Skip to main content

Costa Secures Nearly $20 Million in Funding for Valley Transportation and Infrastructure Projects

June 22, 2021

WASHINGTON – Congressman Jim Costa (CA-16) released the following statement after the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure selected four of his Member Designated Projects for inclusion in the 2021 INVEST in America Act, a $547 billion surface transportation reauthorization bill that will create good-paying jobs to rebuild America's transportation infrastructure. The nearly $20 million investment in local projects, which Costa submitted in April for consideration, align with the president's vision— as laid out in the American Jobs Plan— by investing in American workers and communities, while also tackling the climate crisis. This legislation still needs to pass the House and Senate.

"While Congress works to pass a monumental bill to modernize and rebuild our nation's infrastructure, I am fighting to ensure the valley isn't left behind," said Rep. Costa. "The health and development of our valley economy depends on infrastructure and every one of these projects will provide significant improvements to our community. This federal investment will go a long way to improving the lives of people in the San Joaquin Valley."

Rep. Costa's Member Designated Projects included in the Invest Act of 2021 are as follows:

  • $3.75 million for the Elm Avenue Complete Streets Project in Fresno: The funding would go towards significantly improving transportation options for workers and students in this disadvantaged southwest Fresno community, providing easier access to businesses and schools in downtown Fresno. The project will repurpose the 4-lane road to a more pedestrian and bicycle friendly thoroughfare with the addition of a protected bikeway, sidewalk improvements, and installation of two pedestrian activated crossing signals.
  • $10 million for improvement to Highway 99 in Madera: The funding will go towards widening Highway 99 from Avenue 7 to Avenue 12 from four to six lanes, improving commute times and traveler safety. The project would also improve access to Madera Community College and the future Amtrak and High Speed Rail stations.
  • $4 million for YARTS (Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System) in Merced: This money will help grow its fleet of diesel-free motor coaches that provide alternative transportation options for visitors to Yosemite National Park. These vehicles help ease congestion at the popular park and clean up our valley air.
  • $2 Million to help complete the Atwater-Merced Expressway (AME): This funding will go towards completing the four-lane AME Expressway that will provide a direct connection from Highway 99 to the Castle Commerce Center in Atwater and UC Merced. The connection will help clear heavy congestion along Highway 99 and build an overpass over the Burlington Santa Fe Railway stop, improving commute times for drivers.

The bill also invests in other ways to benefit the San Joaquin Valley by:

  • Authorizing a $25 billion Passenger Rail Improvement Modernization and Expansion (PRIME) grant to fund intercity rail projects, such as California High Speed Rail;
  • Prioritizing funds to focus on rehabilitating existing roads and highway infrastructure;
  • Prioritizing funds to rural communities, Tribes, and other disadvantaged areas;
  • Investing in state and local priorities by funding Member Designated Projects;
  • Investing in zero-emission transit vehicles, fleet-conversion, and electric charging infrastructure to clean up air pollution and reduce carbon footprint;
  • Incentivizing transit-oriented development to build more sustainable, walkable communities;
  • Establishing new programs to expand transit service to help connect underserved communities;
  • Streamlining the Capital Investment Grant program;
  • Prohibiting stopped freight from blocking a public rail crossing for more than 10 minutes;

In addition to those listed above, Rep. Costa is also working to fund other, equally important projects in the Valley to help bring our aging infrastructure into the 21st century, many of which were built more than a generation ago.

For a Fact Sheet on the Invest Act, go here.
For a Section-by-Section rundown of the bill, go here.