Good morning. All we're going to get started.
First, let's go to instructions and vocal.
Good morning chair, no real call today. Welcome to the draft 2026 in the regional transportation improvement program, North hearing.
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Thank you chair. Thank you. Thank you and get money everyone attaining the second hearing
on the draft 2026 inter-regional transportation improvement program also known as the itip
Government Code Section 14 526 requires the California Transportation Commission to hold
at least two hearings on the draft ITIP proposed by Caltrans. Today's hearing is the northern
hearing and the southern hearing was held in Orange, California on October 30th. The ITIP
is a critical component of the state transportation improvement program, also known as the STIP.
The provides funding for state highway improvements, interregional public interest city passenger rail projects improvements and projects that improve the interregional movement of people vehicles and goods.
Caltrans released the draft it up on October 24th, 25.
The commotion looks forward to hearing from today from Caltrans today.
about how the projects in the draft ITIP
will advance the state's goals
for safety, equity, climate, and economic prosperity.
We recognize that California's regions
have unique needs and priorities,
and the projects proposed in the ITIP
will reflect those different priorities across the state.
While statutory limited, the ITIP is a multimodal program
that can offer different solutions
to meet those who have diverse needs.
Today's hearing is informational only and no action will be taken. After the ITIP hearings
have concluded Caltrans will review all comments and take them into consideration when developing
the draft from the final 2026 ITIP. We will hear from our team in the next agenda item,
the timeline for the adoption of the ITIP. We'll first like to turn to Plo G for opening comments.
Hi, I just wanted to thank everyone for attending today's hearing also wanted to acknowledge our team for putting together this hearing feel our administration team Doug remedios, Justin Hall.
And on the program side, Lori waters, and Casey more areas, as well as our partners, that comes James Anderson and his team at financial programming. Thank you all.
Thank you Paul and before I move forward, I just wanted to acknowledge the commissioners online in the arena today. We have past chair call Cardino. Thank you for coming. And we have Commissioner Bob Tiffany. Nice seeing you on screen. Good morning Bob.
So next we're going to go to Casey for tab two.
Okay, good morning.
This case is located as a member of the Program Manager on the State Transportation Improvement Program, also known as the STIP.
The STIP is a five-year program of capital improvements that fund highway, transit, local road, and active transportation type projects.
The statute requires that the STIP be adopted by Illinois, each even member of the year, no longer than April 1st.
The STIP is made up of two programs, the Regional Improvement Program, which receives 75 percent
of STIP funds, and the Regional Improvement Program, which receives 25 percent of STIP
funds.
This hand is specific to the Draft and Regional Transportation Improvement Program, also known
as the ITIP, which is developed by Caltrans.
The ITIP is made up of projects that are programmed in the STIP's Interregional Improvement Program.
It requires that the ITIP funds be distributed as follows.
60% of the individual funds must be directed
with outside urbanized areas on the original board systems,
with a minimum of 15% for intercity rail projects.
Many people, 40% of the individual funds
may go anywhere in the state
and must improve the individual movement of people and goods.
audit is required to develop the ITIP
in consultation with transportation planning agencies,
county transportation commissions and transportation authorities.
Caltrans is also required to submit the draft ITIP to the California
transportation commission by October 15th of each odd numbered year.
By November 15th of each odd numbered year, the commission is required to hold
at least two public hearings, one in the north and one in the south.
The draft 2026 ITIP is available to the public and can be found on
Caltrans and the commission's website.
Today is the final of two required I-TIP hearings.
The Southern Hearing was held last week
on Thursday, October 30th in city of Orange.
The agenda for each I-TIP hearing is available
on the Commission's website under Meetings.
Following the Northern and Southern Hearings,
Catron staff will prepare the final I-TIP.
The final I-TIP shall include a summary
of the major comments received at the hearings
and responses to those comments.
Staff encourages Catron to consider the input received
that both hearings as the ITIP is finalized.
