Caltrans briefing: 2024 statewide rail plan and FHWA PROTECT grant opportunity

Gregoria Ponce, Caltrans acting deputy for planning, local assistance and environmental, briefed the Calaveras Council of Governments on Feb. 5 about two items: the recently released 2024 Statewide Rail Plan and a Federal Highway Administration funding opportunity.

Ponce said the Statewide Rail Plan envisions a zero-emission, interconnected rail and transit network aligned with California’s climate goals. She described the plan as involving a large capital investment and long-term economic benefits. In the meeting record Caltrans representatives described the plan as envisaging roughly $307 billion in direct capital investment with an estimated economic return of more than $537 billion by 2050; the presentation described an associated increase in construction and operations jobs.

Ponce also described a Federal Highway Administration grant program—PROTECT (Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient and Cost-saving Transportation)—that is intended to strengthen surface transportation resiliency against hazards such as flooding and wildfires. She said roughly $876 million is available and that the application deadline is Feb. 24, 2025. Board members asked whether neighborhood Firewise/Fire Safe projects could be eligible; Ponce said community preparedness projects can be appropriate in some cases. No action was taken; the item was informational.