The California Transportation Commission allocated $848 million this past week to support mass transit improvements, pedestrian and bicycle options, and freight movement across the state, according to a March 25 announcement. The funding is part of Governor Gavin Newsom’s Build More, Faster – For All infrastructure agenda.
These investments are intended to strengthen local transportation choices and contribute to California’s economy. The commission also approved future plans for transportation infrastructure with the adoption of the 2026 State Highway Operation and Protection Program (SHOPP), which will dedicate $17.9 billion over four years toward new safety features, improved access for bicyclists and pedestrians, as well as repairs to pavement and bridges.
The latest allocation includes $47 million from the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 alongside $405 million provided by Senate Bill 1 (SB 1), known as the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017. Among notable projects funded is a $273 million investment in advanced technology for rail systems in both the Bay Area and Southern California. The largest portion—$100 million—will go toward constructing a five-mile tunnel that extends Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) between downtown San Jose and Santa Clara.
According to officials, this allocation will fund construction of key tunnel structures needed for future tunneling operations on BART’s Silicon Valley Phase II project. This phase marks a shift from planning into sustained construction efforts with more than $1.2 billion in state funds being matched by additional local and federal contributions.
In addition, the commission approved the 2026 State Transportation Improvement Program which invests $2.7 billion in priority projects statewide—including sidewalks, bike paths, zero-emission buses, transit extensions, express lanes, bridge replacements—with over sixty percent dedicated to biking, walking, railways or public transit initiatives.
Other major allocations include $33 million for expanding rail freight at Long Beach Port; another $35 million for completing design work on Los Angeles rail power stations; plus funding toward electric vehicle charging facilities in Sacramento as well as stabilization work along Del Mar Bluffs in San Diego County.
