Bay Area gets millions for Bay Bridge, BART, other projects

The California Transportation Commission this week allocated approximately $540 million in transportation investments to improve travel times, shore up aging facilities and add new layers of safety around schools and community centers. 

Guided by Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Build More, Faster – For All initiative, the funding also fuels alternative transit options, maintains critical transportation assets such as bridges and freight corridors, and generates nearly 6,000 new jobs.

“The support made possible by these forward-thinking investments will help Caltrans increase sustainability, maintain safer and more connected bridges and roadways and bolsters our efforts to counter the effects of extreme weather on critical transportation assets,” said Caltrans Director Dina El-Tawansy.

The single largest proposal winning support this week is a $117.8 million project to replace the fender system on the West Span of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge. Bridge fenders are structures installed around bridge piers or towers that provide an extra level of advanced security in the event of an accidental ship allision by absorbing the impact before hitting the bridge.

In addition, the Commission approved $53 million to complete a communication-based train control system for BART. As the Bay Area prepares for upcoming events like the FIFA World Cup 2026 soccer tournament, the new system will allow for more frequent train service capable of handling a daily increase of more than 200,000 riders.

Other Bay Area investments include:

Alameda County

• $4,480,000 on I-880 in Oakland, at 5th and 6th Street bridges to address damage, and further structural deterioration.
• $4,403,000 on SR-24 from the Alameda County line to 0.2 mile west of the Contra Costa County line; and in Contra Costa County from the Alameda County line to 0.1 mile west of Wilder Road. This project will repair damaged joint seal assemblies, including partial bridge removal and concrete pour back, to prevent pavement failure, among other repairs. 
• $1,876,000 on I-680 in Fremont, from 0.0 mile to 0.4 mile north of Scott Creek Road. This project will repair pavement sections using paving fabrics and inject polyurethane to stabilize foundation soil.

Contra Costa County

• $1,408,000 on I-680 near Concord, 0.2 mile south of Willow Pass Road Undercrossing. This project will repair settlement in Lanes 4 and 5, repair the culvert, and reestablish the dike and embankment slope.

Marin County

• No proejcts.

San Francisco County

• $117,800,000 on I-80 at the San Francisco Oakland Bay Bridge West Span to replace the fender system.

San Mateo County

• $2,442,000 on SR-1 near Pescadero, from 0.5 mile south of Pescadero Creek Road to Pescadero Creek Road. This project will realign roadway inland to address sea level rise and eroding bluff.
• $1,519,000 on SR-1 near Montara, at 0.1 mile north of 14th Street. This project will repair the slope, replace the drainage system, and install Rock Slope Protection.
• $1,500,000 on SR-1 near Half Moon Bay, at 0.4 mile north of Route 84. This project will replace and extend culvert, upgrade drainage inlet increasing inlet capacity, inject polyurethane foam to fill voids around the culvert, and grind and pave roadway.
• $1,350,000 on I-280 near Menlo Park, at Sand Hill Road Overcrossing. This project will repair damaged concrete slope paving, sidewalk, and pavement.
• $1,130,000 on I-280 in San Bruno, at 0.5 mile south of San Bruno Avenue. This project will backfill cavity between bridge structures with dirt, backfill void under concrete slope paving with sand slurry, and place erosion control.
• $80,000 on SR-1 near Montara, at 0.1 mile north of 14th Street. This allocation supports minor supplemental work related to slope repair, drainage replacement, and rock slope protection installation.

Santa Clara County

• $2,117,000 on US-101 in and near Gilroy, from Mesa Road to 0.2 mile north of Church Avenue. This project will replace overhead sign structures and sign panels.
• $1,785,000 on I-880 in San Jose, at 0.1 mile north of Coleman Avenue. This project will replace damaged pumps and electrical and mechanical components.
• $1,212,000 on SR-87 in San Jose at Willow Street. This project will remove underground encampment structures and debris, regrade and restore the embankment slope, and repair drainage components and damaged fencing.
• $1,000,000 on US-101 in San Jose, at Capitol Expressway Overcrossing. This project will repair the drainage system and rehabilitate pavement.

Solano County

• $12,585,000 allocation on I-80 In Fairfield, at the Fairfield Maintenance Station. This project will replace the maintenance station facility.

Sonoma County

• $10,800,000 on SR-116 near Monte Rio, at Duncan Road. This project will clean and regrade a drainage ditch, upgrade the down drain to increase flow capacity, construct a retaining wall, place Rock Slope Protection at the toe of the wall, and reconstruct the roadway prism.
• $3,850,000 on State Routes 1, 101, and 116 at various locations. This project will remove and trim trees that are hazardous or likely to become hazardous during storms and high wind events.
• $1,035,000 allocation on SR-1 near Bodega Bay, at 1.3 miles south of Bodega Highway. This project will repair the slipout by replacing the damaged culvert portion, constructing an interlocking sheet pile, and backfilling the area behind the sheet pile with engineering fill.

Multiple Counties

• $2,437,000 on US-101 in San Benito and Santa Clara Counties, near Gilman, from 0.8 mile north of Betabel Road/Y Road to 0.4 mile south of Monterey Road. This project will rehabilitate pavement, construct rumble strips, and upgrade guardrail.

“Once again, the Commission and Caltrans are making tremendous investments in our communities," said said CTC Chair Clarissa Falcon. "These decisions will make a real difference in how we get to jobs, schools, and other essential services, and will create a safer, healthier California,” 

Approximately 30% of the total funding comes from Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. California has received an annual investment of approximately $16.7 billion in infrastructure funding since IIJA’s passage. That includes investments to upgrade the state’s roads, bridges, rail, public transit, airports, electric vehicle charging network, ports and waterways.

Other investments are supported by SB 1, which provides approximately $5 billion annually for transportation projects. SB 1 calls for splitting the money between state and local agencies. Road projects progress through construction phases more quickly based on the availability of funds, including projects that are partially funded by SB 1.

For more information about transportation and other infrastructure projects funded with state and federal investments, visit build.ca.gov.