Rep. Carbajal Presses Sec. Buttigieg on Securing Infrastructure Law Funding for 101 Improvements

Press Release

At a hearing held by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee today, Congressman Salud Carbajal urged Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg to approve funds from the landmark Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that he helped pass for planned improvements to the U.S. Highway 101 along the Central Coast.

The planned improvements sought for the 101 have already seen more than $800 million in state and local funding, orchestrated in part by the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG), but the effort currently has no federal funding stream.

"The Santa Barbara County Association of Governments is working towards improving the U.S. Highway 101, which is one of two critical and major North-South arteries in California. This May, they applied for federal MEGA/INFRA dollars to reduce congestion along the portion of the U.S. 101. I worked on this project when I served in local government and the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors, and I can tell you this project is a win-win-win," said Congressman Carbajal. "I think it's fair to say that it's time for the federal government to step up. Can you provide an update on the timeframe for when your department will be making determinations on these applications?"

"Certainly we recognize that--and the former mayor in me recognizes that--the state and local jurisdictions have been asked to shoulder too much for too long," said Secretary Buttigieg. "It's part of why the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is so welcome and part of what we've sought to do with the particular program you're referencing…When the deadline closed for this combined notice of funding opportunity, we had more than 450 applications. So, we're working through those right now and should be able to announce selections in the Fall. And [we're] looking forward to funding as many deserving applications as we can--and this will certainly get full and fair consideration."

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which Rep. Carbajal helped get signed into law last November, is projected to invest at least $30 million in California over the next five years to revitalize roads, highways and bridges; reduce carbon emissions; upgrade airports and other transit centers; and create thousands of new jobs.

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has already funded more than $9 million in projects up and down the Central Coast.

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