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California Transportation Commission adopts equity advisory committeevision, mission and foundational principles
Summary
The California Transportation Commission, meeting in Merced, approved the Interagency Equity Advisory Committee's vision, mission and foundational principles to guide transportation equity work across CTC, Caltrans and CalSTA.
The California Transportation Commission, meeting in Merced, on Tuesday voted to adopt the vision, mission and foundational principles developed by the Interagency Equity Advisory Committee (EAC).
The commission approved the document after remarks from EAC Chair Martha Armas Kelly, who described the statements as "a living document" intended to center safety, economic opportunity, disability access, climate equity and acknowledgment of historical harms in transportation planning and investments.
The EAC drafted the framework over several months with input from committee members, agency leadership and commissioners. Lisa Marie Alvarado, an EAC member, told commissioners the committee aims to "encourage exploration" of policy options while "holding the line" on equity standards during program reviews and guideline updates.
Commission staff said the statements were finalized by the committee on Sept. 5, 2025, and had been vetted with executive leadership from Caltrans and CalSTA. The committee will continue to advise on competitive programs, serve as a liaison on Active Transportation Program guidelines, and participate in implementation of the Caltrans equity index and community engagement playbook.
Commission discussion was uniformly supportive. Commissioners praised the leadership and the committee's work and stressed that the document is intended to be iterative and used as a practical guide for program and funding decisions.
The adoption formalizes the committee's role advising the Commission, Caltrans and CalSTA and sets expectations that equity considerations should be incorporated across grant guidelines and program review processes. Staff said adoption will also inform Commission briefings and that EAC members will continue to be invited into technical advisory roles for program cycles.
Clarifying details disclosed at the meeting included the open application period for new EAC seats (closing Oct. 19, 2025) and that members will serve two-year terms beginning February 2026. Commissioners and staff said EAC members will continue to provide written feedback on draft program guidelines and pilot implementation through 2026.
The meeting record shows the motion to adopt the EAC guiding statements carried without recorded opposition.
