate 5 during winter storms in Los Angeles County on Feb. 23, 2023.