Yesterday, the U.S. Department of Transportation's (USDOT) Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) announced the immediate release of $4.6 million in "quick release" emergency funds for the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) for repair work due to severe storm damage done across the Golden State last month.
“Extreme weather events have caused significant damage to infrastructure across California this year,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “This emergency funding will help the people of California make critical repairs and take steps to prevent further damage in their communities.”
“The Federal Highway Administration is working closely with Caltrans to assess and repair the damage caused by extreme weather in counties throughout the state,” Federal Highway Administrator Shailen Bhatt said. “The quick release funding we are providing will help get those repairs done as soon as possible and better prepare this area for future weather events.”
In late February, California experienced winter storms which brought wind damage, snowfall, and widespread flooding. Storms have heavily damaged coastlines, community evacuation routes, public roads, and Federal-aid highways. These damages include mudslides, landslides, sinkholes, washed-out and flooded roads.
The new funding is in addition to $29.4 million in emergency relief funding provided early this year in January after multiple storms and flooding events damaged roads, bridges and highways in late December 2022 and January 2023.
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Source: USDOT
