California Transportation Commission

Freeway on-ramp sign for Interstate 15 in California.

California Commission Approves Freeway Expansion

The state Transportation Commission ultimately voted to move a controversial Inland Empire interstate project forward.

February 6, 2024 - Streetsblog California

View of trucks on Interstate 15 with desert mountains in background in Southern California.

California Commission Rejects Highway Expansion Funding

The move to deny requested funds signals a shift in mindset away from rubber-stamping road projects.

December 18, 2023 - Streetsblog California

White and red Caltrain commuter train

Rail Electrification: Caltrain adds BEMUs to its EMU Order

Caltrain, the San Francisco-to-San Jose commuter railroad, plans to begin electrified operation next year on its 49-mile mainline. A 28-mile extension south to Gilroy would continue to be served by diesel trains, with one train powered by battery.

August 24, 2023 - San Mateo Daily Journal

View of traffic on freeway with Los Angeles skyline and palm trees in background

California On Schedule to Launch Second Road Charge Pilot Program

The California Transportation Commission met the initial deadline specified in 2021 state legislation requiring the state to perform a fully operational pilot program where participants will pay for the miles they drive.

July 19, 2023 - California Transportation Commission

Diesel big rig truck on California road with mountains in background

California Commission Recommends Infrastructure Improvements

The state’s Transportation Commission outlined three major programs that should receive gas tax funding.

June 14, 2023 - Streetsblog California

Dublin, California Freeway

Innovative Road Funding Pilot Program Advances in California

State Sen. Scott Wiener authored legislation dubbed the Gas Tax Alternative Pilot to extend the California Road Charge Program that completed its pilot in 2017. The program takes on more significance with the 2035 sales ban of gas-powered vehicles.

June 14, 2021 - Office of California State Senator Scott Wiener

Ca73

Governor's Transportation and Climate Actions Stir Controversy in California

California Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order last month directing state agencies to consider climate goals in their spending and operations. Two weeks later, three highway widening projects were deleted, and locals are crying foul.

October 18, 2019 - Streetsblog California

Carpool Lane

Converting a Carpool Lane to a High Occupancy Toll Lane No Easy Task

Supervisors of California's fourth-largest county declared their formal opposition to the conversion of carpool lanes on the Riverside Freeway to high occupancy toll (HOT) lanes, but they are open to toll lanes, under the right conditions.

September 19, 2019 - The Press-Enterprise

Carpool Lane Sticker

Nancy Pelosi Not the Only Powerful California Woman Disrupting the Trump Administration

No issue is more important to California's air and climate regulators than ensuring that the state retains its ability to set tailpipe emission standards. Mary Nichols, the head of the Air Resources Board, has threatened to ban tailpipes.

May 30, 2019 - CALmatters

Northern California Toll Lane

Toll Lane Expansion in Inland Empire Begins After Voters Reject Gas Tax Repeal

The day after California voters soundly rejected a repeal of a one-year old 12-cents gas tax increase and new annual vehicle registration fees. the Riverside County Transportation Commission launched a study to extend toll lanes on Interstate 15.

November 20, 2018 - The Press Enterprise

Los Angeles

California's Great Transportation Divide—Between Two Key Governmental Agencies

Two powerful governmental bodies that deal with very different aspects of transportation—one with meeting mobility needs, the other with its impact on health and the environment—met formally for the first time on June 27.

July 9, 2018 - Streetsblog California

Gaslamp Quarter

$4.3 Billion Awarded to California Transformative Projects from Gas Tax and Climate Fund

Two difficult votes last year, both requiring super-majorities, are paying huge dividends to 28 transformative projects throughout the Golden State to improve rail and transit service and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

April 30, 2018 - Los Angeles Times

Gasoline

California to Explore Next Steps in Converting From Gas Tax to Road Charge

A summary report of California's 9-month pilot program to test the use of a mileage charge to replace the gas tax to fund road infrastructure has been released. Next steps include exploring available technology to implement the road charge.

December 14, 2017 - The Sacramento Bee

Caltrain

The County Transportation Authority That Saved the Caltrain Electrification Project

Up against an unexpected federal requirement to produce substantially more funds for a crucial rail project, San Mateo County's transportation authority showed the importance of "self-help" counties that control local transportation sales tax funds.

January 16, 2017 - The Daily Journal

California's Gas Tax Continues to Plummet

Last February, the state Board of Equalization voted to reduce the gas tax by 6-cents. On Tuesday, it voted 3-2 to continue the decrease by 2.2 cents. The vote is required by an arcane rule that translates into tax *decreases when gas prices fall.

February 26, 2016 - The Sacramento Bee - Capitol Alert

California's Road Usage Charge Pilot Program to Begin on July 1

The California Road Charge Pilot will be the nation's second road usage charge program. Unlike OReGO, which launched last July, it is a pilot program that will last nine months, but like the Oregon program, it is restricted to 5,000 volunteers.

January 30, 2016 - Streetsblog California

Transportation Funding Crisis Looming in California After Revenues Fall

Heretofore, California's transportation funding woes have largely been restricted to future projects, expressed as "deferred road and bridge maintenance." That just changed—now current budgets face a $754 million cut over five years.

January 28, 2016 - Los Angeles Times

California Committee to Consider Road User Charge

Gov. Jerry Brown has an environmental goal that conflicts with an infrastructure goal: reducing oil consumption and raising funds to pay for deferred road needs. The solution may be the Road User Charge, which lies in the hands of a new committee.

January 26, 2015 - Inside Bay Area.com

Caltrain 'Modernization' Kicks Off With $40 Million From State HSR Bonds

In a ceremony that featured local politicians and environmentalists, Caltrain accepts $39.8 million to install Positive Train Control, a funding milestone in the commuter rail's modernization.

October 6, 2012 - The (San Mateo County) Daily Journal

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