STATE ISSUES DRAFT PLAN FOR FREIGHT SYSTEM OF THE FUTURE

SACRAMENTO- State agency leaders today released the Draft California Sustainable Freight Action Plan, an ambitious document that lays a foundation for modernizing California’s multi-billion dollar freight transportation system.

Developed in response to Governor Brown’s Executive Order B-32-15, which calls for a single integrated action plan for California, the Draft Action Plan was drafted by the California State Transportation Agency, California Environmental Protection Agency, Natural Resources Agency, California Air Resources Board, California Department of Transportation, California Energy Commission and Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development with broad stakeholder input.

The Executive Order directs the state agencies to pursue a shared vision to “improve freight efficiency, transition to zero-emission technologies and increase the competitiveness of California’s freight system.” Benefits include meeting the state’s freight infrastructure, public health, air quality and climate goals.

The Draft Action Plan responds to the Governor’s Executive Order by articulating one shared vision to improve the efficiency of California’s freight system while reducing its pollution, all the while bolstering the competitiveness of California’s goods movement system nationally and internationally.

Key components of the Action Plan include:

• A long-term 2050 vision and guiding principles for California’s future freight transport system.
• Targets for 2030 to guide the State toward meeting its long-term vision:
  • Improve freight system efficiency 25 percent by 2030.
  • Deploy over 100,000 zero-emission vehicles/equipment and maximize near-zero by 2020.
  • Foster future economic growth within the freight and goods movement industry.
• Identified opportunities to leverage State freight transport system investments.
• Actions to initiate over the next five years to make progress towards the Draft Action Plan’s vision and target.
• Pilot projects to achieve concrete progress in the near-term.
• Additional concepts for further exploration and potential development.

“Future investments of public dollars in freight require a smart approach that accounts for both environmental stewardship and the need for new infrastructure to accommodate a growing freight sector,” said CalSTA Secretary, Brian P. Kelly. “While some may see these as competing priorities, this Draft Action Plan suggests we don’t have to choose between these important objectives, but can achieve both through more prudent planning and investment. I look forward to perfecting the document with input from our many stakeholders in the days ahead.”

Achieving the Draft Action Plan’s objectives will require strategic partnerships and well-coordinated investments in new technologies and major infrastructure upgrades. The plan provides an opportunity for leveraging new federal, State, local and private investment for these freight transport system improvements.

California’s freight system is the most extensive and interconnected freight system in the United States and is composed of several deep water seaports, cargo airports, border crossings, and a vast warehousing and distribution sector, all connected by a network of over 11,000 miles of railroad track and Interstate and state highways. Each component is critical and the system depends on these interconnected facilities working in concert to move freight in and out of California to the rest of the nation and across the globe. California’s freight-dependent industries account for more than $740 billion in revenue and more than 5 million jobs in 2014.

“This is an unprecedented effort to partner with the freight sector to help bolster the competitiveness of California’s freight industry,” said Governor Brown’s senior jobs adviser Mike Rossi. “The freight sector has already invested heavily in modernization and the Action Plan helps advance those efforts while reducing emissions through commercially viable and affordable technologies.”

While freight transport in California is a major economic engine for the state, emissions from ships, harbor craft, trucks, locomotives, cargo equipment, aircraft and other freight participants account for about half of toxic diesel particulate matter (PM 2.5), 45 percent of the emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) that form ozone and fine particulate matter in the atmosphere, and 6 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions in California. Many of these pollutants are emitted in close proximity to communities and pose health risks to nearby residents, highlighting the need for additional steps to protect public health.

“The draft we are releasing today represents an unprecedented collaboration among government agencies, in keeping with the importance of the freight sector to our economy and our environment,” said CARB Chair Mary D. Nichols. “The plan commits to include all stakeholders at every step in the process, from refining goals and selecting pilot projects through implementation into the coming decade. Our challenge is to deliver both public health and economic benefits at our ports, on our highways, and in our communities throughout the state.”

The Draft Action Plan builds on existing State agency strategies, including the California Freight Mobility Plan, Sustainable Freight Pathways to Zero and Near-Zero Emissions Discussion Document and the Integrated Energy Policy Report. Broad stakeholder input provided over the past several months, including 11 workshops across the state, inform this Draft Action Plan.

