Coronado Bridge Suicide Barrier Wins $146M as Megaproject Costs Climb

The California Transportation Commission put $146M behind a long-awaited suicide deterrent on the San Diego-Coronado Bay Bridge on the second day of its August San Diego meeting, even as Caltrans acknowledged the barrier now runs about $50M over its baseline. Commissioners approved every action item by voice vote, including design money for the Last Chance Grade tunnel and a scaled-back LA River Greenway. Throughout the day, they warned that soaring construction costs are running into a limited supply of state money.

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• $146M construction allocation for the Coronado Bridge suicide deterrent, about $51M above the amended program amount
• Last Chance Grade tunnel clears its environmental review and wins about $217M for design, but a $2.5B to $3.5B construction bill remains unfunded
• LA River Greenway scope cut approved: five undercrossings become signalized crossings after bids came in about 80% over estimate
• Contractors, unions and transportation agencies rally behind the SR 37/121 allocation in Sonoma County
• $1.38B in highway repair and safety construction funds approved for 57 projects as allocations resume
• Commissioners press for new revenue as cost escalation outpaces planning assumptions

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Coronado Barrier Heads to Construction

Why it matters: Speakers described the San Diego-Coronado Bay Bridge as the nation's second most frequently used bridge for suicide. The Tab 107 allocation launches construction on the department's first progressive design-build project, a method in which the builder joins early and design and price are developed together.

Where things stand: Caltrans District 11 outlined a barrier made of roughly 3 miles of mesh, plus a maintenance walkway and CCTV cameras. A separate foundation retrofit covers 499 piles and new fender dolphins. It is estimated to cost $350M to $450M, with design alone near $40M, and that work is unfunded.

Staff said construction inflation ran about 40%, compared with the 16% assumed for the barrier. Discussing the barrier's cost growth, Alan Kusup, Chief Deputy, Caltrans District 11, said, "that's a large part of why we're about $50 million over from our base."

Every public speaker backed the project:

• Mary Curtis, a Coronado resident and suicide-loss survivor, urged a speedy finish. She said residents will tolerate construction delays.
• Charles Bradshaw, Community Plans and Liaison Officer, Naval Base Coronado, praised Caltrans coordination that preserves ship passage and eases traffic impacts.
• Jenny Palomino, Vice President of Community Health and Engagement, Community Health Improvement Partners, strongly supported the deterrent on behalf of the San Diego County Suicide Prevention Council. She also praised the community engagement process.

The other side: No one opposed the barrier. Commissioners asked about funding and about traffic during construction. Commissioner Zahirah Mann requested a more detailed briefing on progressive design-build, and staff pointed to a planned project delivery workshop.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: Chair Clarissa Reyes Falcon recused herself because she owns property within a mile of the project. Vice Chair Joseph Cruz presided after a quorum check. Commissioner Bob Tiffany moved and Mann seconded, and the motion passed on a voice vote; individual tallies were not announced.

Earlier, the chair also recused from Tab 98, citing property near the project. That item amended the 2026 State Highway Operation and Protection Program (SHOPP), the state's main highway repair and safety fund. It added 21 projects and reserved funds that include barrier construction money.

The same item cut mitigation funding for the Nevada Creek Bridge from $24M to $14.1M. Tiffany said "mitigation is a huge issue" and asked that it be discussed at the workshop.

Suicide-prevention advocates and the Navy got the outcome they sought. Coronado commuters face construction impacts, and the foundation work still has no funding source.

What's next: Construction moves forward under progressive design-build. Funding for the foundation retrofit remains unresolved.

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Last Chance Grade: Design Money, No Construction Cash

Why it matters: This stretch of US 101 in Del Norte County has no viable detour. Caltrans estimates that each year of construction delay adds $180M in escalation costs alone.

Where things stand: The project received approval July 15, following a first-of-its-kind agreement with multiple tribes under Section 106, the federal review of effects on historic and cultural resources. Geotechnical drilling comes next, this fall. Construction of the 6,000-foot tunnel is targeted for 2031 to 2039.

"We don't have construction fund secured yet, which is not unusual for a project of this scale and at this stage," said Jamie Mattioli, Corridor Manager, Last Chance Grade, Caltrans. Staff said a federal BUILD grant application was unsuccessful and that full funding is targeted by 2031.

Del Norte County Supervisor Valerie Starkey called the corridor vital and cited consensus within the project's stakeholder workgroup. A second county supervisor stressed the project's scale, protection of the redwoods and the Commission's decade of partnership.

The other side: Commissioners supported the tunnel but questioned its context and cost.

• "My concerns are on the other side of this tunnel," said Commissioner Lee Ann Eager, who raised resilience elsewhere on US 101.
• "We're going to have to have new revenue sources going forward, and we're going to have to set priorities as well," said Tiffany. He tied the escalation on megaprojects to a $215B funding shortfall.
• The chair said the project's merit is not in question. The issues, she said, are its scale and finite funds.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: The Commission approved the environmental impact report and a statement of overriding considerations (Tab 77) on a voice vote. Commissioner Carl Guardino moved and Cruz seconded.

