Environmental Policy
It is estimated that 40% of California’s greenhouse gas emissions come from the transportation sector, and the vast majority of those from automobile and truck emission.
One of the key goals of the California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA) is aligning our transportation system with the state’s sustainability and air quality objectives.
The California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, AB 32, and the Sustainable Communities and Climate Protection Act of 2008, SB 375, outline strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from California’s transportation sector. The following are a few of the programs CalSTA oversees to meet these sustainability and climate goals.
Cap-and-Trade Programs
The Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP) and the Low Carbon Transit Operations Program (LCTOP) are two of several state programs funded by allowance auction proceeds from the California Air Resources Board’s Cap-and-Trade Program into the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund.
- Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP)Funds transformative capital improvements to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase transit ridership, integrate rail services and improve safety. CalSTA, in partnership with Caltrans, administers the TIRCP.
- Low Carbon Transit Operations Program (LCTOP)
Provides funding to transit agencies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve mobility, with a priority on serving disadvantaged communities. Caltrans, in coordination with Air Resource Board (ARB) and the State Controller’s Office (SCO), administers the LCTOP
Active Transportation Program
In September, 2013, Governor Brown signed legislation creating the Active Transportation Program (ATP) in the Department of Transportation (Senate Bill 99, Chapter 359 and Assembly Bill 101, Chapter 354). The ATP consolidates existing federal and state transportation programs, including the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP), Bicycle Transportation Account (BTA), and State Safe Routes to School (SR2S), into a single program with a focus to make California a national leader in active transportation.
Related Programs
- Autonomous Vehicles Strategic Framework
- Broadband Deployment
- CalSTA Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) Implementation
- Climate Action Plan for Transportation Infrastructure (CAPTI)
- Enforcement and Safety
- Freight, Rail and Border
- Reports
- SB 125 Transit Program
- State Rail Assistance Program
- Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program
- Transportation Funding in California
- Transportation and Housing Coordination
- Tribal Relations
- USDOT Emerging Projects Agreement