The Draft Action Plan is available now for stakeholder and public feedback through July 6, 2016. Additionally, agency staff will present it as an informational item at public meetings of the California Freight Advisory Committee, the California Transportation Commission and California Air Resources Board in May.

“The Energy Commission is pleased to work in partnership with our sister agencies and engaged stakeholders across the state to develop this draft action plan,” said Energy Commissioner Janea A. Scott. “Reducing pollution from the freight sector will help California to meet its clean air standards and climate goals.”

The Governor’s Executive Order on Sustainable Freight can be found at:
https://www.gov.ca.gov/news.php?id=19046

The Draft Action Plan is available for public review and comments at: http://www.casustainablefreight.org

The State Agencies are requesting comments by July 6, 2016. Comments can be submitted electronically at: www.casustainablefreight.org

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Committed to Transparency and Better Communication, Caltrans Publishes Newest Edition of Mile Marker Performance Report

SACRAMENTO—As part of an ongoing effort to boost transparency and public communication about its work, Caltrans has published its third issue of The Mile Marker, a periodic and plain-English reporting of where the department is excelling and where it can improve.

“As a government department that touches the lives of nearly everyone in the state every day, it is incumbent on us to provide factual information in a narrative that is easily understandable,” Caltrans Director Malcolm Dougherty wrote in the report’s cover letter.

According to the 2015 first-quarter report, pavement and bridge rehabilitation account for two-thirds of the department’s tremendous maintenance and rehabilitation needs. Pavement rehabilitation accounts for nearly half (46 percent) of the state’s transportation upkeep needs while 18 percent is for bridge reconstruction projects. While the state’s bridges are safe, Caltrans has a $19 billion 10-year unfunded need for bridge work. Recently, CalSTA Secretary Brian Kelly called for renewed commitment to the state’s “fix it first” policy, where transportation funding focuses first on maintaining and preserving California’s existing transportation assets.

The Mile Marker is one of many steps Caltrans’ is taking to improve its transparency and accountability by making the department’s work more accessible and understandable to the public. Caltrans is currently undertaking a massive reform effort, called the Caltrans Improvement Project, through which the department is modernizing and becoming a more efficient, sustainable, transparent and accountable organization. Here are some key achievements that have come from this ongoing reform effort:

• New mission, vision, and goals for the department
• Greater focus on multimodal and sustainable transportation through more and better active transportation options, like walking and biking, through the popular Active Transportation Program
• Improved engineer design flexibility to better accommodate pedestrians and cyclists and support local innovation
• Supporting more sustainable and environmentally friendly low-carbon transit improvements through the Low-Carbon Transit Operations Program
• Better communication and partnerships with local transportation stakeholders, through things like this publication, multiple town hall and public meetings, and periodic Caltrans news flashes

These are just a few highlights of how Caltrans is evolving. Additionally the department is hard at work finalizing its strategic management plan, which will help codify the new direction and purpose of the department.

The Mile Marker is distributed to the Legislature, local government agencies, transportation professionals statewide and around the country, and to the public at large online. Through it the department can better tell its story–the hard work being done to improve the mobility, safety, and sustainability of our transportation system in California.

Copies of this issue of The Mile Marker are available at: http://www.dot.ca.gov/ctjournal/MileMarker/2015-1/index.html

Caltrans also releases 23 statutorily required reports on a periodic basis on subjects including project delivery, finance, fish passage, state rail and highway maintenance. These reports are located at: http://dot.ca.gov/reports-legislature.htm

For more information on the Caltrans Improvement Project, visit: http://www.dot.ca.gov/CIP/

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Caltrans Seeks Public Input on Statewide Long-Range Transportation Plan – Deadline is April 17 for Public Input & Comments

SACRAMENTO – With seven workshops and a webinar slated for March, Caltrans invites the public to help shape the state’s transportation future by offering their input and comments on the California Transportation Plan 2040 (CTP 2040), which lays out a vision for California’s transportation future to support a vibrant economy and our greenhouse gas emission reduction goals.

“We are creating a long-term vision for California’s transportation system, and the public will play a key role in that,” said Caltrans Director Malcolm Dougherty. “We are looking at innovative ways on how to best improve the sustainability of the state’s transportation system through strategies such as more transit service, safer bicycling and walking facilities and reduced congestion through less single occupant vehicle use.”

