Since 2021, California has committed roughly $109.1 billion to infrastructure, pairing federal dollars from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law with one-time state investments backed by budget surpluses.1California Department of Finance. Governor’s Budget Summary 2025-26 – Infrastructure The money is flowing to roads and bridges, public transit, water systems, broadband, the electrical grid, and high-speed rail. The California infrastructure bill picture isn’t a single piece of legislation; it’s a stack of state and federal funding streams working in parallel, and 2026 is the year the biggest federal piece is scheduled to end.
Where the Money Comes From
The $109.1 billion splits into about $66.8 billion in federal funds and roughly $42.3 billion in one-time state investments.1California Department of Finance. Governor’s Budget Summary 2025-26 – Infrastructure The federal share is driven primarily by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which has directed at least $61.5 billion to California.2Governor of California. Three Years In, President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Has Unleashed Investment Across California
Separate from both of those pots, Senate Bill 1 (the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017) provides an ongoing $5.4 billion per year for roads, freeways, bridges, transit, and safety projects, split evenly between state and local work.3Caltrans. Senate Bill 1 (SB1) SB 1 predates the federal infrastructure law and continues regardless of what happens in Washington.
How the Federal $61.5 Billion Breaks Down
The Governor’s office has published category totals for the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding California has received:2Governor of California. Three Years In, President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Has Unleashed Investment Across California
- Roads and bridges: $24.4 billion
- Public transit: $22 billion
- Water, climate, and environment: $6.9 billion
- Broadband: $4 billion
- Airports, ports, and waterways: $2.8 billion
- Energy efficiency and clean energy: $1.4 billion
The 2026 Deadline
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law was designed as a five-year program starting in 2022, which makes 2026 the final year of scheduled formula funding. Some awarded dollars are already obligated to specific projects, but future disbursements face political pressure. The California High-Speed Rail Authority cut ties with the Trump administration in late 2025 after the federal government threatened multiple pots of rail funding.4Politico. California Gives Up on Federal High-Speed Rail Funding Whether other categories hit similar turbulence will shape how much of the $61.5 billion actually lands in California projects.
Roads, Bridges, and Transit
Transportation takes the largest share. On formula funding alone, California is expected to receive about $28.2 billion over five years for highways and bridges, aimed at repairs across more than 14,220 miles of highway and 1,536 structurally deficient bridges.5US Department of Transportation. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Will Deliver for California This federal money supplements the annual SB 1 funding that Caltrans and local agencies rely on for maintenance, seismic upgrades, and storm-damage repairs.
Transit spending is where climate goals and transportation money meet. In December 2025, the California Transportation Commission approved $1.1 billion for zero-emission buses, charging stations, bridge restoration, highway safety, and local mobility projects.6Governor of California. Governor Newsom Announces 1.1B in Zero-Emission Transit, Safer Roadways and Resilient Infrastructure7Caltrans. Governor Newsom Announces One Point One Billion Dollars for Zero-Emission Transit, Safer Roadways and Resilient Infrastructure8CEQAnet. Metrolink Sustainable Locomotives Project
High-Speed Rail
The High-Speed Rail Authority’s 2026 Business Plan calls for track laying to begin in 2026 on the 171-mile initial segment between Merced and Bakersfield, with fare service targeted for 2033 and an opening schedule of eight trips per day in each direction.9California High Speed Rail. Draft 2026 Business Plan The Authority says it saved about $2 billion on the Merced-to-Bakersfield segment by designing for initial service rather than full capacity from day one. Dozens of new highway overcrossings have already opened in the Central Valley as a byproduct of construction.
Federal support is now a question mark. After the Authority severed ties with the Trump administration in late 2025, the state is proceeding with available funds, but the loss of federal money could affect how fast future extensions move.4Politico. California Gives Up on Federal High-Speed Rail Funding
Water Systems
Water spending tackles two problems in parallel: aging delivery systems and contamination that affects public health. Of the $6.9 billion in federal funding tagged for water, climate, and environmental work, a substantial portion targets drinking water safety and lead service line replacement.2Governor of California. Three Years In, President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Has Unleashed Investment Across California
For state fiscal year 2025–2026, the State Water Resources Control Board has roughly $197 million available specifically for lead service line replacement through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund.10State Water Resources Control Board. Supplemental Intended Use Plan: Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Program Lead Service Line Replacement Funding The rules require full replacement of lead lines, not partial fixes. Disadvantaged communities get priority for grants; other systems get zero-interest loans.