Catron's final ITIP in the region's
regional transportation improvement programs,
also known as R-TIPS,
are due to the commission by December 15th this year.
As R-TIPS and the ITIP are received,
staff will compile all of their proposals
into one document that will be presented
at the November and 7th STIP hearings
on Wednesday, January 28th and Thursday,
February 5th, August 26th.
Staff will publish recommendations for the 2026 STIP
on Friday, February 27th, 2026.
The commission will adopt the step
at the March 26th commission meeting
just a few days before the required adoption
day of April 1st.
The 2026 step guidelines were adopted by the commission
at the August 25th commission meeting.
The guidelines set the policy standards, criteria,
and procedures for the development, adoption,
and management of the 2026 step.
Also in August, the commission adopted the 2026 step
investment identifying 952 million of new capacity for the 26-step period.
Including 360 million in public transportation account funds,
which is the primary source for well-in-transit projects.
The 2026-step fund estimate indicates a limited amount of capacity in the first three years of
the STIP due to existing programming commitments.
I already will be given to projects experiencing cost increases
new phases that are being added to existing projects and projects that have SB1 and ATP
funding commitments. The formula distribution for the inter-regional program was approximately
$187 million. However, due to previous advances of $79 million in the project total of $62 million,
the only variable for new programming is approximately $170 million.
The STIP guidelines identify the interregional program that works towards achieving the firing
objectives. Provide access for people and goods to and through all regions of California.
Ensure that the interregional transportation system is reliable and efficient on the movement
of people, goods, services, and emergency response. Develop and operate a safe
interregional transportation system for all travelers by improving public safety and security.
Optimize multi-million connectivity throughout the inter-regional transportation system for our people.
Improve inter-regional connectivity to enhance California's diverse economy.
Improve and manage California's inter-regional transportation system in an environmentally
sensitive, economical, and equitable manner that demonstrates livable and healthy communities
and promotes social equity.
One of the projects proposed for funding in the inter-regional program
We must meet the objectives, as I just specified.
We must be consistent with the original transportation
strategic plan, also known as the ITSP.
Have a project initiation document,
also known as a PED or an OIP equivalent.
And must have a project study report,
also known as a PSR equivalent.
As Connections prepares the final ITEP,
we expect the project submitted for funding
to fully meet these requirements.
And concludes my comments.
Thank you. Thank you Casey for that walkthrough. Next I'm going to turn to our friend from Caltrans James Anderson. Thank you for coming today and looking forward to your presentation.
I apologize for that. Good morning Chair Grisby, commissioners, commission staff and all others in attendance virtually.
and physically. My name is James Anderson and I work for the California Department of Transportation
and I am pleased to present the 2026 draft interregional transportation improvement program
also referred to as the ITIP. Next slide please. The 2026 ITIP aims for consistency
and alignment with statewide plans specifically the California Transportation Plan 2050,
The Climate Action Plan for Transportation Infrastructure,
also referred to as CAPTI,
and the Inter-Regional Transportation Strategic Plan,
also referred to as ITSP,
with a focus on climate equity and accessibility.
The objectives of the ITSP
are focused on inter-regional travel.
The ITSP provides the framework
for the investment of inter-regional funds,
as well as other funds to help ensure we're funding the highest priority
corridors to enhance the mobility and people of goods and connecting the
regions throughout the state.
The 2021 ITSP is the most recent version of this document.
And as I alluded to earlier, it really focuses on accessibility, climate,
and accessibility. The proposed projects in the draft
2026 ITIP are consistent with CAPTI and as required by statute,
the ITSP. Next slide, please. So, with the limited funding available for the
2026 ITIP, funding for this cycle is prioritized on cost updates for ongoing projects. Funding
needs to complete project phases, subsequent phases, were requested ITIP funding amount,
the amount needed for future phasers
or to help update cost estimates.
