Caltrans Director Malcolm Dougherty gave a departmental update that covered freight planning, complete-streets actions, personnel changes, and emergency storm damage.

Freight and planning

Dougherty said Caltrans has completed the California Freight Mobility Plan as required by MAP-21 and AB 14 and is coordinating its development with the Air Resources Board on a sustainable freight strategy so the documents are consistent. He asked commissioners to request hard copies of the freight plan if they wish.

Complete Streets and implementation actions

Caltrans circulated version 2 of its Complete Streets implementation action plan (released in February) that adds 109 action items the department will pursue, including a state bicycle and pedestrian plan, new performance measures and manuals updates, district-level partnerships and training for staff and external partners.

Winter storms, emergency funding and delivery

Dougherty reported heavy rain and storm impacts to the highway system in about 20 counties with significant damage in Marin and Ventura counties. Caltrans estimated permanent repair costs in the neighborhood of $60 million. Federal Highway Administration staff present at the meeting said FHWA provided quick-release emergency relief funding of $2 million and that California expects reimbursement for emergency work with a federal cost-share for permanent restoration work (FHWA quick-relief and emergency relief programs were discussed).

Personnel and other notes

Dougherty listed personnel shifts, including filling interim and acting roles in the construction division and the transportation program division; he said Caltrans had borrowed staff to backfill while recruitment continues.

Road-user charge and related activity

Dougherty and Caltrans noted that the first technical advisory committee meeting on the road-user charge pilot is scheduled for the following day. Caltrans staff will both support and later implement the pilot following the TACs recommendations.

Why this matters: the freight plan and Complete Streets actions guide program priorities and project selection; the storm damage and emergency funding update affects short-term capital priorities and demonstrates federal-state coordination for disaster relief.

Ending

Caltrans will provide the freight plan and Complete Streets materials to commissioners and will return with additional briefings and updates at future meetings.