California allocates $223 million to transportation projects

The California Transportation Commission recently allocated nearly $223 million to 108 transportation projects that will alleviate traffic delays, repair aging roads and bridges, and encourage bicycling and walking.

California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) Director Malcolm Dougherty said the investment helps the department continue to maintain and modernize the state’s transportation system.

"Each of these projects is an opportunity to improve safety, access and mobility for all travelers in California, whether you choose to travel via car, bike or transit," Dougherty said.

Thirty-seven biking and pedestrian projects throughout the state will receive nearly $10.3 million in allocations from the Active Transportation Program.

The funding also includes $167.2 million from the State Highway Operation and Protection Program for 41 projects to maintain and preserve the investment in the state highway system and its supporting infrastructure. These capital improvements consist of projects covering maintenance, pavement repair and rehabilitation, safety improvements, and upgrades to bridges throughout the state.

"Preventative maintenance is the most cost-effective means of protecting the state's infrastructure investment," Dougherty said. "We adopted a 'fix it first' strategy because for every $1 spent on preventative maintenance, we can save taxpayers up to $14 that would have been spent on more expensive and extensive repairs."