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California Transportation Commission adopts 2025 Active Transportation Program funding amid $400 million cut
Summary
The CTC voted unanimously Dec. 5 in Riverside to adopt staff recommendations for the 2025 Active Transportation Program (statewide and small urban/rural components), programming roughly $101.22 million across 13 projects. Speakers from cities and regional agencies urged the governor and Legislature to restore a $400 million funding reduction that left many high-scoring projects unfunded.
The California Transportation Commission on Dec. 5 adopted staff recommendations for the 2025 Active Transportation Program (ATP) statewide and small urban/rural components, approving funding recommendations equaling approximately $101.22 million for 13 projects.
Staff presenter Jayden Gales told commissioners the commission had received 277 project applications requesting about $2.5 billion for roughly $168.7 million in available ATP capacity after the Budget Act of 2024 reduced the program by $400 million. Commission staff recommended nine projects in the statewide component totaling $84,350,000 and four projects in the small urban and rural component totaling $16,870,000. A small number of recommended projects will receive partial awards with staff directed to work with applicants to adjust scope or delivery plans.
Why it matters: advocates and local officials said ATP grants fund walk-and-bike safety improvements in disadvantaged communities and are highly leveraged. During a lengthy public hearing, mayors, regional planning officials and nonprofit advocates described ATP-funded projects as “transformative,” and urged state leaders to restore the $400 million cut so more high-scoring projects can be built.
What happened at the meeting: staff explained the scoring and review process, including volunteer evaluator teams and Caltrans Local Assistance review. Dozens of in-person and remote speakers — including Mayor Steven Hernandez of Coachella, Tom Kirk of the Coachella Valley Association of Governments, Javier Lopez (Stanislaus Council of Governments) and applicants from Salinas, Inglewood, Madera and other communities — described local needs and thanked staff for outreach and site visits that improved applications. Several said projects that scored well were not funded because of the cycle’s reduced capacity.
A motion to adopt the staff recommendations was called (mover: Vice Chair Grisby; second: Commissioner Bradshaw) and the commission voted aye; the motion passed unanimously.
Funding and delivery notes: staff encouraged applicants not selected in the statewide and small urban/rural components to pursue Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) component funding (scheduled for adoption next June) and to schedule post-decision debriefs beginning in January to improve future applications. Staff also flagged that some awards will require scope adjustments to match available programming capacity.
Next steps: advocates said they will press the governor and Legislature during the 2025 budget process to restore ATP funding; commission staff said they will assist funded agencies with delivery and use debriefs to improve future cycles.
Quotes: "This program is transformative," Tom Kirk said of ATP and its ability to leverage local and federal partners. Jayden Gales described the evaluation process and the need to balance geographic distribution with funding limits.
The commission’s vote completed action on the statewide and small urban/rural ATP components; the MPO component will be considered in mid‑2025.