The CTP 2040 is a statewide policy plan designed to meet California’s future transportation needs and to support achieving a statewide reduction in greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050. It envisions a fully integrated, multimodal and sustainable transportation system.

The interactive workshops will include a short overview presentation, maps and exhibits, and activities to share information about transportation concerns. They will also help shape the final CTP 2040 document, which will help inform how California transportation dollars are invested. Caltrans is also seeking the public’s input to help insure that the CTP 2040 is fully consistent with the department’s mission, vision and goals to reduce single occupant vehicle use, promote active transportation to reduce emissions and improve public health and support the “Complete Streets” principle.

Caltrans has scheduled these events throughout the month for public comment. The public can also review and comment on the plan, in addition to doing so via these events, at www.californiatransportationplan2040.org. The deadline for comments is April 17, 2015.

The CTP 2040 scenarios also support the Governor’s goal to reduce petroleum use in vehicles by up to 50 percent by 2030.

For an opportunity to review and comment on the draft plan, please attend any of these seven public workshops:

• Sacramento: 4-7 p.m., March 10, North Natomas Library, 4660 Via Ingoglia
• Redding: 4-7 p.m., March 12, City of Redding Community Room, 777 Cypress Ave.
• San Diego: 4-7 p.m., March 17, San Diego Valencia Park/Malcolm X Public Library, 5148 Market St.
• Riverside: 4-7 p.m., March 18, Riverside City College, 4800 Magnolia Ave.
• Los Angeles: 4-7 p.m., March 19, Southern California Association of Governments, 818 West 7th St., 12th Floor
• Fresno: 4-7 p.m., March 24, Fresno City College, 1101 East University Ave.
• Oakland: 4-7 p.m., March 26, Joseph P. Bort Metrocenter, 101 Eighth St., Oakland
• Webinar: 2-3 p.m., March 5, visit: www.californiatransportationplan2040.org

The development of the CTP is an open and collaborative planning process that includes governmental agencies, the private sector, advocacy groups, community organizations, and the public. To view the draft plan, informational materials, and to receive more details on the public workshops, please visit: www.californiatransportationplan2040.org

Those unable to attend a meeting in person, can comment via an email to ctp2040@dot.ca.gov or by sending a letter or a completed comment card to: California Department of Transportation, Division of Transportation Planning, Office of State Planning, 1120 N St., MS 32, Sacramento, CA 95814. Comments must be submitted by 5 p.m., April 17.

Providing safe mobility for all users—including pedestrians, transit riders, bicyclists and motorists—supports the mission of Caltrans to “Provide a safe, sustainable, integrated and efficient transportation system to enhance California’s economy and livability.” The CTP 2040 helps support this mission while furthering an ongoing conversation about California’s transportation future. Each year, Caltrans conducts numerous community and public outreach events and workshops to solicit public input and comment, including on efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in transportation. Last year, Caltrans also hosted multiple community meetings across California about how to improve transportation between regions of the state as part of the “Interregional Transportation Strategic Plan.” To keep up on current information about the department, follow Caltrans on Twitter at https://twitter.com/CaltransHQ or visit http://www.dot.ca.gov/.

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Report Highlights Caltrans’ Commitment to Improve Travel for Non-Motorized Users

SACRAMENTO – Caltrans’ jump into the nation’s top ten bicycle-friendly states and the creation of the nation’s largest active transportation program are just a few of achievements highlighted in Caltrans’ annual Non-Motorized Transportation Facilities Report.

The report is an in-depth look at Caltrans’ successes that emphasize the department’s mission to provide a safe, sustainable, integrated and efficient transportation system to enhance California’s economy and livability.

“California has always been a transportation leader, and this report reinforces that hard-earned reputation,” said Caltrans Director Malcolm Dougherty. “Transportation is a vital part of our daily lives, and increasing the diversity of travel options is something the public wants. We are committed to making walking and biking safer.”

The report provides an overview on the state’s Active Transportation Program (ATP), the largest of its kind in the nation. In its first call for projects in May 2014, Caltrans received 771 project applications requesting more than a billion dollars. The California Transportation Commission has adopted the first program of projects for the ATP, which includes 265 projects using $368 million in ATP funds. Of this amount, $311 million is dedicated to 220 projects that benefit disadvantaged communities.

