With unprecedented vigor, California’s Dept. of Transportation is leveraging the state's environmental laws in order to raise more money for road and freeway construction. Caltrans is suing cities and builders for not mitigating projects impacts on highways, as outlined under state law. The state agency, as a result, hopes to collect more funds for highway expansion projects and other improvements that relieve congestion.
Caltrans is recognizing that we need to be more strategic and smarter about raising funds for freeways,” says R. Gregg Albright, the agency’s deputy director for planning and modal programs. "There just isn't enough of a revenue stream otherwise. The consequences of not doing this are significant."