Napolitano Secures Over $37 Billion for California, Key Local Priorities in New Transportation Bill

(WASHINGTON, DC) Today, Rep. Grace F. Napolitano (D-El Monte) announced she secured $37.5 billion for the State of California, including several key local priorities, in the "Investing in a New Vision for the Environment and Surface Transportation in America (INVEST in America) Act," a new 5-year Surface Transportation Reauthorization bill, which will be introduced tomorrow.

"Our legislation will create good paying jobs to get our economy moving again, which is critical now and will continue to be as our nation recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic," Napolitano said. "By tackling climate change head on and improving the daily commute, we are investing in the future of Americans and American infrastructure. I am very pleased that many of the priorities I submitted on behalf of my constituents, businesses, and transit agencies are included in this bill. I thank all of our local stakeholders for their valued input, which will help bring federal dollars to our region to put people back to work, while ensuring our long-term infrastructure needs are addressed."

The INVEST in America Act authorizes nearly $500 billion total over five years to help communities undertake projects that are smarter, safer, and made to last. This legislation enables the completion of these projects through long-term, sustainable funding and is fueled by American workers and ingenuity, thanks to strong Buy America provisions and labor protections.

Napolitano, the highest-ranking California member on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, secured the following provisions on behalf of her district, region, and state:

• Provides $37.5 billion for California over the 5-year life of the bill
  • $26.5 billion in Highway funding
  • $11 billion in Transit funding
• Transit worker protection program, requiring transit agencies to review their individual safety proposals with transit union engagement, and agree to modifications that are necessary for safety improvements.
  • Based on Napolitano's bill, the Transit Worker and Pedestrian Protection Act (H.R. 1139).
• Allows for a local hiring preference on transportation projects so that residents in our community are the people building the improvements in our community.
  • Reinstates the Obama local hire preference program.
• Creates a set-aside within the low or no emission transit vehicle grant program for bigger applications for electric buses. This will benefit Foothill Transit, LA Metro, and Proterra bus company in the San Gabriel Valley, who are all leaders on electric vehicle bus implementation.
  • Includes a program to provide bigger purchases for electric buses in order to stimulate the electric bus market.
• Provides $2.5 billion for a new highway rail underpass construction program (known as a grade separation grant program). This was created after Napolitano had the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments testify earlier this year regarding the importance of highway rail safety and the very successful Alameda Corridor East (ACE) underpass construction program in our region.
• Updates Infra Grant Program Requirements so that project selection is based on merit. Southern California transportation projects, such as the 57/60 confluence project and the ACE highway Rail grade crossing separation projects, are the highest-ranked projects in the country but consistently get overlooked because of politics.
  • Makes the grant requirements more associated with project quality and less by politics.
• Provides over $7 billion in the Transportation Alternatives Program for Bicyclists and Pedestrians, a 60% increase in current funding. Many of our residents and cities in the San Gabriel Valley use this funding to improve bike trails and walkways that get residents to school, work, and the Metro station or bus stop.
• Allows states to use federal transportation funds to build suicide barriers on bridges. Studies show that the vast majority of suicides on bridges are because of a sudden impulse, and if a barrier were erected the person would not continue with a suicide attempt.
  • Based on the bill Napolitano coauthored, the Barriers to Suicide Act (H.R. 4309).

INVEST in America Act Materials:

Access the Bill text by clicking here.

Access the Fact Sheet by clicking here.

Access the Bill Summary by clicking here.

Access the Section-by-Section by clicking here.

# # #