The report also highlights program activities and completed projects, as well as other state and federal partnering programs to establish and improve bicycle and pedestrian facilities. Among the completed projects highlighted in the report is the Oak Manor Trail in the city of Ukiah. The project improved cross-town connection to schools, shopping centers and employments centers. It also gave pedestrians and cyclists a new off-street travel alternative. Southern California saw its first “Bicycle Boulevard” in the city of Pasadena—an area with a high concentration of cyclists. The project improved bicycle safety and advanced the vision of commuting in Pasadena without a car.

“Caltrans’ has historically been known as a highways agency, but we are shifting our focus to creating a California transportation system that links communities and is safe for all travelers, including those who chose to travel by biking and walking,” said Dougherty. “We couldn’t accomplish this without our partners at all levels, from the federal government to grassroots organizations and the public.”

The state’s jump in 2014 from 19th to 9th in the nation in The League of American Bicyclists annual report is due to notable progress in legislation, funding and policy that will make it easier to build bike lanes and mandate drivers to give cyclists three-feet of space when they pass.

Also, as part of its effort to streamline construction of multimodal local streets and roads, in April 2014, Caltrans became the third state to endorse National Association of City Transportation Officials guidelines that include innovations such as buffered bike lanes and improved pedestrian walkways.

Caltrans also released its 2010–12 California Household Travel Survey Final Report that showed residents used walking, biking, transit and other non-motorized sources for 23 percent of trips. That was more than double the amount in the 2000 survey. This underscores the rising demand for non-motorized transportation.

You can read the full report at http://www.dot.ca.gov/docs/Non-Motorized_Transportation_Facilities_Report_FY_2013-14.pdf.

You can read more about The League of American Bicyclists report cards at: http://bikeleague.org/content/report-cards.

A PDF of this release is available here: http://calsta.ca.gov/res/docs/pdfs/2015/Caltrans/CaltransNon-MotorizedUserReport02272015.pdf

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Caltrans Publishes Performance Report

Today Caltrans published the second issue of The Mile Marker: A Caltrans Performance Report, which details the job Caltrans is doing to serve you, the traveling public.

The report is part of Caltrans’ effort to improve the organization’s transparency and accountability by clearly and honestly reporting on its job performance.

The simple and clear indicators at the beginning of the report show that Caltrans has made progress in a couple of key areas, but that there is still a lot of work to modernize the department. This issue in particular focuses on the continuing transformation of the department as it begins to encompass a genuine multimodal approach to transportation planning.

As their release states:

“Caltrans is continually moving forward to be a successful, performance-driven, transparent organization,” said Caltrans Director Malcolm Dougherty. “The Mile Marker is our way of being accountable to the public and stakeholders on how we are doing on critical transportation metrics.”

This issue shows that Caltrans needs to make improvements in certain aspects related to its key performance areas: safety, mobility, sustainability, delivery and maintenance. Caltrans met 5 of its 17 performance targets during this reporting period, up from four during the last reporting period due to an increase in the percentage of Caltrans’ total annual state expenditures going to small businesses. Of the 12 goals not yet met, progress is being made on seven of them.

You can find the entire issue of the Mile Marker in an easy-to-read online format at:

http://www.dot.ca.gov/ctjournal/MileMarker/2014-2/index.html

If you would like to print a copy for yourself, you can find a .pdf of the issue here:

http://www.dot.ca.gov/ctjournal/MileMarker/2014-2/MileMarker_2014v1Iss2print.pdf

C.T.I.P. WORKGROUP RECOMMENDATIONS

AGENCY RELEASES CALIFORNIA TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE PRIORITIES (CTIP) WORKGROUP VISION AND INTERIM RECOMMENDATIONS

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The California State Transportation Agency has released the California Transportation Infrastructure Priorities (CTIP) workgroup vision and interim recommendations document. Last year’s budget directed the new Transportation Agency to work with stakeholders to develop funding priorities and long-term funding options. The workgroup examined the current status of the state’s transportation system and discussed challenges that lie ahead. The interim recommendations offers both a vision for California’s transportation future and a set of immediate action items toward achieving that vision that are centered on the concepts of preservation, innovation, integration, reform and funding. A copy of the report is located here.