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Commission backs CAPTI 2; moves VMT neutrality target to program level, seeks guardrails for trade projects
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Summary
The California Transportation Commission approved a resolution endorsing CAPTI 2, a CalSTA update to the Climate Action Plan for Transportation Infrastructure that adds strategies and 14 actions addressing climate, equity and displacement.
The California Transportation Commission approved a resolution endorsing the second iteration of the Climate Action Plan for Transportation Infrastructure (CAPTI 2), directing CTC staff to pursue updates to relevant program guidelines through the commission’s formal public guideline processes.
CalSTA Deputy Secretary Darwin Mousavi described CAPTI 2 as an update that retains CAPTI’s original guiding principles and adds four new strategies and 14 implementation actions. He said the document reflected extensive stakeholder input and included several substantive refinements following public comment, including three changes highlighted by CalSTA:
• Solutions for congested corridors: a project‑level VMT neutrality requirement was revised to a programmatic VMT neutrality target so that the commission and regions can account for geographic and regional differences when assembling a suite of investments.
• Trade Corridor Enhancement Program (TCEP): CAPTI 2 retains the objective that goods‑movement investments should address passenger VMT impacts, but the update clarifies that goods movement competitiveness, geographic equity and the program’s mission remain primary considerations in TCEP guideline updates.
• Preservation of CAPTI guiding principles in statute: initial draft language proposing automatic codification was softened; CalSTA will explore ways to preserve implementation gains without prescribing a single statutory mechanism.
CAPTI 2 also includes an action that CalSTA described as a Director’s policy to avoid future housing takings and displacement caused by transportation projects on the state highway system; several public commenters and equity advocates urged rapid work on that policy. Mousavi said CalSTA, Caltrans and the CTC will lead specific implementation tracks for the 14 actions and produce a progress report in fall 2026.
Vote and procedure: Commissioner Tiffany moved adoption of the CTC resolution on CAPTI 2; Commissioner Lugo seconded. The motion passed by voice vote.
Why it matters: CAPTI 2 sets an implementation agenda guiding how the state considers vehicle miles traveled, goods movement, equity and displacement when shaping funding guidelines for SB 1 and other programs. The CTC will incorporate CAPTI 2 actions into future guideline updates (for example, Solutions for Congested Corridors and TCEP) through public guideline development processes.
Public comment on CAPTI 2 was extensive and mixed: climate and equity groups urged stronger VMT mitigation and a director’s policy to prevent displacement; regional and freight interests urged flexibility to reflect rural and freight‑dependent areas and warned against measures that could make key trade or safety projects infeasible.
