[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6317395,"mediaKeyId","2373987-6f59413ed3e6a0b3f72a0898455ac341","parentId",2373987,"title","Votes at a glance: California Transportation Commission approves CEQA guidance comment, HOV EIR, ATP items and multiple allocations","audioSeconds",1889,"startMs",59000,"endMs",1948000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2373987-6f59413ed3e6a0b3f72a0898455ac341&start=59&end=1948","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2373987-6f59413ed3e6a0b3f72a0898455ac341/thumbnail_59000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6317395/California/Votes-at-a-glance-California-Transportation-Commission-approves-CEQA-guidance-comment-HOV-EIR-ATP-items-and-multiple-allocations","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6317395-9f55b5e79863c1a372324eb3b080569c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771146740&Signature=XiygT0pkDhFhcj2ezDOyIjU2Mf0AhRV1WSD6RApqFNGroXuHlYuHGcPjSq4uxCG2svP1H6Au6M~PDPinIt4kYRaja78hxu5UQIiMvHau~FnF6RJ7EDJnYmpp8~BRvesvH8A7VtYizaNL7dgGsDP4URGF4-okI1pITUaXbiz1MKCeT6-r9tTOYA3B9~aKBcEuosK~m4yuJQIcFRMBVbeoVw0sswVxS7YkvSC3lEWcHP4MJ2NS~56mDeRwnKjcTOfC-VvhYkC3CvZlkrAqutAgj4pIwfAqjrKnGeaTvJsXnBJyDyn1h75636nG9SzLUY5lQwateUrjiIf3x5OkzRdY7w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","California Transportation Commission","date","2025-02-22T00:20:28Z","article","The California Transportation Commission during an unspecified meeting took a series of unanimous actions across policy, project environmental review and multiple funding allocations.

Key votes and outcomes (motions passed unanimously unless noted):

- CEQA guidance (SB 743) comment letter: Under agenda item 18 the commission directed staff to transmit a comment letter to the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research recommending continued collaboration with regional transportation agencies on the preliminary discussion draft of CEQA guidelines implementing SB 743. Motion moved by Vice Chair Dunne and seconded by Commissioner Tablioni; the motion passed unanimously.

- Road Usage Charge Technical Advisory Committee appointments (SB 1077): The commission approved staff’s recommended appointments to the 15‑member advisory committee with the understanding two seats would be finalized in January. (See separate article for full roster.)

- Willits Bypass baseline/allocations: The commission approved a $64,700,000 supplemental allocation for the Willits Bypass (item 21) after an informational update under item 20 and agreed to form a small commissioner committee to work with Caltrans on project delivery issues. (Separate article covers the debate and tribal comments.)

- South Coast US‑101 HOV lanes (Santa Barbara County): Under item 22 the commission accepted the final EIR, the related statement of overriding considerations for significant unavoidable visual impacts, and approved the project for future consideration of funding. Staff noted litigation had been filed against the EIR but said no stay/injunction had been issued at the time of the meeting. Motion moved by Commissioner Fromer and seconded by Commissioner Assemi.

- Active Transportation Program (SANDAG): Item 60 — the commission adopted the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) MPO component of the 2014 Active Transportation Program (ATP), allocating $13,410,000 to active‑transportation projects as submitted by SANDAG; the action completed adoption of the 2014 ATP statewide program.

- ATP technical adjustments: Item 61 approved technical adjustments to programming for eight counties under the 2014 ATP as described in the replacement pink book item; staff had authority under the adopted resolutions to make technical changes with substantive items returned to the commission.

- Trade Corridors Improvement Fund (TCIF) amendment: Item 62 amended two projects into the TCIF program (Southern California Rail Authority and Route 99 in San Joaquin County); staff recommended approval.

- Baseline agreement and STIP/STIP allocations: Items 63, 66, 67 and 69 included baseline agreements and State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) allocations for state‑administered and locally administered projects; staff recommended approval and the commission approved the items.

