To streamline the process of greenlighting state infrastructure, California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed an executive order May 19 that creates an “infrastructure strike team” to identify and expedite key projects through better coordination among government agencies. He also unveiled plans to introduce a series of 11 trailer legislative bills that would speed up state review processes and reduce time for legal challenges to approved projects.
The move is intended for California projects to gain a greater share of funding from federal legislation such as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Inflation Reduction Act, Newsom said at a press conference. He estimates the state will invest $180 billion, including state and federal funding, in infrastructure projects over the next decade.