California Construction News staff writer
Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) officials say the Investment and Jobs Act by Congress will help fund roadway improvements, street safety, and public transportation projects.
The bill is also expected to invest in key sustainability efforts, including fleet electrification and EV charging.
“The passage of this bold and historic infrastructure bill gives us a once in a lifetime opportunity to rebuild our infrastructure and invest in critical quality of life projects that impact all Angelenos,” said LADOT general manager Seleta Reynolds. “From improving the safety of our streets and the quality of our air, to supporting more local jobs and the movement of critical goods, this bill will help our continued pandemic recovery. I look forward to working with our partners in the region and DC to maximize the benefits for our communities.”
In addition to traditional transportation infrastructure funding, this $1 trillion bill provides more than $500 billion in new programs that directly support LADOT’s work to improve mobility in Los Angeles icluding $5 billion in grant funding for traffic safety projects and $1 billion in competitive grants for active transportation projects.
The bill also creates a $1 billion pilot to reconnect communities separated by highways and other barriers, and a $500 million Smart City Challenge to develop smart infrastructure and integrate emerging modes.
Funding also provides considerable support for electric bus purchases and charging infrastructure that will support LADOT’s transition to a fully electric fleet by 2028 as it undertakes the largest expansion of its transit services in the department’s history. The expansion includes new DASH lines in Downtown LA.