- Multiple financial allocations and programmatic awards: The commission approved monthly SHOPP allocations (item 65), an allocation for an emergency coastal repair project on Pacific Coast Highway that increased from the programmed amount to roughly $6.65 million (item 70), a $108 million allocation from the Prop 1B Intercity Rail program for additional railcars and onboard systems (item 73), and other aeronautics, rail and bridge program allocations cited in items 71–79 as presented by staff.

- Time extensions and administrative items: Items 78–80 and several STIP and ATP administrative adjustments and time‑extension requests were approved as noted in the agenda and staff pink sheets; one STIP amendment (item 68) had been withdrawn by the agency.

Where available, meeting presenters identified movers and seconders for motions; the transcript records the motions and that nearly all recorded actions passed with unanimous voice votes. Detailed outcome and implementation notes for items that involve multi‑year programs or subsequent allocations (for example, Willits Bypass supplemental mitigation, TCIF projects, and projects associated with the ATP) will require follow‑up reports and refined budget numbers, which staff indicated they will bring back to the commission as required.

Ending: The commission closed the meeting after other matters and public comment and recessed pending future agenda items and the January meeting for outstanding appointments and follow‑up items.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","December 10, 2014 California Transportation Commission Meeting Part 2","oneSentenceSummary","The California Transportation Commission unanimously approved a package of policy and funding actions including sending comments on CEQA guidance implementing SB 743, accepting the South Coast US‑101 HOV final EIR for future funding consideration, adopting SANDAG’s ATP program component, and multiple project allocations.","taxTitle","Transportation Commission, Agencies under Office of the Governor, Executive, California","taxId",70065,"location","California","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6317401,"Commission appoints members to Road Usage Charge Technical Advisory Committee under SB 1077",372,149000,521000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2373987-6f59413ed3e6a0b3f72a0898455ac341&start=149&end=521","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2373987-6f59413ed3e6a0b3f72a0898455ac341/thumbnail_149000.jpg","/articles/6317401/California/Commission-appoints-members-to-Road-Usage-Charge-Technical-Advisory-Committee-under-SB-1077","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6317401-a581c694fb269a51dae3db696da96d13/orig.mp4?Expires=1771146740&Signature=op1V~7V5xr1uXeMX1lqcNvFmr9qBYkt2cuzk2a6mdDcQCRJWRlk-cC49Pfszh6avwDXZe7p8dqxIy~DNED4pEgffa9swDlE6wcHrwu5YOAu5NC31T6mdEQWpXWLyfqtN5Eqse3sfEqabAjx6ADxsGNsyqAokLp09rB3NfF3mXmFTM2UsyZMaoeLp55R9m1JJPCj~Cp4gv-he-H8PZOsFQGi3CIw8ihHiS0idMRE7dWMLhcT-Iqa1dLxsXrccTAUBKGwx2pD8GNfC3-szjFC5zYO8MN5UyW-CzuOU--w7Ug8bdxbfpEJDzeDSDQRUYjbkUdLuPwwuiOGICzZQr~1ntg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The California Transportation Commission approved appointments to a 15‑member California Road Usage Charge Technical Advisory Committee, created by Senate Bill 1077 to study alternatives to the gasoline excise tax and advise the California Transportation Agency on pilot design and evaluation.

Commission staff presented the proposed roster under agenda item 19 and recommended that the commission appoint the individuals listed in attachment 1 of the meeting materials. Commissioner Arp moved the staff recommendation; Commissioner Tablioni seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

Staff said SB 1077 requires the committee to include representatives from telecommunications, highway user groups, data security and privacy, privacy‑rights advocacy, regional transportation agencies, national research bodies, legislative appointees, and other stakeholders as identified by the commission chair. Using those categorical directions, staff consulted with legislative offices, Caltrans and regional agencies and contacted individual nominees. Staff reported that, as of the meeting, 13 of the 15 members had confirmed participation and that the two outstanding appointments (the Electronic Frontier Foundation representative and the Assembly Speaker appointee) were expected to be formalized at the commission’s January meeting.

