For those who frequently find themselves stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic on Highway 37, it must seem as if there’s more talking than progress toward building a solution.

They are right, but construction on the planned first phase of a solution could begin in 2026. That’s good news — or the best available.

The three-county project is in line for a $73 million share of the state’s gas tax funds, nearly 10% of the money that’s being allocated statewide for the coming year.

For the 40,000 motorists and commercial drivers who rely on Highway 37 every day, construction can’t come soon enough.

Traffic on the mostly two-lane highway that connects Marin to Vallejo has grown exponentially over the past two decades as the high cost of housing in Marin and Sonoma counties requires more workers to commute to and from more affordable communities. Besides the traffic, the roadbed is not only slowly sinking, but is vulnerable to more frequent flooding caused by climate change.

The $73 million is being designated for Phase 2 of the plan, the construction of a second eastbound lane and emergency pullouts. The state funds would move the project closer to the $153 million price tag for the work and closer to the start of construction, possibly in 2026, according to Marin Supervisor Stephanie Moulton-Peters, who serves on the multi-agency State Route 37 Policy Committee.

It also helps advance Phase 1, plans to rebuild the Tolay Creek Bridge at Sears Point. That work will involve replacing the current span with a 400-foot long bridge that will not only lessen the threat of flooding, a frequent problem, but create an environmental benefit by improving the tidal action for the creek and marsh now constructed by the short bridge.

The state’s plans are to raise additional funds by turning the highway into a toll road, with a new westbound lane added as part of Phase 3.

Ultimately, officials want to rebuild the highway as a causeway, but the estimated $11 billion cost leaves that plan on the state’s wish list. It promises to be a much longer wait to raise that sum.

A state bill is in Sacramento’s hopper to streamline possible environmental hurdles facing construction. While it’s being supported by the powerful Bay Area-based Metropolitan Transportation Commission and other transportation, labor and business organizations, it is facing opposition from numerous environmental and biking groups.

Progress toward starting construction has been slow, but diligent. There is, however, progress being made toward starting construction.

It should be noted that Marin Assemblymember Damon Connolly voted for the bill, helping to move it forward to the Senate.

The California Transportation Commission staff has determined that the project will overall result in environmental benefits and improved safety. While the widening of the highway to add two lanes and shoulders would result in the loss of wetlands, elements of the project are focused on improvements that will enhance the environment by restoring the bay wetlands that parallel the road. From a safety standpoint, the project will help prevent frequent rear-end collisions caused by the bottlenecks at Sears Point and Mare Island and improve air pollution by eliminating miles of cars idling in bumper-to-bumper traffic.

Highway 37 is a long-ignored link among the bay crossings. Every day, even on many weekends, it is obvious that it is being asked to handle a lot more traffic than it was built for. In addition, it faces the real threats of frequent flooding and the promise of rising tides.

Progress toward a solution has been slow, but it obviously has risen among the state’s priorities. There is movement in the right direction.