Later, Tab 126 allocated about $217M for plans, specifications and estimates, plus right-of-way support, and requires annual reporting. Commission staff called it "by far the largest PS&E allocation that the SHOPP, at least in my time, has ever made to a single project."

The broader package, Tabs 124 to 126, also approved $1.38B in SHOPP construction for 57 projects and $119.6M for preconstruction work. Eager moved and Cruz seconded. North Coast residents gain momentum on the project, but the construction money is still not secured.

What's next: Caltrans returns with annual updates.

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LA River Greenway Trades Undercrossings for Signals

Why it matters: The 3-mile West San Fernando Valley Gap Closure is an equity-focused path. Keeping it on schedule meant accepting safety trade-offs.

Where things stand: "We were stunned when bids came back almost 80% over our engineer's estimate," said Chris Ryder, Senior Transportation Engineer, LADOT. The city proposed replacing five undercrossings with at-grade crossings controlled by HAWK signals, which stop traffic when pedestrians activate them.

Commission staff were blunt about how the project reached this point. "There were many process breakdowns and poor communication that brought us to this critical point," staff said. Even so, staff recommended approval, citing the city's $22.3M contribution and support from the LA Bike Coalition, Move LA and LA Metro.

The other side: "We don't want to save money if safety is put as secondary," Eager said. LADOT replied that the undercrossings could be added back later, either through a change order or as a new project costing roughly $20M.

Cruz and Mann asked about Caltrans communication and the new active transportation executive order. Caltrans described look-ahead reports, dashboards and a designated focal point for coordination.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: The Commission approved a two-month time extension and the scope change as one motion. Mann moved and Eager seconded, and it passed on a voice vote. Cyclists and pedestrians get the path sooner but cross at street level unless the city finds about $20M more.

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Labor and Business Line Up Behind SR 37

Why it matters: The SR 37 corridor carries 40,000 vehicles a day, with commute delays of up to 90 minutes, and faces flooding from sea-level rise.

Where things stand: Construction capital for the SR 37/121 project (Tab 108) rose from $17.7M to $27.2M. Staff said geotechnical work required a different retaining wall system and groundwater treatment.

Five speakers made the case in a coordinated show of support:

• Matt Robinson, Solano Transportation Authority, urged approval of Tabs 108 and 130.
• Chris Smith, Associated General Contractors of California, backed the improvements.
• Joshua Arce, Executive Director, California Alliance for Jobs, cited union construction jobs and reduced vehicle miles traveled.
• Chris Niren, Political Director, Operating Engineers Local 3, cited flooding and the region's economic dependence on the highway.
• Jason Bryant, Transportation California, also spoke in support.

Congressman Thompson had waited to speak but dropped off before his turn.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: "Sea level rise in that area is real," said Cruz, who moved approval. Guardino seconded. The motion passed on a voice vote alongside three other allocations that exceeded their programmed amounts by more than 20%: SR 299, SR 213 and the I-40 Colorado River Bridge. North Bay commuters, construction trades and contractors all stand to gain.

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Draft 2050 Plan Opens for Comment

Caltrans presented the draft California Transportation Plan 2050 Pathways, a 20-year plan updated every five years. Under AB 2086, the draft adds financial analysis. It lays out revenue options, including managed lanes, road charges, parking pricing and value capture, without recommending any of them.

Sophia Rafikova of the Coalition for Clean Air said tailpipe cuts alone are not enough. She also criticized the plan's lowered forecast for bike and pedestrian trips. Mann asked whether Caltrans had consulted its Equity Advisory Committee, and Tiffany asked about revenue sources.

What's next: Public comments close Sept. 17, and finalization is targeted for November.

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Minor Items

• Bay Area transit loan: The Commission approved its first report on the up-to-$590M loan to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission under AB 117. Repayment runs 12 years, and the Commission must alert the state if unallocated regional funds fall below $350M.
• Fix 5 Cascade Gateway: $85.8M was approved for an I-5 project in Shasta County that includes a first-of-its-kind part-time freight-only lane.
• Local Partnership Program: $25.2M was advanced for 2028 Olympics-related projects, and Madera County gains $5M in incentive funds for renewing Measure T.
• UC San Diego Health easement: The state receives $217,000 for an easement that supports expanded care in Rancho Bernardo.
• Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program: $27.2M in supplemental funding was approved for six rail, bus and ferry projects.

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Looking Ahead

MTC's first quarterly loan payment is due Sept. 3, 2026. Comments on the 2050 plan close Sept. 17. Commissioners expect to revisit escalation, mitigation costs and progressive design-build at a planned project delivery workshop.

The meeting closed in memory of Onias Avila Rodriguez, a subcontractor killed Aug. 10 by a hit-and-run driver while working on the Fix 50 project in Sacramento. "Tragic incidents like this are frankly not acceptable," said Stephen Keck of Caltrans. Cruz noted that Avila Rodriguez was a member of Labor Local 73.