Caltrans, KernCOG win $39.9 million staff recommendation for SR‑99 to SR‑58 connector; Caltrans gives wide county project update

Caltrans District 6 reported on multiple projects during the Kern Council of Governments Transportation Planning Policy Committee meeting June 19, including a California Transportation Commission (CTC) staff recommendation of $39.9 million for the State Route 99 southbound to State Route 58 westbound connector ramp.

Shane Gunn, reporting for Caltrans District 6, said the CTC staff recommendations for SB1 discretionary funding (the TSEP program) were announced June 6 and that Caltrans’ application for the SR‑99 southbound to SR‑58 westbound connector ramp “received a final recommendation for $39.9 million.” Gunn said the application was prepared in partnership with KernCOG staff and that the LPP (local partnership program) application for the same project — submitted by the City of Bakersfield on behalf of KernCOG and Caltrans — was not recommended by CTC staff because the project received full TCEP funding.

Why it matters: the connector ramp is a major capacity and safety project for a stretch of state highway that carries regional and freight traffic; the staff recommendation advances the project toward possible CTC approval and later construction while KernCOG and local agencies seek additional federal and state funding.

Caltrans and KernCOG next steps, per Gunn, include presenting staff recommendations to the full CTC “next week for approval” and…