Lithium Valley Connectivity Project: PID Phase
Lithium Valley Connectivity Project: PID Phase
Caltrans is preparing a Project Initiation Document (PID) to support growth associated with Phase 1 of the Lithium Valley Specific Plan by improving transportation access to the geothermal and lithium resources located south of the Salton Sea in Imperial Valley, along State Routes 111, 115, 86, and 78. The PID will evaluate current and future multimodal transportation needs and identify strategies to improve access, system performance, and reliability across these key corridors.
About the Project
The Lithium Valley Transportation Connectivity Project is focused on accommodating growth associated with Phase 1 of the Lithium Valley Specific Plan by improving transportation access to the geothermal and lithium resources located south of the Salton Sea in Imperial Valley along State Routes 111, 115, 86, and 78. These resources are critical to California’s clean energy future and are expected to drive significant industrial activity, workforce growth, and freight movement over the next decade.
The project supports the development of a sustainable and efficient multimodal transportation network that enables the movement of people, goods, and critical materials while reducing environmental and community impacts. It is intended to serve existing and planned geothermal facilities and lithium extraction operations and strengthen connections between communities, employment centers, industrial sites, border crossings, and regional markets.
This project is limited to planning and evaluating transportation improvements on state highways. It does not include the development or operation of lithium extraction or industrial facilities.
What We’re Doing in the PID Phase
The PID phase focuses on:
Supporting growth associated with Phase 1 of the Lithium Valley Specific Plan by identifying transportation needs related to lithium and geothermal development
Evaluating multimodal transportation improvements along State Routes 111, 115, 86, and 78, including highway, rail connectivity, transit, and active transportation
Assessing opportunities for freight and logistics efficiency, including access to industrial sites and regional markets
Exploring electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure for passenger and commercial vehicles
Identifying potential Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) improvements to enhance safety, operations, and reliability
Advancing sustainable and resilient infrastructure that supports clean energy, climate goals, and community needs
How We’re Engaging the Community
Caltrans is working closely with local agencies, regional partners, industry stakeholders, and the public to understand transportation needs and priorities.
We’re gathering input on:
How people and goods currently travel in the area
How future growth may impact these routes
Opportunities to improve freight movement, workforce access, and community connectivity
Your feedback will help guide planning and investment to support economic growth while maintaining safety, mobility, and community connections.
Stay informed and get involved:
Subscribe to receive updates and complete our survey to share your thoughts on transportation in the area.
Map:
Caltrans makes every attempt to ensure our documents are accessible. Due to variances between assistive technologies, there may be portions of documents which are not accessible. Where documents cannot be made accessible, we are committed to providing alternative access to the content. Should you need additional assistance, please contact us at (916) 654-2852 or visit https://dot.ca.gov/request-ada-compliant-documents.