Transportation Planning Process

Caltrans develops the long-range plan for state highway repairs and expansion of the states interregional network-and selects projects for the State Highway Operation Protection Program (SHOPP) and interregional projects for the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP)-with input from local agencies (counties and MPOs). Local agencies develop long-range plans for their regions and select projects for the regional portion of the STIP with input from transit operators, other local governments and sometimes Caltrans. Caltrans selects all state highway repair and rehabilitation projects and 25 percent of capacity expanding projects; county transportation agencies select 75 percent of capacity expanding projects. The state transportation commission is responsible for approving an entire program of projects, but cannot approve or reject individual projects. The governor's office or the secretary of the Business, Transportation and Housing Agency occasionally will request that Caltrans select certain projects.

Legislative Role in Transportation Planning

The Legislature has no direct role in transportation planning activities. Funds are appropriated on a program rather than project basis. In some cases, the Legislature has had an indirect role by enacting policies to guide the transportation planning process.