California

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is the largest long-term investment in our infrastructure and competitiveness in nearly a century. The need for action in California is clear and recently released state-level data demonstrates that the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will deliver for California. For decades, infrastructure in California has suffered from a systemic lack of investment. In fact, the American Society of Civil Engineers gave California a C- grade on its infrastructure report card. The historic Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will make life better for millions of California residents, create a generation of good- paying union jobs and economic growth, and position the United States to win the 21st century.

To date, over $16.3 billion in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding has been announced and is headed to California with at least 480 specific projects identified for funding. Since the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed, California is set to receive $14 billion for transportation to invest in roads, bridges, public transit, ports and airports and over $1.2 billion for clean water. And, as of today, more than 1.75 million households across the state are receiving affordable internet due to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Many more projects will be added in the coming months, as funding opportunities become grant awards and as formula funds become specific projects. By reaching communities all across California – including rural communities and historically underserved populations – the law makes critical investments that will improve lives for Californians and position the state for success.

Specifically, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will make the following investments:

• Roads and Bridges. In California there are 1,536 bridges and over 14,220 miles of highway in poor condition. While 7% of California’s bridges are in poor condition and considered structurally deficient, this number is declining due to the passage of the Road and Repair Accountability Act (SB 1), which increased funding for badly-needed repairs to the state’s transportation system. California has a road infrastructure funding gap of $130 billion over the next 10 years. Since 2011, commute times have increased by 14.6% in California and on average, each driver pays $799 per year in costs due to driving on roads in need of repair.
  • Based on formula funding alone, California would expect to receive $25.3 billion for federal-aid highway apportioned programs and $4.2 billion for bridge replacement and repairs under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act over five (5) years.
  • California can also compete for the $12.5 billion Bridge Investment Program for economically significant bridges and nearly $16 billion of national funding in the bill dedicated for major projects that will deliver substantial economic benefits to communities.
• Rail and Transit. California is home to one of the last freight rail bottlenecks on the Northeast corridor. To alleviate the bottleneck, additional track is likely needed that would allow freight trains to bypass Providence Station. Residents of California who take public transportation spend an extra 66.6% of their time commuting. In addition, 16% of transit vehicles in the state are past useful life.
  • Based on formula funding alone, California would expect to receive $9.45 billion over five years under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to improve public transportation options across the state.
• Electric Vehicle Infrastructure. The IIJA invests $7.5 billion to build out the first-ever national network of EV chargers in the United States.
  • Under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, California would expect to receive $384 million over five years to support the expansion of an EV charging network in the state.
  • California will also have the opportunity to apply for the $2.5 billion in grant funding dedicated to EV charging in the bill.
• Broadband. Broadband internet is necessary for Americans to do their jobs, to participate equally in school learning, health care, and to stay connected. Yet 18% of California households do not have an internet subscription. Even where infrastructure is available, broadband may be too expensive to be within reach.
  • Under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, California will receive a minimum allocation of $100 million to help provide broadband coverage across the state, including providing access to the at least 545,000 residents who currently lack it. And, under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, 10,637,000 or 27% of people in California will be eligible for the Affordability Connectivity Benefit, which will help low-income families afford internet access.
• Clean Water/Wastewater. The law contains nearly $44 billion to strengthen the nation’s drinking water and wastewater systems, remove lead pipes and service lines, and eliminate harmful contaminants through the EPA’s State Revolving Funds programs. These programs, administered by the states, make grants and loans eligible to communities for drinking water and wastewater infrastructure investments. Today, much of California’s network is aging. In San Francisco, approximately 150 of the 1,200 miles of water mains are over 100 years old. The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power reports that approximately 28% of the city’s 6,780 mainline pipes were installed before 1938. California reports a $51 billion drinking water investment gap over the next 20 years.
  • Under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, based on the traditional state revolving fund formula, California will expect to receive $3.5 billion over five (5) years to improve water infrastructure across the state and ensure that clean, safe drinking water is a right in all communities.
• Airports. California is home to 30 major airports that will benefit from the $25 billion in increased airport infrastructure funding provided over five (5) years from the IIJA. According to the 10-year California Capital Improvement Plan published in 2017, there are 1,735 aviation projects that need a total of $2.77 billion in funding over the next 10 years.
  • Under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, airports in California would receive approximately $1.5 billion for infrastructure development for airports over five (5) years.
• Ports and Inland Waterways. California is home to ten (10) major ports and 290 miles of inland waterways that will benefit from $17 billion in new infrastructure funding over 5 years from the IIJA.

• Grid and Clean Energy Infrastructure. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), through the Office of the Under Secretary for Infrastructure, is focused on working across the public and private sectors to help the U.S. transition to the clean energy economy. With more than $75 billion in investments through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, California will benefit from multiple opportunities focused on the rapid commercialization, demonstration, and deployment of clean energy technologies. DOE is playing a critical role in efforts to rapidly lower energy costs, slash carbon emissions, and create new industries with the high-quality union jobs that are guaranteed to boost domestic manufacturing capabilities while strengthening U.S. global competitiveness.