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<\/p>\nSacramento, CA…Governor Gavin Newsom today announced an investment of more than $1.5 billion \u2013 including approximately $450 million for zero-emission infrastructure, locomotives, vessels and vehicles \u2013 as part of the state\u2019s work to build a more efficient, sustainable and resilient supply chain.<\/p>\n
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\u201cNo other state has a supply chain as critical to the national and global economy as California,\u201d\u00a0said Governor Newsom<\/strong>. \u201cThese investments \u2013 unprecedented in scope and scale \u2013 will modernize our ports, reduce pollution, eliminate bottlenecks and create a more dynamic distribution network.\u201d<\/p>\n The $1.2 billion will fund 15 projects creating an estimated 20,000 jobs and increase the capacity to move goods throughout the state\u2019s global trade gateways while lessening environmental impacts on neighboring communities. Administered by the California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA), $350 million was also awarded to 13 projects that eliminate street-level rail crossings to make critical lifesaving safety improvements, reduce emissions and keep goods and people moving.<\/p>\n \u201cCalSTA\u2019s \u2018Core Four\u2019 priorities are safety, climate action, equity and economic prosperity, and the strategic investments announced today shine in all those areas,\u201d\u00a0said Transportation Secretary Toks Omishakin<\/strong>\u00a0during an event today announcing the awards at the Port of Long Beach. \u201cThese awards \u2013 a direct result of Governor Newsom\u2019s visionary leadership \u2013 will help maintain our state\u2019s competitive edge in our nation-leading supply chain infrastructure and will create a cleaner, safer and more efficient goods movement system that will have a lasting positive impact for the people of California. The historic level of state funding also puts these projects in a stronger position to compete for significant federal infrastructure dollars from the Biden-Harris Administration.\u201d<\/p>\n Projects receiving funding will help boost capacity to move goods through the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach \u2013 the busiest ports in the Western Hemisphere \u2013 as well as enhance all major trade centers throughout the state \u2013 from San Diego to the Central Valley to the Bay Area. The high-priority grade separation projects, the majority of which are funded through the Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program, will improve safety and reduce conflicts and delays at railroad crossings, helping enhance the state\u2019s freight and passenger rail systems.<\/p>\n \u201cThis game-changing grant will make a tremendous difference in our efforts to bring more business and jobs to the harbor, enhance the efficiency of cargo movement and accelerate the Port of Long Beach\u2019s ongoing transformation to zero-emission operations,\u201d\u00a0said Port of Long Beach CEO Mario Cordero<\/strong>. \u201cI would like to thank Governor Newsom and the state Legislature for having the foresight to invest in California\u2019s seaports and to secure our spot as an economic engine for the state and the nation.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThis investment in critical Port of Los Angeles projects, along with supporting regional projects, will accelerate our efforts to boost competitiveness, create jobs and enhance decarbonization efforts,\u201d\u00a0said Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka<\/strong>. \u201cWe owe a deep debt of gratitude to Governor Newsom, Secretary Omishakin and our state legislators for this historic commitment to building a more resilient California freight system.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe Port of Oakland thanks the State of California, Governor Newsom and all our legislative, business and community partners who worked with us in the grant application process,\u201d\u00a0said California Association of Port Authorities President and Port of Oakland Executive Director Danny Wan<\/strong>. \u201cWe look forward to our continued partnership with Secretary Omishakin in building an Oakland Seaport for the next generation that uses clean, zero-emissions energy like electricity and hydrogen.\u201d<\/p>\n A complete list of projects is available at the following links:<\/p>\n The funding \u2013 particularly the investments in zero-emission projects, which account for nearly 40 percent of the Port and Freight Infrastructure Program awards \u2013 builds on\u00a0a partnership between the governments of California and Japan<\/a>\u00a0announced this March to collaborate on strategies to cut planet-warming pollution at seaports and establish green shipping corridors as part of the state\u2019s broader strategy to aggressively combat and adapt to climate change. The historic investments also follow the\u00a0California Transportation Commission\u2019s recent approval<\/a>\u00a0of $1.1 billion for infrastructure improvements on high-volume freight corridors as part of the Trade Corridor Enhancement Program (TCEP) \u2013 for a total state investment in supply chain infrastructure of more than $2.6 billion in just the past week.<\/p>\n\n