The commission’s confirmed appointees in the published roster included:

- Commissioner Jim Madaffer as the chair’s appointee representing telecommunications;
- James Meissner (Intelligent Transportation Society of California) for data security and privacy;
- Gautam Hans (Center for Democracy and Technology) for privacy rights advocacy;
- Supervisor David Finnegan (Del Norte County) and Supervisor Scott Hagerty (Alameda County) as regional transportation representatives;
- Mayor Robert Poitras (Madera) and Mayor Pam O’Connor (Santa Monica) as local government representatives;
- Senate Pro Tem appointee Senator Jim Bell (San Jose) as one legislative designee;
- Highway user representatives Steven Finnegan (Automobile Club of Southern California) and Eric Sauer (California Trucking Association);
- Professor Martin Wex (UCLA) for national research and policy;
- Lauren Kaye (Foundation for Commerce and Education) for business; and
- Richard Marcantonio (Public Advocates) as the social equity representative (Richard Marcantonio’s acceptance was confirmed after the book item was produced).

Staff emphasized that the statute limits the committee to 15 members and requires broad consultation with highway users and other transportation stakeholders; the committee will run an open public process to inform pilot design and implementation. Staff recommended, and the commission approved, the appointments with the understanding that the two pending seats will be presented for formal approval in January.

A member of the public, Christopher Lee with the California State Association of Counties, spoke in support of the staff recommendation and thanked the commission for the broad rural and regional representation proposed for the committee.

Ending: The committee will study road‑usage charge alternatives, gather public comment and produce recommendations to guide the State’s pilot program design and reporting as laid out in SB 1077.","The California Transportation Commission appointed members to a 15‑member Road Usage Charge Technical Advisory Committee created by Senate Bill 1077 to study alternatives to the gas tax and advise the California Transportation Agency on pilot design.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6317405,"Transportation Commission approves $64.7 million for Willits Bypass after tribal objections over cultural findings",1190,562000,1752000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2373987-6f59413ed3e6a0b3f72a0898455ac341&start=562&end=1752","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2373987-6f59413ed3e6a0b3f72a0898455ac341/thumbnail_562000.jpg","/articles/6317405/California/Transportation-Commission-approves-647-million-for-Willits-Bypass-after-tribal-objections-over-cultural-findings","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6317405-4a19ea625d685dd0aaa9fb782f5365d7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771146740&Signature=R9RaAhGeFPTDzuRcDLl0QpphOWVLBG4pE75PzfrGzsNOdTOXosvWAbkWc9jaLKXf9jDIhRO5HB4Qp2H2HvSWDaaKQakiLCduxmJ6L2BsC6KuamzKhz1IvRKoztjIeq3U5ot6~JSM3lTd9zCV2NzNaLw7~iXR6xtGZ-PJnogiyoKOIbYEvYNMkZN93JN0Ym-nvBEMw1Zs9WJpeWgDzv6lI~nBROff7~pkfLQ7BdV5Cihn4XQma6ovBPckfaodudPDtVMx-cITT9JEdGWOxmWHHexPR9V1TeyjJr8h1N3kofkwPrJYD5oAsw~TQLkBG9Y1SQ4bicXmRMQzx8Doq6~NkQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The California Transportation Commission on an unspecified meeting date approved a $64,700,000 supplemental allocation to complete the Willits Bypass, a roughly 5.9-mile highway project near Willits in central Mendocino County that Caltrans says is about 55% complete and two years behind schedule.

The allocation, presented under agenda item 21 after an informational update under item 20, passed unanimously after commissioners debated cost increases, traffic-safety design choices and Caltrans’ handling of cultural-resource issues. Commissioner Arp moved the staff recommendation; Commissioner Tablioni seconded, and the measure passed without recorded opposition.

The vote follows a lengthy Caltrans presentation on project delays and a level‑3 quantitative risk assessment supporting the supplemental request. Charlie Fielder, Caltrans District 1 director for the North Coast, said the project has experienced multiple issues that increased costs and required rebaselining, and that Caltrans will continue risk‑management work and mitigation planning. Rich Foley, a Caltrans risk‑management specialist, described a facilitated level‑3 assessment that quantified the probability and cost impact of identified risks and produced the risk curve underpinning the funding ask.

