CTC adopts 2027 Active Transportation Program guidelines and highlights role of education/encouragement funding
Loading...
Summary
The California Transportation Commission approved the 2027 Active Transportation Program fund estimate (about $620 million program capacity over four years) and adopted Cycle 8 ATP guidelines; staff and advocates emphasized non‑infrastructure education and 'micro‑grant' approaches to complement bike/walk construction.
The California Transportation Commission adopted the 2027 Active Transportation Program (ATP) fund estimate and the Cycle 8 ATP guidelines at its March 2026 meeting in Malibu, unlocking a call for projects and programming roughly $620 million in capacity over the forthcoming four‑year cycle.
Caltrans budgets and CTC staff walked commissioners through the ATP assumptions and outreach. Garrett Franklin presented the fund estimate of $620 million in programming capacity for fiscal years beginning 2026‑27. Anya Allenbacher summarized guideline changes proposed for Cycle 8: addition of statutory restrictions established by SB 1216, removal of two federal tools that are temporarily unavailable, continuation of a quick‑build pilot within the MPO component, and a new appendix providing guidance on non‑infrastructure (education and encouragement) projects.
The commission adopted the fund estimate and the guidelines after a public hearing that included praise from regional agencies for the transparent process and calls from advocates for increased ATP funding. Jeanne Ward Waller of Climate Plan Network asked the commission to support a $200 million ATP increase from the Legislature. CTC staff emphasized extensive outreach — 10 public workshops and one‑on‑one debriefs with applicants — and technical assistance visits to help jurisdictions refine applications.
Spotlight on programming beyond concrete: the commission heard a focused presentation on non‑infrastructure ATP projects from Jim Shaman of Walk and Rollers, who described Safe Routes to School programming in Culver City, Oxnard, Santa Ana and Costa Mesa. Shaman said these education and encouragement efforts are low‑cost, locally scalable ways to increase walking and biking and to build community support for infrastructure: "About 18 percent of students now walk or bike to school, so there is work to do," he said, arguing that micro‑grants and faster disbursement to community groups could accelerate mode shift and create workforce pathways.
Action taken: commissioners approved the ATP fund estimate and adopted the 2027 ATP guidelines; they also approved MTC’s regional ATP guidelines so the Bay Area could release a regional call concurrently with the statewide cycle. The vote for the ATP items was recorded by voice; motions were made and seconded on the dais and carried without recorded opposition.
What to watch: CTC staff will open the Cycle 8 call for projects under the adopted guidelines; local agencies and MPOs will prepare ATP applications. Advocates continue to press the Legislature for additional ATP funding, and community groups asked staff to explore micro‑grant options and faster disbursement models to fund non‑infrastructure programming while larger capital projects proceed through environmental and delivery phases.
