California Construction News staff writer
California has received $360 million in federal funding for habitat restoration, park improvements and rail and highway investments.
About $220 million will be used to build a high-speed rail station in Madera and to improve safety, freight movement and travel times for commuters along I-680 from SR-24 to SR-242.
The Madera High-Speed Rail Station project will receive over $54 million for a high-speed rail station for the Merced-Bakersfield California High-Speed Rail Interim Service.
The project will design and build the Madera Station through improvements at the relocated Madera Amtrak Station, including new platforms, trackwork, an overhead contact system, a bus depot, expanded auto parking, an access roadway network, a multi-use path and a station building.
The rail station will help create better transportation options, generate construction jobs and improve air quality for Central Valley residents.
The following projects will also receive funding:
$45 million to restore California’s rivers and aquatic habitats
- multiple projects designed to improve the health of fish, wildlife, and aquatic ecosystems across the state, contributing to broader conservation and climate resilience efforts in California and the western U.S.
$95 million for neighborhood park improvements
- 15 park projects across the state – the largest total grant amount California has received in the history of the NPS Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Grants Program
- grants align with California’s Outdoors for All initiative
Also, Contra Costa’s INNOVATE 680 Program will receive $166 million of the award to complete the northbound I-680 express lane gap from California State Route (SR) 24 to SR-242 and convert the existing northbound high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane from SR-242 to north of Arthur Road into an express lane.