SACRAMENTO – As part of Governor Gavin Newsom’s landmark $1.1 billion Clean California initiative, Caltrans is awarding $312 million for 126 beautification projects along the state highway system – including ten projects in District 10.
Designed to foster cultural connections and civic pride, the projects are expected to generate 3,600 jobs as part of the multiyear initiative led by Caltrans to remove trash and beautify community gateways and public areas along highways, streets, and roads while creating thousands of jobs for Californians. 98 percent of the projects will benefit historically underserved or excluded communities.
“Caltrans partnered with communities throughout California to identify and develop projects that meet the specific needs of each individual region while also enhancing and beautifying public spaces,” said Caltrans Director Toks Omishakin. “By working together, we are better able to restore public pride in our communities and help change the habits that create litter in the first place.”
Developed in close collaboration with tribal and local governments, non-profits and businesses, the 126 state beautification projects include art installations, green space, and proposals that improve safety and promote community connections. Construction begins in April 2022. A full list of projects can be found here.
Governor Newsom made the announcement on Friday in San Francisco, at the site of a Clean California project that will include a tree nursery, dog park, and other features.
Projects located in District 10 include:
• Merced Gateway & Mural: Installing gateway monuments and murals by local artists on State Routes 99, 59 and 140 in Merced County.
• Downtown Stockton Transformative Project – Transforming a parking lot under State Route 4 in a disadvantaged community into a brand-new neighborhood park.
D10 Safety DO Complement – Installing decorative security fencing, art enhanced slopes and locally-sourced murals around bridges and other structures along State Routes 4, 5 and 99 in San Joaquin, Stanislaus and Merced counties.
• Plymouth Gateway & Trails – Adding decorative monuments and low-irrigation landscaping that will beautify roundabouts, pedestrian and bike trails along State Route 49 in Amador County.
In addition to these awards for Clean California projects along the state right-of-way, the Governor in December announced the availability of almost $300 million in grants to cities and counties for local projects that will clean and beautify neighborhood streets, parks, and transit centers throughout California. Caltrans will review the project proposals from cities, counties, transit agencies, tribal governments, and other governmental entities and announce grant recipients on March 1. The Governor’s California Blueprint proposes an additional $100 million to fund additional local Clean California grants.
Over three years, Clean California will remove an additional 1.2 million cubic yards, or 21,000 tons, of trash from the state system alone – enough to fill the Rose Bowl three times over. The initiative has already resulted in 6,300 tons of litter removed from the State Highway System and, to date, Caltrans has hired 528 new team members, including 428 maintenance workers who collect litter and perform maintenance duties like graffiti removal.
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