The evaluation criteria for ITIP projects,
including alignment with CAPTI and the ITSP.
And last but not least,
establish the form work for the ITSP and CAPTI,
that framework and consistency with it
and ensuring that we're selecting the best projects
to help advance the state's transportation goals and policies.
Next slide, please.
The proposed 2026 ITIP has 176.6 million in capacity.
That was afforded from the 2026 ITIP fund estimate.
And of that 176.6 million, about 61.2 million
is available for programming new ITIP projects.
And again, just to reiterate, this is very important,
the available funding capacity in the ITIP
was to carry over projects
and projects that had cost updates
to already programmed phases.
Next slide, please.
So this slide provides a statewide perspective
of the overall inter-regional highway
existing only proposed projects.
Projects in their locations
are in one of the 10 high priority corridors.
Active transportation projects in the ITIP
enhance safety and connectivity,
particularly for vulnerable users
and disadvantaged communities
and support broader climate and sustainability roles.
At the active transportation project,
will encourage walking, bicycling, and transit on streets that support disadvantaged communities.
In addition, this project will separate vehicles traveling inter-regionally
from local active transportation trips and provide safety benefits for all users
of the state highway system. Next slide, please. This slide provides a statewide perspective
of the overall intercity passenger rail program. Existing in newly proposed projects and their
location in one of the nine intercity passenger rail corridors. Rail investments improve passenger
and freight movement enable mode shift, decrease congestion, and support reliability and safety.
The important takeaway here is some corridors are prioritized more than others and some have
corridors have more projects than others and of course this is based on statewide needs.
Those projects provide the necessary capacity and the liability for a most shift of passenger vehicles and goods to rail and this will alleviate congestion and enhance safety on the state highway system.
Lastly, facilitating most shifts is expected to improve travel time reliability, travel trip reliability, I should say, on the state highway system.
And again, not all quarters have projects and some quarters may have more than one project. Next slide please.
All right, as this table shows, there are 19 caregiver projects from the 2024. I took it's important to point out that these projects, the capacity for these projects does not count against the cycles available new programming capacity as their programming capacity is carried over from previous cycles.
Next slide, please.
As this table shows,
of the care of our projects,
require 115.4 million in cost updates
for either cost refinements
or to fund next project phases.
The key takeaway from this slide
is that the 115.4 million is for projects
that either require cost updates
or have funding needs for next phases.
Next slide, please.
Caltrans is also pleased to point out that in the 2024 I-TIP,
an 87.5 million was set aside for future rail projects.
Caltrans is pleased to report that we've actually
programmed two rail projects,
even though they're not new projects per se,
that were set aside from the 2024 I-TIP rail reserve.
So that rail reserve is set aside 87.5 C million
for future rail investments.
Two rail projects are now fully programmed
for 89.1 C million in the 2026 ITIP.
And that represents a 1.6 million net increase
due to refined costs.
So the new total represents, yeah, 1.6 million
over the increased 2024 ITIP rail reserve amount.
And again, that over-programming shows Caltrans and the administration's commitment to funding
rail projects and other sustainable solutions consistent with Capitai and the ITSP.
With this adjustment, the 2000 and with this action, I should say, Caltrans has fully programmed
the rail reserve established in the prior ITIP strengthening the state's investment in sustainability
and reliability passenger rail infrastructure.
Next slide, please.
And even though this table shows there are six projects
proposed in this ITIP cycle, five of them are new projects.
The last project shows the previously seen-mentioned
1.6 million cost update on the project in the 2024 ITIP
rail reserve.
So of the five new projects we have in the draft ITIP,
We have one active transportation project.
We have one highway project, one mass transit project.
And we have two passenger rail projects.
And again, funding for the proposed new ITIP projects
was about 61.1 million, just over 61 to 2 million.
These projects reflect the priorities described
in the 2021 ITSP.
And it also helps us implement CAPTI
and work towards our climate, health and equity goals.
