Transportation: climate resiliency: projects of statewide and regional significance.

Senators Cortese and Caballero's transportation infrastructure proposal would establish new requirements for identifying and prioritizing major highway projects that enhance California's resilience to extreme weather events. The legislation directs the Department of Transportation to create an annual list of high-priority projects that benefit multiple counties while addressing climate vulnerabilities.

Under the measure, qualifying projects must meet specific criteria in two categories. First, they must either improve safety along major goods movement corridors or support commerce and economic growth through key transportation routes. Additionally, projects must either enhance climate resilience to reduce long-term repair costs or address vulnerabilities to natural disasters like earthquakes, mudslides, and wildfires. The department would prioritize projects that deliver multiple benefits across areas including safety improvements, efficient goods movement, climate adaptation measures like flood mitigation and water storage, and electrical grid reliability upgrades.

The proposal requires the department to submit its initial prioritized project list by July 1, 2026, developed in consultation with the California Transportation Commission and Transportation Agency. Only projects that have reached the planning, environmental review, or design phases would be eligible for inclusion. The department would then provide annual updates to the Legislature beginning January 1, 2027, detailing how selected projects align with the established criteria. This builds upon the existing State Transportation Infrastructure Climate Adaptation Program, which currently guides the department's climate adaptation planning.

The bill's findings note that much of California's transportation infrastructure was constructed decades ago without consideration of current climate risks. The authors assert that proactive investment in resilient infrastructure would help avoid higher future repair and replacement costs while maintaining critical public services and economic activity.