West Sacramento is thrilled with the [January 14, 2022] Federal Highway Administration’s announcement to allocate $4.2 Billion to California. Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law we will have the necessary funding for the I Street Bridge. This funding will revitalize and strengthen our communities, create easier access to good-paying jobs, and make our economy more sustainable, resilient, and climate friendly. I thank President Biden, VP Harris, Biden Administration and congressional delegation who fought so hard for this historic, bipartisan law. And a special thank you to Congresswoman Doris Matsui – without her regional leadership and vision we would not be on the cusp of implementing this transformational bridge project.

As mayors, and regional leaders here today we have also worked hard together to overcome financing challenges and now have this once-in-a-generation package to help us on our path to build the I Street Bridge. The City of West Sacramento and Sacramento are in desperate need of safe passage between our two cities; Our cities’ partnership formed since 2012 and secured the Federal Highway Bridge Replacements funds in 2013.

The old I Street Bridge is more than 111-years old; the lanes are too narrow to serve buses, there are no bicycle lanes, and the sidewalks are too narrow to meet current accessibility standards. It’s just unsafe to cross the old bridge with cars. And, when automobiles are relocated to the new Bridge, a deck conversion is simultaneously planned to preserve the old Bridge to accommodate safer passageways for bicycles and pedestrian between West Sacramento and Sacramento.

As we planned for a new bridge both cities continued with major urban-scale jobs centers, residential and entertainment projects such as the Washington and Bridge District, DOCO, Golden 1 Ctr and additional projects such as the rail yards which are under construction. The old bridge is inadequate to serve the urban scale mixed-use districts being developed on both sides of the River.

The new I St Bridge is an ideal project for this once in a generation federal funding package, essential for meeting the goals for climate resiliency given few regional crossings over the Sacramento River. It will be an instant regional landmark, an icon to strengthen our future, reducing gas emissions, by enhancing bike and pedestrian passage. That’s why thousands in our region participated to provide feedback in the I Street Bridge Replacement engagement events.

All this work has led to receiving the CEQA and NEPA clearance, approvals by Caltrans, the green light to build. We must not wait a moment longer to direct funding to get this bridge built. It is backed by our region’s leaders, shovel ready, chosen by the public with the beautiful and bold vision-we all know that now is the time to build it.