In a recent meeting of the Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 4 on Climate Crisis, Resources, Energy, and Transportation, discussions centered around the state of California's highway maintenance and litter cleanup efforts. The meeting highlighted the collaboration between local communities and Caltrans, the state’s transportation agency, in addressing litter issues on highways.

A member of the committee shared a real-world example from their community, where the local Lions Club took initiative to clean up litter near an on-ramp to Highway 101. This situation raised concerns about the state’s responsibility in maintaining its own roads, questioning whether Caltrans should prioritize its core duties before extending support to local communities.

In response, Caltrans officials acknowledged the litter problem and outlined their enhanced efforts to improve cleanup on the highway system. They reported that they have identified "hot spots" for litter and have increased their funding for litter pickup. Notably, Caltrans has implemented "litter stand downs," where maintenance crews pause regular work to focus solely on litter removal, occurring twice a month.

As the Clean California funding begins to taper off, Caltrans is committed to maintaining momentum in their cleanup efforts. The agency expressed a desire to leverage successful partnerships with local agencies to continue improving the cleanliness of California's highways.

This meeting underscores the ongoing challenges of highway maintenance in California and the importance of collaboration between state agencies and local communities. As the state navigates funding changes, the effectiveness of these partnerships will be crucial in addressing litter and maintaining the integrity of California's transportation infrastructure.