The Sherwood Valley Band of Pomo raised substantive concerns during public comment. Lee Closs, identified as representing the Sherwood Valley Band of Pomo tribal council and the tribe’s “bridal council,” told the commission the tribe is a recognized consulting party under the National Historic Preservation Act and said Caltrans’ briefing materials mischaracterized archaeological findings. “There have been no burial sites found on the Willits Bypass project,” Closs said. Closs added that Caltrans’ earlier approach to cultural resources had been “pathological noncompliance” and accused the agency of “recalcitrance, concealment, and contrary attitude toward tribal concerns.” The tribe asked the commission, should it fund the request, to direct Caltrans to obligate at least 1% of the supplemental allocation to Section 106 compliance and to fund tribal monitoring and mitigation under a programmatic agreement.

Caltrans officials responded that the department understands there have been no human remains recovered within the project limits and that the phrasing in the book item was not intended to inflate archaeological significance. A Caltrans representative told the commission the agency is meeting regularly with the tribe, will continue tribal monitoring on the contract, and is negotiating a programmatic agreement with the Sherwood Valley Band of Pomo to address impacts associated with the northern interchange.

Commissioners also discussed design and safety tradeoffs. Commissioner Arp questioned whether an interchange could be replaced with a roundabout to reduce wetland impacts and cost; Caltrans said a multi‑lane roundabout raised safety concerns on U.S. 101 and that most of the northern interchange footprint has already been impacted, so elimination would yield minimal savings. Commissioners pressed Caltrans on the 50% confidence level attached to the requested figure, and Caltrans officials said a higher confidence level would require a larger allocation and that the department would use mitigation strategies identified in the risk plan to better manage cost exposure.

The commission also approved formation of a small commissioner committee to work with Caltrans on project delivery and cost‑overrun issues. Commissioner Madaffer moved and Commissioner Tablioni seconded a motion to form a committee consisting of Commissioners Alvarado, Gilmetti, Madaffer and Usimme; the motion passed unanimously after a failed amendment to exclude Commissioner Arp. The commission chair said the committee will work with Caltrans on delivery challenges prior to full‑commission consideration.

Clarifying details discussed during the item include: the project length (about 5.9 miles), status (about 55% complete), an approximate two‑year schedule delay, an increase request of $64,700,000, a level‑3 quantitative risk assessment with a stated 50% confidence level in the rebaselined estimate, and the tribe’s statement that the project currently involves 31 archaeological sites that require work. Caltrans said mitigation work on fish passage and wetlands (including a permit modification requiring mitigation on two forks of Bridal Creek) contributed to cost increases, and indicated an additional mitigation allocation request will likely come back to the commission in mid‑year when numbers are refined.

What the commission approved were project‑level funding and the creation of a commissioner–level delivery committee; the commission does not direct Caltrans to allocate funds to specific line items or to obligate a defined percentage to tribal monitoring. As Vice Chair Dunne noted during the discussion, the commission’s authority is to allocate funds to the project; the department determines discrete expenditures within the project budget.

The commission’s action restarts the project baseline with the supplemental allocation and ongoing Caltrans commitments to tribal consultation, monitoring, and a programmatic agreement to address cultural‑resource mitigation.

Ending: Caltrans said it will return with more detailed mitigation cost estimates and that the newly formed commissioner committee will work with the department to improve project delivery and risk management going forward.","The California Transportation Commission on an unspecified meeting date approved a $64,700,000 supplemental allocation to complete the Willits Bypass in Mendocino County, following debate over cost increases and tribal objections about Caltrans’ handling of cultural resources.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: California Transportation Commission approves CEQA guidance comment, HOV EIR, ATP items and multiple allocations

Commission appoints members to Road Usage Charge Technical Advisory Committee under SB 1077

Transportation Commission approves $64.7 million for Willits Bypass after tribal objections over cultural findings