CalTrans

Google street view of American Avenue overpass over Highway 99 in Fresno, California.

Transportation Secretary Orders Review of Fresno Highway Project

The decision follows a lawsuit by local groups who say Caltrans should not have exempted two interchange expansions from environmental review.

January 17, 2024 - Fresnoland

Bird's eye view of moderately busy large freeway interchange in California.

Opinion: California Must Walk the Walk on Transportation Emissions

While state leaders tout their climate goals at COP28, residents back home continue to fight highway expansion projects that induce traffic and increase emissions.

December 11, 2023 - Streetsblog California

Aerial view of freeway crossing river in Sacramento, California with colorful sunset sky in background.

Tollways for Sacramento?

Road pricing terminology can be confusing, particularly since Californians see so little of it. For example, a Sacramento TV station calls proposed express lanes on Interstate 80 from Solano County to Sacramento a ‘tollway.’

November 20, 2023 - KCRA

Close-up of green Interstate 5 freeway sign pointing to Redding and Sacramento.

Caltrans Forges Ahead With Freeway Widening Proposal

Despite the state’s commitments to reducing driving and roadway expansions, Caltrans is proposing an expansion of Interstate 5 in far northern California.

November 14, 2023 - Streetsblog California

Close-up of Caltrans logo on white passenger train

Caltrans Demotes Official Who Challenged Road Expansion Projects

An employee was reassigned after bringing up concerns about highway projects that she alleges improperly skirted environmental review.

October 8, 2023 - Politico

Traffic on the 405 interstate freeway through the Sepulveda Pass at Getty Center Drive in Los Angeles, California

Report: Bike Lanes Can't Make up for New Roads

If California wants to meet its climate goals, the state must stop funding its myriad road construction and expansion projects.

September 29, 2023 - Streetsblog California

Close-up of Caltrans logo on white passenger train

The ‘Three Pillars’ of Carbon Reduction, According to Caltrans

The California Department of Transportation released its draft carbon reduction strategy last month to apply for Carbon Reduction Program funds included in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Road pricing plays a prominent role.

August 9, 2023 - CalTrans

A highway sign reads with directions to reach San Francisco to the north and San Jose to the south--both on Highway 101.

101 Freeway in California Slower Than Ever After Widening, Locals Say

Induced demand strikes again.

April 19, 2023 - Streetsblog SF

Protected Bike Lane Los Angeles

Caltrans Releases Complete Streets Action Plan

The agency’s detailed list of actions highlights the many changes needed to truly implement Complete Streets principles into California road construction and maintenance.

July 19, 2022 - Streetsblog California

Smog hovers in the air in the background of this image of heavy car traffic on the 405 Freeway near ints intersection with the 710 Freeway in Southern California.

Southern California Freeway Expansion Plans Scrapped

After more than a decade of planning, Caltrans has officially dropped the I-710 Corridor Project, a plan to widen Interstate 710 for a long stretch of the freeway near the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.

May 30, 2022 - Los Angeles Times

Clean Air Express bus in downtown Santa Barbara

Electric Intercity Bus Introduced in Santa Barbara

The zero-emissions bus is part of a regional fleet called the Clean Air Express that connects Santa Barbara County towns and employment centers.

February 7, 2022 - The Santa Barbara Independent

A group of cyclists rides on a green painted bike line on the Embarcadero in Sa Francisco.

Caltrans Issues New Complete Streets Policy

A policy released by the California Department of Transportation in December will require Complete Streets elements in all state road projects.

January 11, 2022 - Streetsblog California

Expo & Crenshaw Expo Line Station

Inglewood Set to Rezone Neighborhoods Near New Transit Lines

Plans for the area include thousands of new housing units, public parks, and improved bike and pedestrian infrastructure.

June 14, 2021 - Urbanize LA

Rain on Road

Street Made Entirely of Recycled Plastic Asphalt

The material, now being tested on California roads, is made using recycled PET plastic and promises longer-lasting road treatments.

January 11, 2021 - Construction & Demolition Recycling

Moms 4 Housing

A Dark Night for the Right to Housing Movement

After a string of high-profile successes in places as geographically distant as Philadelphia and the East Bay Area, an ugly episode in L.A. County the day before Thanksgiving dealt a brutal setback to the burgeoning right to housing movement.

December 1, 2020 - LAist

5/605 Interchange

Not So Fast: Metro Board Hits the Brakes on Southern California Highway Expansion Plans

Political opposition to the controversial I-605 Corridor Improvement Project is gaining traction on the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board of Directors.

October 27, 2020 - Streetsblog Los Angeles

5/605 Interchange

Planned Highway Widening Requires Eminent Domain in Southern California

Advocates are calling out regional and state transportation planning agencies for a failure of racial justice as plans to widen a freeway in Southern California move forward.

October 11, 2020 - Streetsblog Los Angeles

Northern California Toll Lane

More Toll Lanes Coming to California Freeways

Solo drivers in the Golden State will have more options to escape traffic congestion on busy freeways – for a price, as transportation agencies increasing decide to convert existing carpool lanes to high-occupancy toll lanes and add new ones.

January 2, 2020 - Los Angeles Times

Bay Area

Crowdsourcing Ideas for Richmond-San Rafael Bridge Replacement

The Richmond-San Rafael Bridge, connecting the East Bay and the North Bay near San Francisco, is 63 years old, but a local elected official is thinking about how to replace it.

December 5, 2019 - The Mercury News

San Francisco, California

Caltrans to Ditch Level of Service for Vehicle Miles Traveled

Unlike for land use regulations, state law doesn't require Caltrans to switch from Level of Service to Vehicle Miles Traveled in measuring the environmental impact of projects. The state department of transportation is making the change anyway.

November 27, 2019 - Streetsblog California

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