CTC previews Cycle 8 ATP application updates, emphasizes inclusive language and new tribal contracting options

The California Transportation Commission (CTC) staff on Dec. 10 presented proposed edits to the Cycle 8 Active Transportation Program (ATP) application, saying the changes are mostly clarifying language pulled from scoring rubrics and intended to make applications easier to complete.

CTC staff urged applicants to address project impacts on disadvantaged and other vulnerable communities, said an unscored Part A4 question about Class 3 bike routes and sharrows will be added for information only, and proposed breaking out displacement-related prompts into a separate 200-word field so applicants will not miss them. “So, we’ll have a separate required space to address this question,” the presenter said during the workshop, describing the reformatting as a way to reduce oversights and improve scoring consistency.

Why it matters: staff said the edits aim to reduce redundant prompts, make questions mirror the scoring rubrics and help applicants score more points by explicitly calling out items evaluators look for. For large infrastructure applications, staff proposed consolidating repeated category prompts into one 600-word field (instead of four 150-word fields) so applicants can address how a project links to existing routes and destinations in one place; after hearing attendee feedback staff decided to retain separate map attachment fields for each category so projects can show different mapping views.

Key changes and clarifications - Equity and disadvantaged communities: federal screening tools used in Cycle 7 will be removed because they are no longer available; staff restructured Part C (direct benefit) and added a dedicated short response on displacement risk (200 words) to make it harder to omit. - Application wording: most updated language is verbatim from the scoring rubric to reduce ambiguity about what evaluators expect. - Large application format: consolidation to a single 600‑word field for category-level explanation, with four separate map attachment slots retained after participant feedback. - Safety and students: applicants must attach collision-data support (required + optional attachments) and explicitly discuss benefits for students and other non-motorized users; staff noted these are straightforward points that can yield easy rubric points if addressed. - Tribal contracting: the guidelines add a new section presenting several contracting routes for tribal governments, including direct contracting with Caltrans, partnerships with regional/local agencies, transfers to federal agencies (BIA or FHWA) and a new Caltrans tribal agreement intended to broaden options for tribal applicants.

Discussion and stakeholder input Workshop participants asked clarifying questions about the Submittable platform, whether applicant training would be offered next cycle (a poll showed strong interest), and whether map attachment fields should be consolidated; attendees favored keeping multiple map fields for richer graphics. Staff said the draft guidelines and slide deck will be posted on the CTC website and asked for written feedback at the January guidelines workshop.

Next steps CTC staff will post the draft application language and the presentation online, incorporate feedback collected during the workshop and revisit outstanding items (including a possible mid-cycle funds redistribution proposal) at the January 14, 2026 central workshop. The presentation also included contact information and a request for emailed feedback; staff requested comments on the draft interim count guidance by the 19th of the month. The workshop produced no formal motions or votes.