Existing law generally provides for programming and allocation of available state and federal transportation funds for transportation capital improvement projects through the state transportation improvement program process administered by the California Transportation Commission. Existing law requires 25% of available funds to be programmed and expended on interregional improvement projects nominated by the Department of Transportation through the adoption of an interregional transportation improvement program, and 75% of available funds to be programmed and expended on regional improvement projects nominated by transportation planning agencies through the adoption of a regional transportation improvement program.

This bill would require at least 50% of funds programmed in the interregional transportation improvement program, and 50% of funds programmed in a regional transportation improvement program, to be programmed for safe streets projects, as specified. The bill would require those funds to be prioritized for safe streets projects located in areas of transit-oriented development zones, as defined, that lack adequate pedestrian safety and mobility access.

Existing law establishes the Active Transportation Program in the Department of Transportation for the purpose of encouraging increased use of active modes of transportation, such as biking and walking. Existing law requires the California Transportation Commission to develop guidelines with regard to project selection that include, among other criteria, the benefit to disadvantaged communities and the potential for increasing and improving connectivity and mobility of nonmotorized users. Existing law requires the guidelines adopted by the commission for the program to address, among other things, application timelines and application rating and ranking criteria.

This bill would rename the Active Transportation Program as the Safe Streets Program. The bill would require the guidelines with regard to project selection to also include as criteria the benefit to transit-oriented development zones, as defined. The bill would require the guidelines to establish an application process under which an applicant submits an initial application that would not require detailed engineering drawings and, if that application is deemed to be in conformance with the guidelines and project selection criteria, the applicant would be requested to submit a final and more comprehensive application for review.