FRESNO, CA (KMJ) – The California Transportation Commission approves an aggressive plan this week to start fixing crumbling roads and infrastructure.
In April, Governor Brown signed SB-1 The Road Repair and Accountability Act, approving an increase in the gas tax to pay for it.
“SB 1 will allow us to invest in California’s transportation system in a way that we have not done in decades. The sooner we put this money to work, the sooner taxpayers will see dividends in the form of better roads and improved options for public transportation, bicycling, and walking.” -Commission Chairman Bob Alvarado.
In an effort to rebuild and maintain California’s infrastructure, the California Transportation Commission (CTC) has allocated $328 million to 88 transportation projects that will alleviate traffic delays, repair aging roads and bridges and encourage bicycling and walking. This includes 41 biking and pedestrian projects throughout the state that will receive $35.8 million in allocations from the Active Transportation Program.
“This list of multi-modal and fix-it-first projects help us keep our commitment to Californians to maintain and improve the transportation system for economic and quality of life benefits,” said Caltrans Director Malcolm Dougherty.
The newly allocated funding also includes $234 million from the State Highway Operation and Protection Program for 29 “fix-it first” projects that will maintain and preserve the state highway system and its supporting infrastructure. These capital improvements consist of projects covering maintenance, pavement repair and rehabilitation, safety improvements and upgrades to bridges throughout the state.
The allocations also include:
- $45.4 million for two Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program projects
- $6.4 million for eight capital improvement projects both on and off the state highway system as part of the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP)
- $4.6 million for Traffic Congestion Relief Program projects that will relieve congestion, connect transportation systems and provide for better goods movement.
- The remaining $1.6 million in allocations came from various state and federal transportation accounts.
Among the projects that received funding allocations were:
- City of Fresno: $6,500,000 to widen ramps, install ramp meters and sign structures on State Route 99 between Belmont Avenue and Shaw Avenue.
- Kern County: $3,400,000 to upgrade water and wastewater systems at the Buttonwillow safety roadside rest areas on both northbound and southbound State Route 5.
- Kern, Kings and Fresno Counties: $17,109,000 to repair and replace stolen and damaged electrical and irrigation systems to current standards on State Routes 5, 46, 58, 99, 178 and 204.
SB 1 also places upon the Commission the responsibility to track the performance of all these programs and report to the public how well they are delivering on promises made to the taxpayers.
