USDOT Announces Funding for California Infrastructure Projects

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg announced that the Biden-Harris Administration has awarded $121,432,421 from the RAISE discretionary grant program to eight different infrastructure projects across California. 

The grants are part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda.

“Using the funds in President Biden’s infrastructure law, we are helping communities in every state across the country realize their visions for new infrastructure projects,” Buttigieg said. “This round of RAISE grants is helping create a new generation of good-paying jobs in rural and urban communities alike, with projects whose benefits will include improving safety, fighting climate change, advancing equity, strengthening our supply chain, and more.”   

USDOT's Selected California Projects

From projects that will strengthen supply chains and reduce bottlenecks, to bridge replacements and road projects to make them safer and more efficient for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians, this year’s awards will build and repair infrastructure that benefits Americans for future generations.

Seventy percent of the grants are going to projects in regions defined as an Area of Persistent Poverty or a Historically Disadvantaged Community.

Like last year, demand for RAISE funding was higher than available funds. This year, DOT received $15 billion in requests for the $2.26 billion available.

Awardees in California include: 

• $20,000,000 for the Fresno High-Speed Rail Station Historic Depot Renovation and Plaza Activation project, which will renovate, modernize, and preserve the Fresno High-Speed Rail Station, a historic passenger depot building. The project will also provide electric vehicle charging infrastructure and space for future transit charging in anticipation of the future California high-speed rail multimodal station.
• $20,000,000 for the Bayview Connections: Phase 1 Harney Way BRT and Cycletrack project, which will support the construction of transit and active transportation improvements in the Bayview neighborhood. 
• $5,066,500 for the Building Bridges to Transit Project in Anaheim which will be used to develop final design and construction documents for five high-impact and high-visibility active transportation connections to the regional rail/bus transit center in Anaheim.
• $10,000,000 for the Chester Avenue Connectivity and Climate Adaptation Project in Bakersfield, which will be used to redevelop approximately 1.4 miles of Chester Avenue between Brundage Lane and Truxtun Avenue with complete streets enhancements, roadway improvements, ADA-accessible sidewalks, bike lanes, street and lighting improvements, and stormwater drainage improvements.
• $6,967,923 for the RAISE Up Watts: Catalyzing Connectivity through Active Transportation project in Los Angeles, which will be used to plan and construct improvements to the Wilmington Avenue Corridor, including the replacement of Rainbow Bridge, intersection improvements, traffic calming measures, landscaping, and more. 
• $12,887,507 for the new Calexico Intermodal Transportation Center (ITC) in downtown Calexico. The new facility will consolidate public and private transportation providers into one facility with nine 40-foot bus parking pays, canopies over bus waiting areas, benches, public parking, and additional amenities. 
• $25,000,000 for the Brightline West High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail System - High Desert Stations Project in San Bernadino County, which will support the final design and construction of two intercity passenger rail stations and associated facilities in Hesperia and Victor Valley on the Brightline West high-speed rail corridor. 
• $21,510,491 for the Palomar Street Grade Separation Project in Chula Vista, which will support the elimination of a rail crossing and separate Palomar Street from a rail corridor that has 200 passenger and freight trains daily, according to project sponsors.