On the storage side, the federal infrastructure law includes $500 million over five years for dam safety projects managed by the Bureau of Reclamation. The first project funded was a $100 million seismic upgrade at B.F. Sisk Dam, which holds back San Luis Reservoir, the largest off-stream reservoir in the country and a critical piece of both the Central Valley Project and the State Water Project.11U.S. Department of the Interior. Interior Department Invests 100 Million in First Dam Safety Project Through President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
Looking further out, Senate Bill 72 requires the Department of Water Resources to update the California Water Plan with an interim planning target for 2050, in response to studies projecting a water supply shortfall of 4.6 to 9 million acre-feet annually by mid-century without intervention.12California Legislative Information. SB-72 The California Water Plan: Long-Term Supply Targets The bill sets an interim target of 9 million acre-feet of additional water supply by 2040.13California State Senate. Senator Anna M. Caballero Introduces SB 72, California Water for All, to Modernize Water Planning
Energy Grid
Two recent laws attack different pieces of California’s grid problem. Senate Bill 254 created the California Transmission Infrastructure Accelerator at the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development. The idea is that financing transmission with public debt instead of private utility capital eliminates profit margins, lowers borrowing costs, and reduces tax burdens, which together could cut costs by up to $3 billion per year.14California State Senate. Governor Signs Biggest Energy Affordability Bill in Recent History The same law limits investor-owned utility earnings on capital projects and strengthens oversight of wildfire mitigation plans.15California State Assembly. Assembly Committee on Utilities and Energy – Transmission Accelerator Oversight Hearing Background For ratepayers, Public Utilities Code section 451.1 allows utilities to recover wildfire-related costs from customers only if no party raises a serious doubt about the reasonableness of the utility’s conduct.
Senate Bill 1006 takes a different angle. It requires every transmission utility to study the feasibility of grid-enhancing technologies, including advanced power flow controls, dynamic line rating systems, and topology optimization, by January 1, 2026, and every two years after.16California Legislative Information. California Senate Bill 1006 – Electricity: Transmission Capacity: Reconductoring and Grid-Enhancing Technologies These technologies get more capacity out of existing lines without building new ones.
Broadband
Senate Bill 156 committed $6 billion to close California’s digital divide, with $3.25 billion for a statewide open-access middle-mile network and $2 billion for last-mile connections reaching unserved and underserved communities.17California Public Utilities Commission. Broadband Implementation for California Middle mile means the long-haul fiber backbone connecting regional hubs; last mile means the final connection to homes and businesses.
As of November 2025, about 4,361 miles of middle-mile fiber had moved into installation through joint builds, leases, purchase partnerships, and direct Caltrans construction.18California Department of Technology. November 2025 Broadband for All Update Caltrans itself is building roughly 246 miles. Of 128 planned network huts, five broke ground in October 2025 with 13 more scheduled before year-end. The network is open-access by design, meaning any last-mile internet provider can connect to it.
How Priority Communities Are Chosen
California uses CalEnviroScreen 4.0, a mapping tool scoring every census tract on pollution burden and population vulnerability, to decide which communities get priority for infrastructure funding. Under SB 535, a community qualifies as “disadvantaged” if it falls into the top 25% of CalEnviroScreen scores, ranks in the top 5% for cumulative pollution without a full score, was designated in the 2017 list, or sits on land under the control of a federally recognized tribe.19Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment. SB 535 Disadvantaged Communities
For California Climate Investments programs, administering agencies must show that projects both reduce greenhouse gas emissions and deliver health and environmental benefits to these priority populations.20California Climate Investments. Funding Guidelines Resources The lead service line program applies the same principle through its grant-versus-loan structure.10State Water Resources Control Board. Supplemental Intended Use Plan: Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Program Lead Service Line Replacement Funding
Where to Check Whether Projects Are Moving
Oversight is split across agencies. Caltrans tracks transportation, the California Public Utilities Commission oversees broadband implementation, and the California Energy Commission handles transmission planning.21Caltrans. Project Management Oversight The High-Speed Rail Authority publishes its own business plans and progress reports. On the federal side, the Permitting Dashboard at permits.performance.gov carries project-level data and timelines for federally permitted California infrastructure, including Caltrans and High-Speed Rail work.22Permitting Dashboard. FAST-41 Transparency Projects
The California Department of Technology publishes regular updates on middle-mile broadband construction, which gives a decent benchmark for how fast money is turning into fiber in the ground.18California Department of Technology. November 2025 Broadband for All Update The gap between appropriation and visible results is where infrastructure programs lose public confidence, so these dashboards are worth checking if you want to see whether a specific project in your region is actually moving.