California Transportation Commission Approves $8.5 Million for Humboldt County Roads, $3.3 Million for Del Norte, and $3.4 Million for Mendocino

Rainbow on 299

Rainbow on 299 [Photo by Mark Nelson]

Press release from Caltrans:

The California Transportation Commission approved Wednesday more than $1.8 billion to repair highways and bridges and improve the state’s growing network of pedestrian, bicycle and mass transit routes. This investment includes nearly $1.1 billion in allocations for State Highway Operation and Protection Program (SHOPP) projects, Caltrans’ “fix-it-first” program aimed at preserving the condition of the State Highway System.

 

The approved funding is from federal and state gas taxes, including $800 million from SB 1, the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017.

 

“These vital investments will help keep our highways safe and efficient for all users,” said Caltrans Director Toks Omishakin. “This includes improving safety and access for cyclists and pedestrians through investments in active transportation facilities that support individual and public health, cleaner air and reduced dependence on driving.”

 

Projects approved in Caltrans District 1 include:

 

  • An approximately $3.3M project at various locations to rehabilitate deteriorating culverts and improve fish passage along U.S. 199 in Del Norte County.
  • An approximately $5.3M project at the separation of Routes 200 and 299 in Humboldt County to establish the standard vertical clearance by raising an existing structure and reconstructing bridge approaches.
  • Support allocations for an approximately $2.2M bridge-rail upgrade project at multiple locations on Route 96 in Humboldt County.
  • Support allocations for an approximately $1M drainage culvert rehabilitation project near Blue Lake and Willow Creek on Route 299 in Humboldt County.
  • Support allocations for an approximately $3.4M bridge replacement project near Ukiah on Route 20 in Mendocino County.

 

Funding in the new 2020 SHOPP will support 310 miles of new and repaired bike lanes, installation and repair of nearly 50 miles of sidewalk, nearly 3,000 new crosswalks, and 178 transit stop improvements, such as bus shelters. With this week’s action, the commission has approved a total of $100 million to fund projects that improve pedestrian and bike access and safety. Caltrans is engaged with local stakeholders to identify active transportation improvements to 22 current projects, with additional projects determined through community outreach and collaboration.

 

Separate from the SHOPP, more than $500 million in funds approved this week are for rail and mass transit projects, including intercity rail and bus services. Funded in part by SB 1, this allocation expands access to public transportation and helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions, vehicle miles traveled, and congestion.

 

The state’s portion of SB 1 funds represents an ongoing investment for the maintenance and rehabilitation of the State Highway System. By 2027, these funds will enable Caltrans to fix more than 17,000 lane miles of pavement, 500 bridges, 55,000 culverts, and 7,700 traffic operating systems that help reduce highway congestion, such as ramp meters, traffic cameras and electric highway message signs.

 

More information and updates on these and other projects can be found on Caltrans’ social media channels.

For details on SB 1, visit Rebuilding California -Senate Bill 1.

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Ben Round
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Ben Round
3 years ago

Sounds good. I don’t though, generally trust Cal Trans. They do good work but it’s often excessive. Their pattern makes me believe that they are spending money to keep up and justify their budget.
I see various projects and pavings that appear unnecessary. And the investment in ‘mass transit’ seems merely like lip service to a popular idea.
Add to that what often looks like excess (union) labor on repair sites (almost every time we drive past their crew ‘working’…. which often they seem to not be doing), and it makes we civilians suspicious of how our tax dollars are being spent.
That said, I do appreciate the bridges and other infrastructure being repaired (just) before it’s life expectancy runs out.
Let’s thank and audit them, both!

That Girl
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That Girl
3 years ago
Reply to  Ben Round

Click the “Rebuilding California -Senate Bill 1” link in the article above and audit them yourself. You can see tons of state and local projects both current and planned.

Also for perspective, here’s a sampling of keys points from the SB1 bill (mind you filed in 2017).

(a) Over the next 10 years, the state faces a $59 billion shortfall to adequately maintain the existing state highway system in order to keep it in a basic state of good repair.

(b) Similarly, cities and counties face a $78 billion shortfall over the next decade to adequately maintain the existing network of local streets and roads.

(c) Statewide taxes and fees dedicated to the maintenance of the system have not been increased in more than 20 years, with those revenues losing more than 55 percent of their purchasing power, while costs to maintain the system have steadily increased and much of the underlying infrastructure has aged past its expected useful life.

(d) California motorists are spending $17 billion annually in extra maintenance and car repair bills, which is more than $700 per driver, due to the state’s poorly maintained roads.

The list goes on.

DELLIB
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DELLIB
3 years ago
Reply to  That Girl

$8.5 Million, after gov payouts and benefits and filling coffers means $100,000 goes to road work! At today’s adjusted inflation rate = 2 potholes filled. (Near the homes of the elected officials).

cutomorrow
Guest
3 years ago

Ben I’m more suspicious of politicians than workers in orange vest’s , when a politician is holding a shovel there’s something wrong

Dangerous road
Guest
Dangerous road
3 years ago
Reply to  cutomorrow

The Alderpoint road is a clear representation of how much the government cares about us

Bonnie Cook
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Bonnie Cook
3 years ago

How about the county roads. Do you think Cal Trans can share some of the windfall?? I doubt it.

cu2morrow
Guest
cu2morrow
3 years ago
Reply to  Bonnie Cook

my road in Myrtletown is as smooth as a babies bottom

That Girl
Guest
That Girl
3 years ago
Reply to  cu2morrow

The CTC also allocates funds to local municipalities. Ask Humboldt County Public works about what they’ve received recently. Ask your cities. Half of SB1 money goes to local roads. It’s not just for the highways.

Scooter
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Scooter
3 years ago

We need a DMV tax in HumCo on big tow trailers. They are destroying our county roads. Most of them belong to growers who drive huge trucks tooo damn fast. Also anything like a water hauler or a low boy needs a tax also. The roads out in the hills were not designed for this shit and now it is way too common. If you can afford the rig, you can afford the tax.
Edit; We use the revenue to fix the roads.duh.

Mike
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Mike
3 years ago
Reply to  Scooter

There’s already a big rig tax that taxes all commercial class A vehicles for that exact reason. They do more damage so they pay quite a bit more in state fees that is supposed to go directly to your roads. Sounds like the government isn’t spending that tax on what it’s supposed to go towards? Logging plans have to pay even more to use the roads

That sauce
Guest
That sauce
3 years ago

AP road plzzzzz

W.H.
Guest
W.H.
3 years ago

ahh the go-to justification for legalized theft

Doesn’t matter
Guest
Doesn’t matter
3 years ago

This money is made in less than four months with the gas tax in ca. Gov acts like there doing us some big favor. It’s our money!

tax payer
Guest
tax payer
3 years ago

i thought the point of this press release was just to let you know that they got our money. 🙂

HotCoffee
Guest
HotCoffee
3 years ago

The are a lot of narrow dead end roads where in case of a wildfire at the entrance of the road people could not get out. Especially if fire engines are trying to get in.

I recall this being a big issue in Brooktrails. But really it’s an issue all over.

Safety needs to be considered as part of road maintenance.
Is anyone looking at that?