California Transportation Commission adopts 2026 STIP, programs roughly $950 million for rail, transit and active transportation

The California Transportation Commission voted to adopt the 2026 State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) at its March 2026 hearing in Malibu, approving staff’s recommendation to program roughly $950 million in new funding and forward the adoption to the Governor’s office and the Legislature by the April 1, 2026 statutory deadline.

Staff presented a fund estimate of approximately $951.6 million in new programming capacity and recommended programming about $950 million across regional and Caltrans proposals. The staff recommendation, read by Sheila Ennis, allocated roughly $344.3 million for rail and transit projects, $141.7 million for active transportation projects, $427.7 million for highway and local road improvements, and $36.7 million for carryover and planning/programming/monitoring (PPM) funds. Ennis told commissioners the program dedicates only about 7% of new programming to general‑purpose highway lanes, reflecting an emphasis on multimodal and safety investments.

Why it matters: the STIP is the commission’s five‑year programming tool for capital transportation improvements nominated by regional agencies and Caltrans. This cycle’s allocations were notable for a continued shift toward rail, transit and active transportation projects while still funding safety and freight priorities in rural areas. That balance drew both praise and criticism during public comment.

Public reaction: dozens of speakers participated in a lengthy public comment period. Environmental and active‑transportation advocates urged the commission to reduce highway widening and move more funds into transit and biking/walking projects. Sofia Rafacova of the Coalition for Clean Air warned that "one mile of highway is estimated to emit more GHG emissions over 50 years than can be reduced by 240 active transportation projects," and other speakers from Streets for All, NRDC and Move LA pressed the commission to further tilt investments toward mode shift and safety. Regional agencies and MPOs including Fresno COG, Riverside County Transportation Commission, MTC and LA Metro defended their regional packages and asked the commission to approve the staff‑recommended program as a balanced set of regionally prioritized projects.

The vote: Commissioner Guardino moved to adopt the 2026 STIP as presented; Commissioner Lugo seconded. The Commission approved the motion by voice vote; there were no recorded oppositions or abstentions during the roll call that followed the motion. Staff was authorized to transmit the adopted STIP to the Governor’s office and the Legislature by April 1, 2026, as required by statute.

What’s next: with STIP adoption complete, project sponsors will continue programming steps such as environmental clearance, project study reports and delivery planning. Staff also noted that rising project costs, emergency repair needs and constrained revenues could tighten future programming capacity and delay some construction schedules.

At the meeting: staff presentation and the formal motion and vote on adoption were part of the March 2026 Malibu hearing. Public comment included representatives of cities, MPOs, community groups and environmental organizations. The commission’s action is procedural (program adoption) and does not itself authorize construction; subsequent environmental approvals and delivery steps remain the responsibility of project sponsors and implementing agencies.