More than $690 million has been awarded to finance 28 new public transportation projects in disadvantaged communities to close out the first wave of an historic infusion of state funding to expand transit and passenger rail service throughout the state, helping to cut planet-warming pollution.
“California is making a multiyear, multibillion-dollar investment to transform and modernize our transportation infrastructure, creating jobs, alternatives to driving, and reducing pollution,” said Governor Gavin Newsom. “Our state is placing a high priority on investing in public transportation projects that aim to shift away from fossil fuels while making public travel more rider friendly. Today’s announcement not only provides better travel alternatives but also helps to speed up our transition to a cleaner, healthier transportation future for all Californians.”
The recent funding announcement is part of a larger, multiyear, multibillion-dollar investment to upgrade the state’s transit system to support equity, enhance mobility options, improve service and reduce overdependence on driving. The grants, which are administered by the California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA) as part of the Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP), follow $2.54 billion awarded in January for a total state investment of more than $3.2 billion in public transportation in just the first four months of 2023.
“California under Governor Newsom’s leadership continues to make historic investments to expand and improve access to public transportation for the people of California,” said Transportation Secretary Toks Omishakin. “These investments will help kick-start new transit projects, create thousands of jobs and put our state in a stronger position to compete for significant federal infrastructure funding to deliver even more mobility, safety, environmental and equity benefits.”
With a total budget of more than $2.63 billion consisting of federal, state and local funding, the 28 projects will directly benefit disadvantaged communities and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 2 million metric tons – the equivalent of taking more than 445,000 gas-powered cars off the road.
“Building a resilient and sustainable future for all is possible when we coordinate transit and housing investments,” said Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency Secretary Lourdes Castro Ramírez. “These funding awards help expand the availability of transit options near housing, and especially affordable housing, and provide people the freedom to more easily access jobs, health care, schools and ultimately create greater economic opportunity.”
Projects receiving funding come from all regions of the state and will result in the purchase of 277 new zero-emission vehicles statewide and the development of several high-priority mobility hubs and rail projects.
TIRCP has provided more than $9.8 billion in funding to 125 projects since 2015, funded primarily from Senate Bill 1, the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017, Cap-and-Trade program proceeds, and the General Fund.
