California commission allocates $1B for transit, climate initiatives

The California Transportation Commission (CTC) on Feb. 3 approved nearly $1 billion in federal and state funds for transit, highway and climate protection initiatives.

The funding package includes $60 million to help rehabilitate Union Station in Los Angeles and $21 million for the purchase of eight new light-rail trains for Sacramento Regional Transit, according to a press release issued by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans).

The allocation is bolstered by the state's Build More, Faster — For All, a $180 billion infrastructure investment plan. Of the $988.7 million allocated, $184 million comes from the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 and $336 million comes from California's Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017, Caltrans officials said. A breakdown of projects by Caltrans district can be viewed here.

The CTC approved "this level of support funds wide-ranging transportation upgrades that provide the backbone of California’s vibrant economy by improving goods movement, expanding transit and rail systems, and making our system more bikeable and walkable," said California Transportation Secretary Toks Omishakin. 

The CTC is responsible for planning California's transportation projects and allocating funds for highway, transit and passenger-rail projects.