Fresno Infrastructure Push Gains Momentum With State, Federal Funding and New Active Transportation Plan

The city of Fresno has received the final $100 million installment of a $250 million state budget package aimed at replacing water and sewer systems, rebuilding streets, and creating parking infrastructure in the downtown and Chinatown neighborhoods, according to a March 2026 report from Streetsblog California. The funding represents a significant boost for core infrastructure in the city's historic urban core, where residents and businesses have long sought improved roads and reliable utilities.

New Active Transportation Plan Seeks Public Input

Meanwhile, the city is accepting public comments on its draft 2026 Active Transportation Plan, which updates the 2017 plan to expand bikeways, trails, sidewalks, and intersection improvements with an equity focus on underserved areas, according to a May 2025 report from Fresnoland. The plan aims to make walking and biking safer and more accessible across Fresno, particularly in neighborhoods that have historically seen less investment in pedestrian and cycling infrastructure. City officials expect the final plan to guide future grant applications and capital projects over the next five years.

Measure C Replacement and Federal Dollars for Valley Projects

On the county level, Fresno County is pushing a replacement for the expiring half-cent transportation tax Measure C, which expires in June 2027, KMPH reported in June 2026. The measure is expected to appear on the November 2026 ballot and would fund neighborhood streets, sidewalks, and rural roads across the county. The outcome will shape transportation funding for years to come.

Federal money is also on the way. A newly signed federal transportation bill includes $3.15 million for planned improvements to Fresno Yosemite International Airport, part of a package of 11 Valley projects totaling $13.4 million, KMPH reported. The airport funding will support upgrades aimed at accommodating growing passenger demand. In rural parts of the county, two small towns-Tranquillity and Cantua Creek-were awarded $5 million in federal grants for infrastructure improvements including sidewalks, roads, and drainage fixes, according to the Fresno Business Housing Coalition and a Fresno County transportation plan document.

The city's draft Active Transportation Plan remains open for public comment, and county officials are expected to finalize the Measure C replacement language in the coming months. For Fresno residents, the combined state, federal, and local efforts signal a rare convergence of funding streams directed at long-standing infrastructure needs-from downtown streets to rural drainage ditches to airport terminals.