With the programming of these five projects,
over 87% of the 2026 ITIP investments support rail
and active transportation projects.
If anyone is interested in how the new projects were scored,
using the ITIP evaluation criteria,
the total scores for the new projects will be posted
on the same website as the draft 2009 TIP document
once the final document is released and approved.
Next slide, please.
So thank you for allowing me to present the 2026 draft
I took to you for more review and reference.
The public comment is open until November the 24th.
Please submit written comments by email
to lzip.dlt.co.grv.
that's DoCIP, that's Oscar, Charles, Impact,
and Papa at dot, dad, OscarTracy.ca.gov.
And thank you.
That concludes my presentation.
Back to you Chair Grisby.
Thank you.
Thank you so much for the presentation, James.
We're gonna move on to public comment now.
Item four.
Is there any public comment?
Yes, thank you, Chair.
have it request a comment. I'd first like to call Troy McNair.
Thank you, Chair Gersby, commissioners, staff. Thank you for having this hearing. My name
is Troy McNair, Deputy Director for the Madera County Transportation Commission. I'm here
to express strong support for the programming of state route 99 improvements in Madera and
Tulare counties in the 2026 draft ITIP, including the state route 99 North and South Madera
six-lane widening. The state route 99 corridor and Page Avenue multi-mobile interchange enhancements
in Tulare County and the Madera high-speed rail station. State route 99 is the backbone of Madera
County and the San Joaquin Valley, one of California's most critical north-south corridors
for goods movement, connecting agriculture, industry, and communities to statewide and national
markets. Continuing investment is essential to ensure mobility, safety, and economic competitiveness
for both the valley and the state. We must finish the 99. The San Joaquin Valley produces nearly 70%
of California's agricultural output and State Route 99 is the lifeline for moving those goods
from farm to market. These program projects are identified as priorities in the San Joaquin
Valley Goods Movement Plan and the State Route 99 Business Plan and they advance statewide goals
for safety, freight efficiency, multimodal access, and climate-friendly transportation.
Madera and Tulare counties are among the most disadvantaged regions in California.
Investing here supports equity, access, and opportunity for underserved communities
while building on strong local commitments and regional investments already underway.
We respectfully urge Caltrans to include these projects
in the final 2026 out-tip submitted to this commission.
continued progress on State Route 99 and interregional rail is essential to supporting the
Valley's communities, economy, and quality of life and to building a more connected,
resilient California. Thank you for your partnership and continued investment in the State Route 99
corridor and for your leadership in advancing transportation solutions for all Californians.
Thank you. Thanks for your call, Anderson. Is it live? All right, thank you, Justin. All right,
Thank you, Chair Grisby and commissioners on Carl Anderson with the Metropolitan Transportation
Commission. I'd like to start by thanking CTC staff and Caltrans staff for today's presentations
as well as all of Caltrans staff for their work developing the draft ITIP. I also want to thank
Solano Transportation Authority for hosting today's meeting. MTC does not have any specific
comments on any of the newly proposed projects in the draft ITIP. Rather, we are supportive of the
overall suite of projects that advance regional priorities across the larger Northern California
mega region. While there are no newly proposed Bay Area projects in the draft ITIP, MTC remains
committed to working closely with Caltrans to identify future funding opportunities. Specifically,
we'd like to continue to support ITIP funding for important inter-regional corridors including
U.S. 101, State Route 25, State Route 2152 in Santa Clara County, and right here in Solano County
for the State Route 37 corridor supporting inter-regional travel and freight through
Napa, Sonoma, and Merritt Counties. Finally, MTC is eager to continue our work with our local
agencies to successfully deliver the currently programmed ITIP projects slated for allocation
later this year. That's it for my public comment. I just want to thank you all.
And that includes all requests for comment we have at this time.
Thank you, I appreciate that.
Thank you for all those who commented.
And I guess we're adjourned.
Thank you.