Transportation Commission staff propose early 'advanced programming' for LPP projects tied to statewide events

Transportation Commission staff on Thursday outlined proposed updates to the Local Partnership Program (LPP) guidelines, including a new "advanced programming" option that would let eligible agencies request early distribution of formula funds for projects tied to statewide events such as the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles.

At the workshop, LaShara Ward, the Commission's associate deputy director, summarized the LPP's structure and funding: the program was established under Senate Bill 1, receives $200 million annually, and sets $20 million aside for new or renewed voter-approved transportation initiatives, with the remaining funds split between competitive and formulaic programs. Ward said the Commission has programmed about 400 projects totaling nearly $2 billion across five cycles.

Kayla Giese, the LPP assistant deputy director, read draft language staff plans to add to the formulaic guidelines. The text would allow "advanced programming" before the January 2027 initial programming for eligible agencies seeking to deliver projects that support "significant events of statewide economic impact," and staff specifically named the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games as an example. The proposal would require submission of materials at least 60 days before the Commission meeting where the request would be considered and would make approvals conditional on available allocation capacity and other program requirements.

The proposal prompted questions from agency partners. Ben Ku of the Orange County Transportation Authority asked whether staff intended to limit advanced programming to major events or allow it more broadly. "Couldn't we just say advanced programming in general?" he asked, and sought clarification on how a project would be judged to "support the Olympics."

Deputy Director Matthew Yoscott said staff limited the option because advancing formula funds is constrained by available allocation capacity and that an open-ended advance option could exceed what the program can provide. "We are keeping it specific to events that have statewide impact," he said, while adding the language allows case-by-case consideration of other events and regions. He said the intent is not to provide funding beyond what an agency would normally receive but to provide it earlier when justified by statewide impact.

Several workshop participants urged procedural clarifications. Lewis of OCTA recommended a pre-submission triage step so agencies would not invest time on a full application only to be told it cannot proceed; staff said they would consider adding an upfront conversation before formal submission. Kayla Giese recorded OCTA's suggestion as an action item for staff to examine.

Staff also presented several clarifying edits that would not change policy but would tighten language in the guidelines: aligning appendix application templates with updated criteria; adding ADA remediation submittal requirements for competitive applications so evaluators have accessible materials; clarifying progressive design-build guidance; and specifying that a governing board's action to award a contract is equivalent to contract execution and must not occur prior to allocation. Patricia Chen of LA Metro asked whether exercising contract options for bus purchases would be permissible after allocation; Yoscott said such cases are considered on a case-by-case basis and that options that require post-allocation board or executive action are generally treated as acceptable execution mechanisms.

Workshop staff also revisited prior discussion items: clarifying that CTC staff should be included in LPP formula cost-savings requests, incorporating SB 1 accountability language into LPP reporting, and exploring a public list of programmed projects and an LPP meeting-prep calendar to improve transparency. Navin Habib (Solutions for Congested Corridors) summarized edits to the economic development and job-creation criterion, noting additions of public data sources and softer partnership language to reduce consultant dependency. The Commission's draft equity supplement will also add tribal engagement resources, staff said.

Giese gave a brief training on the LPP fund distribution document and warned participants that fund distributions can be amended in August to redistribute unused funds from prior cycles; staff will notify agencies if their distributions are increased by redistributions. Ward reminded participants that redline drafts of the guidelines will post in early June, drafts will be presented at the Commission's June meeting, and staff will seek final adoption in August; if adopted, the call for projects will open with nominations due the week before Thanksgiving.

No formal vote was taken at the workshop. Staff recorded a single action item to consider clarifying when prospective advanced-programming applicants should contact staff before submitting full materials. The Commission staff encouraged written comments and said it will consider feedback submitted before the August adoption hearing.