Over $500M Delivered to Central Coast with Federal Infrastructure Law

By the Office of Rep. Salud Carbajal

Rep. Carbajal: With More than $500 Million Delivered to Central Coast, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Has Launched Revitalization of Region

Today, Congressman Salud Carbajal highlighted that the Central Coast recently passed the milestone of receiving $500 million from Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to support projects ranging from road and airport improvements to upgrades to clean water and internet connectivity.

“Less than two years since the signing of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and already we have seen half a billion dollars of investments in our region that this landmark measure has made possible,” said Rep. Carbajal. “I’m proud to have been a part of writing and passing this once-in-a-generation bill, and I’m excited to see how each and every investment it brings to our communities helps revitalize our region.

“This bill will help ensure every Central Coast family has access to clean drinking water, a reliable public transit system or highway, and a community prepared to meet the increased challenges brought by climate change. And I look forward to visiting the many sites where my vote in Congress is making a difference.”

A map of the investments funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law can be found at Invest.gov.

To date, the Central Coast has received over $500 million for nearly 100 projects, including:

·         More than $200 million for road, bridge, and highway upgrades across the Central Coast, including $75 million to fund an extension of the HOV lanes on Highway 101

·         $47 million to support clean water projects across the region, including $14 million to support the Ventura Water Pure Programand $9 million to support the Carpinteria Advanced Purification Project

·         $25 million to plug approximately 171 orphan oil wells in Cat Canyon in Santa Barbara County and $1.4 million to plug an orphaned oil well in the Channel Islands National Park

·         $12 million for the Gold Coast Transit District for low and no emission buses

·         More than $7 million in funding for upgrades at seven different regional airports on the Central Coast, including Santa Barbara Municipal Airport, San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport, and Santa Maria Airport

·         $500,000 to help close the digital divide by expanding high-speed internet connectivity in the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians.

Since its passage in 2021, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has already delivered over $220 billion in federal funding for projects across the country. A majority of these projects support upgrades to transportation and transit systems, climate resiliency, and high-speed broadband connectivity.

Through his role as a senior member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Congressman Carbajal helped write and pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law over the course of 2021.

The landmark law was signed by President Biden in November 2021.

Rep. Salud Carbajal represents California’s 24th Congressional District, encompassing Santa Barbara County and portions of San Luis Obispo County and Ventura County. He is a member of the Agriculture and Armed Services Committees, as well as the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, where he serves as the top Democrat on the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee.