The American Society of Civil Engineers in 2019 gave California a "C-" score. It was noted in the 2019 report that the state would need significant investment to improve on the decades of infrastructural underinvestment, which can allow the state to withstand climate change and growing traffic conditions.  

Still, in 2024, it appears that more work needs to be done.

To upgrade and build Californian infrastructure, the total announced IIJA funding for California is $22.6 billion, with $15.60 billion devoted to California's Department of Transportation (Caltrans) projects.

On January 29th of 2024, the California Transportation Commission (CTC) awarded almost $1.2 billion in investments for urban and rural projects across the state, continuing a historic effort to repair the state's critical transportation infrastructure.

In this latest round of grants, approximately $428 million comes from the IIJA funding and $168 million through Senate Bill 1 (SB 1), the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017. 

The SB 1 transportation grants offer $5 billion annually to be allocated between state and local agencies. This funding expedites the progress of the construction projects. 

The CTC further allocated $245 million for full waste collection devices, beachfront embankment restoration, enhancements to bus, bicycle, and pedestrian facilities, railroad overcrossing, and enhanced compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) across the state highway system. 

Some of the projects set to receive money under this round of grants are:

1. A project on State Route 57 (SR-57) in the cities of Orange, Anaheim, Placentia, Fullerton, and Brea to improve safety lighting, rebuild pavement demarcation, and install route signage received $13.8 million, including $12.5 million in IIJA funding.
2. SB 1 funding of $5.56 million has been allocated for a project on Interstate 5 in the cities of San Juan Capistrano, Mission Viejo, Laguna Niguel, and Irvine to rehabilitate pavement and drainage systems, upgrade lighting, improve highway worker safety, replace overhead sign panels, build bicycle and pedestrian improvements, a park and ride facility, and construct stormwater treatment Best Management Practices (BMPs).
3. A project on SR-1 (Pacific Coast Highway) in Laguna Beach to upgrade pedestrian facilities to Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards, as well as remove and replace pavement with Rubberized Hot Mix Asphalt, received $1.1 million in supplemental funding, including $974,000 from the IIJA.
4. $700,000 for an SR-39 (Beach Boulevard) project in Garden Grove and Stanton to replace traffic signals, provide safety lighting, and adjust crosswalks.
5. A project on SR-1 in Laguna Beach to upgrade pedestrian facilities to ADA standards and remove and replace pavement with RHMA received $600,000 in additional funds, including $531,000 from IIJA.

"California is continuing to upgrade our transportation infrastructure," Caltrans Director Tony Tavares explained. He added, "These investments will help us increase the safe, equitable, and sustainable transportation access that all Californians deserve."

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