SACRAMENTO — The California Transportation Commission (CTC) this week approved $1 billion for 93 new walking and biking projects for disadvantaged communities as part of the 2023 Active Transportation Program and allocated more than $878 million for projects to repair and improve transportation infrastructure throughout the state. The allocation includes more than $209 million in funding from the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 (IIJA) and more than $339 million in funding from Senate Bill (SB) 1, the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017.

The active transportation projects approved at the meeting will benefit disadvantaged communities throughout California, two-thirds of which will implement safe routes for children to walk or bike to school. The projects make up more than half of the 2023 Active Transportation Program, with an additional $700 million to be awarded in the spring. Much of the funding comes from a one-time infusion of $1 billion for active transportation in the 2022-23 state budget as part of a nearly $15 billion transportation infrastructure package.

“California and our federal partners are continuing to make historic headway in addressing our transportation needs and advancing safety, equity, climate action and economic prosperity,” said Caltrans Director Tony Tavares. “Importantly, this includes significant investments in infrastructure that allows everyone to access active means of transportation, like walking and biking.”

The $878 million in projects the CTC approved include:

• In Inyo County, on State Route 190, from 8.2 miles east of the junction at US 395 to 0.6 mile west of Saline Valley Road, and from 2.1 miles east of Panamint Road to 4.5 miles west of Wildhorse Canyon Road, Tropical Storm Kay washed out pavement and drainage systems, damaged signs, and left debris from September 11, 2022 to September, 13, 2022. This $7.4 million dollar project will repair pavement, construct concrete aprons, repair washouts and earthen ditches, place Rock Slope Protection (RSP) and remove debris in 30 locations along these two stretches of highway.
• In Kern County, on State Route 14, $1.25 million has been delegated to improve the Caltrans Mojave maintenance station.

SB 1 provides $5 billion in transportation funding annually that is shared equally between the state and local agencies. Road projects progress through construction phases more quickly based on the availability of SB 1 funds, including projects that are partially funded by SB 1. For more information about transportation projects funded by SB 1, visit RebuildingCA.ca.gov.