Active Transportation Program

Active Transportation Program
Name	Active Transportation Program
Type	Transportation funding program
Established	2013
Jurisdiction	California
Administered by	California State Transportation Agency

Active Transportation Program

The Active Transportation Program is a California statewide funding initiative that consolidates competitive grants to support Caltrans, California Transportation Commission, California State Transportation Agency, Metropolitan Transportation Commission, and local agencies for projects such as bicycle networks, pedestrian improvements, and safe routes to schools. It aims to increase non-motorized travel, reduce greenhouse gas emissions under California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, and advance goals articulated by agencies like the National Complete Streets Coalition and plans adopted by entities such as the Southern California Association of Governments. The program intersects with initiatives from organizations including the League of American Bicyclists, Safe Routes to School National Partnership, and advocacy groups like PeopleForBikes.

Overview

The program consolidates previous funding streams including the Transportation Alternatives Program, Highway Safety Improvement Program, and portions of Surface Transportation Program allocations to prioritize projects that support walking and cycling across jurisdictions such as Los Angeles County, San Francisco Bay Area, San Diego County, and Sacramento County. It provides competitive grants and formula funds administered through agencies like the California Department of Transportation and regional Metropolitan Planning Organizations such as the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency and Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority. Eligible project types commonly include construction of bikeways, sidewalks, crosswalks, pedestrian signals, bicycle parking, and educational programs often coordinated with districts like the Los Angeles Unified School District.

History and Development

Origins trace to the consolidation mandate in California legislation enacted after debates involving stakeholders such as the California State Legislature, Governor Jerry Brown's administration, and advocacy from groups like Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. Early pilots drew from models in Netherlands cycling policy and urban interventions seen in Copenhagen. Major milestones included initial appropriation rounds overseen by the California Transportation Commission and policy guidance influenced by reports from entities like the Institute of Transportation Engineers and research at universities including University of California, Berkeley, Stanford University, and University of California, Los Angeles. Program revisions responded to climate directives from the California Air Resources Board and rulings related to Senate Bill 1 (Beall).

Funding and Administration

Funding derives from state transportation revenues reallocated to support active modes alongside federal funding flows influenced by the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act and appropriations shaped by the California Budget Act. Administration is shared among California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), the California Transportation Commission, regional Metropolitan Planning Organizations such as the Southern California Association of Governments and local agencies including city public works departments. Grant selection criteria reflect objectives set by agencies like the California Strategic Growth Council and performance measures consistent with guidance from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Infrastructure and Design Standards

Project design guidance references standards and manuals from authorities such as the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, design guidance from National Association of City Transportation Officials, and Caltrans’ own guidance documents. Typical infrastructure includes separated bike lanes implemented in municipalities like San Francisco, Portland, Oregon, and Boulder, Colorado—with contextual adaptation from international precedents in Amsterdam and Copenhagen. Design standards also draw on research by the Transportation Research Board and professional practice from organizations such as the American Planning Association and American Society of Civil Engineers.

Safety and Public Health Impacts

Evaluations conducted by institutions like University of California, Berkeley and health departments such as the California Department of Public Health measure impacts on collision rates, air quality, and physical activity consistent with public health objectives advocated by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization. Studies show associations between infrastructure investments and reductions in traffic collision injuries in cities including Oakland, California, Minneapolis, and New York City, and improvements in population-level activity reported in assessments by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and academic journals published with contributors from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

Implementation and Case Studies

Notable case studies include corridor projects in Los Angeles integrating bus rapid transit implementations coordinated with agencies like the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority; bikeway networks in San Francisco and network expansion in Sacramento; school-focused safe routes programs in districts such as San Diego Unified School District; and rural shoulder improvements in counties like Sonoma County. Cross-sector partnerships have involved entities such as the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, local health departments, and nonprofit organizations including SPUR and TransForm. Implementation challenges and successes have been documented in evaluations by the Federal Highway Administration and academic centers like the Institute of Transportation Studies.

Policy and Legislative Framework

The program operates within a legal framework shaped by California statutes and administrative codes, influenced by policies like Senate Bill 1 (Beall), Assembly Bill 32 (Núñez-Pavley), and climate planning mandates of the California Air Resources Board. Federal statutes such as the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act and guidance from the U.S. Department of Transportation also affect eligibility and funding. Oversight and accountability involve reporting to bodies such as the California State Auditor and policy discussions in the California State Assembly and California State Senate.

Category:Transportation in California