Executive Director Update: Yolo 80 Funding Request Goes to California Transportation Commission

Yolo 80 Funding Request Goes to California Transportation Commission 

This Thursday, March 21, the California Transportation Commission (CTC) will consider a $105 million funding request for the Yolo 80 Managed Lanes project. 

If approved by the CTC, the grant would fully fund the first phase of the project, leveraging $86 million in federal funds set to lapse later this year. Construction would begin in fall 2024 to build a new Express Lane each way between Mace Blvd in Davis and the 80/50 interchange in West Sacramento. The new lanes would open in 2027, relieving one of the worst bottlenecks in Northern California.  

The new Express Lanes are projected to raise $9 million annually in net toll revenue, all of which would be invested in transit improvements and other vehicle miles traveled (VMT) reduction strategies. The transit improvements include additional Capitol Corridor train service, increased Yolobus and Causeway Connection bus service, and discounted transit passes, all of which would take effect when the lanes open.  

Caltrans is the lead agency for the $105 million funding request. Yolo Transportation District (YoloTD) and the Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG) are application co-sponsors.   

In January 2024, Caltrans, YoloTD and SACOG have partnered to form CARTA, the Capitol Area Regional Tolling Authority, a new Joint Powers Authority (JPA) envisioned to oversee Express Lanes projects in the greater Sacramento region, with the Yolo 80 project the region’s first. 

Share Your Comments with the CTC 

The California Transportation Commission meeting is publicly accessible, both in person (San Jose) and by Zoom.  Members of the public are invited to provide comments. The Yolo 80 funding request is #19 on the agenda and will likely be discussed on Thursday afternoon.  

To provide comments via email: You can email your comments to ctc@catc.ca.gov 

Participate on Zoom. You can attend the meeting remotely and give public comment on Zoom.  

1. Register online to join the meeting as a participant. You can do this ahead of time, or during the meeting. It will ask for your name and email address.  https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_dEMv43QnSkirVyPxIZTWdg#/registration
    
2. Check your email for your unique zoom link to join as a participant. 
    
3. Once they get to agenda item #19, click the “raise hand” button to reserve your spot in line. They will take comments in the order that hands were raised.