California Active Transportation Program

California Active Transportation Program
Name	California Active Transportation Program
Established	2013
Jurisdiction	State of California

California Active Transportation Program

The California Active Transportation Program supports bicycle, pedestrian, and safe routes projects across California by funding infrastructure, planning, and programs to increase active transportation, improve safety, and advance equity. Administered through state and regional agencies, it aligns with statewide initiatives on emissions, public health, and transportation planning. The program integrates with statewide plans and federal programs to prioritize investments in disadvantaged communities and to reduce traffic fatalities.

Overview

The program funds projects such as protected bicycle lanes, pedestrian improvements, Safe Routes to School projects, and regional planning through agencies like the California Department of Transportation, Metropolitan Transportation Commission, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Sacramento Area Council of Governments, and San Diego Association of Governments. It supports implementation of policies in the California Transportation Plan 2050, Senate Bill 1 (2017), and connects to federal programs such as the Federal Highway Administration's programs and the U.S. Department of Transportation initiatives. Stakeholders include advocacy groups like California Walks, California Bicycle Coalition, Safe Routes to School National Partnership, and local jurisdictions including City of Los Angeles, City of San Francisco, City of San Diego, and City of Oakland.

History and Legislative Background

Created by the California Transportation Commission in response to legislation, the program stems from statutes like Assembly Bill 1539 (2013) and amendments in Senate Bill 1 (2017), and reflects policy shifts initiated under Governor Jerry Brown and subsequent administrations. It evolved alongside federal changes from the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act implementation and complements state climate policy such as Senate Bill 32 (2016) and Executive Order S-3-05. Early pilot efforts drew from programs like Safe Routes to School and local initiatives in jurisdictions including City of Long Beach and City of Berkeley. Legal and regulatory guidance has referenced decisions by the California Supreme Court and administrative rulings from the California Air Resources Board and Office of Planning and Research.

Funding and Program Structure

Funding sources include state fuel excise allocations influenced by Senate Bill 1 (2017), state budget appropriations approved by the California State Legislature, and matching funds drawn from federal sources administered by the Federal Transit Administration. The California Transportation Commission sets guidelines and programming cycles; regional entities such as Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority, Monterey County Association of Governments, and Southern California Association of Governments submit regional competitive applications. The program’s structure includes statewide competitive grants, regional apportionments overseen by metropolitan planning organizations like the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission and county transportation agencies including Alameda County Transportation Commission.

Project Eligibility and Selection Criteria

Eligible projects encompass infrastructure and non-infrastructure activities: bicycle network projects exemplified by corridors in San Jose, pedestrian realm improvements in Pasadena, Safe Routes programs in Fresno Unified School District, and planning grants for tribal governments such as Yurok Tribe initiatives. Selection criteria emphasize safety improvements consistent with the Vision Zero approach adopted by cities like New York City and San Francisco, equity prioritization for CalEnviroScreen-identified disadvantaged communities, and greenhouse gas reductions aligned with California Air Resources Board targets. Applications are evaluated for cost-effectiveness, community engagement demonstrated with partners like Health in All Policies Task Force and California Department of Public Health, and readiness for construction consistent with standards from American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.

Implementation and Administration

Implementation is coordinated among the California Department of Transportation, regional metropolitan planning organizations such as Metropolitan Transportation Commission and Southern California Association of Governments, county transportation commissions like Ventura County Transportation Commission, and local public works departments in cities such as Irvine and Santa Monica. Administration involves environmental compliance under California Environmental Quality Act, right-of-way clearances informed by Federal Highway Administration guidance, and procurement practices consistent with the California Public Contract Code. Technical assistance and performance monitoring draw from partnerships with universities including University of California, Berkeley, California State University, Long Beach, and research centers like the UCLA Institute of Transportation Studies.

Impact, Outcomes, and Evaluation

Evaluations measure outcomes in crash reduction, mode shift, and accessibility improvements, with studies conducted by institutions including University of California, Davis, UC Berkeley Transportation Sustainability Research Center, and independent evaluators retained by the California Transportation Commission. Reported outcomes include safety improvements on corridors in Oakland and Sacramento, increased bicycle counts in Davis, California, and school travel behavior changes documented in Los Angeles Unified School District pilot programs. Metrics align with statewide goals from Caltrans District 4 reports and health impact assessments by California Department of Public Health. Ongoing challenges include maintenance funding, data collection consistency noted by National Association of City Transportation Officials and federal evaluators, and coordination across agencies like California State Association of Counties and League of California Cities to sustain long-term benefits.

Category:Transportation in California Category:Cycling in California Category:Pedestrian infrastructure in the United States