State provides funding for Union Station revamp and wildlife bridge

The state has approved $988.7 million in funding for various highway and transit infrastructure projects statewide, the California Transportation Commission announced yesterday. 

"This level of support funds wide-ranging transportation upgrades that provide the backbone of California’s vibrant economy by improving goods movement, expanding transit and rail systems and making our system more bikeable and walkable," said California Transportation Secretary Toks Omishakin in a news release. "These benefits will be experienced by every region, including disadvantaged communities throughout the state.”

The funding, which includes $184 million from the federal infrastructure bill passed under the Biden administration and $336 million from SB1, will predominately go toward road and highway projects. However, within Los Angeles County, funding awards include $60 million for the rehabilitation of Union Station. Metro has sought over the past decade to revamp the historic passenger rail terminal, while also embarking in a multi-billion dollar effort to expand its concourse and build run-through tracks crossing over the US-101 freeway. 

Additionally, the Transportation Commission has awarded $17 million to the City of Glendale to purchase 20 electric buses. 

Finally, the Commission has allocated $18.8 million to the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing, in partnership with the California Natural Resources Agency. The project, named for the late philanthropist who provided a significant block of funding for its construction, will allow mountain lions and other wildlife to safely cross a busy stretch of highway that bisects the Santa Susana and Santa Monica Mountains. 

As the world's largest wildlife crossing, the project has also developed a price tag to match. It was recently reported that the cost of the project has swelled to $114 million.

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