Transportation Planning (North & South)

District 6 Planning Programs are assigned to two geographic areas

• North - Fresno, Madera and Tulare Counties
• South - Kern and Kings Counties

This includes, but is not limited to, the major program components of:

Regional Planning

• Overall Work Plan (OWP)
• Regional Transportation Planning (RTP)
• Regional Coordination with Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPO’s) and Local Agencies

The purpose of regional transportation planning is to prepare and provide for the region’s mobility in a fiscally and environmentally responsible manner, consistent with the needs, preferences, and sensibilities of the community.

Regional transportation planning involves a wide range of parties in the development of a shared mobility vision, including improving the transition among modes in the multi-modal transportation system and incorporation of new transportation technologies. District 6 Regional Planners coordinate with the five metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) and a number of local agencies in Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera and Tulare counties.

Regional Transportation Planning is long-range (20+ years), area-wide, developed through formal consultation with Native American Tribal Governments, and the involvement of federal, state, regional, and local agencies, public entities, private and community based organizations, and individuals working together to identify future regional transportation needs and to plan how these needs can and will be met. “Identify future regional transportation needs” may also include programming specific projects both near and long term to address immediate problems.

The core regional transportation planning document is the Overall Work Program (OWP) and its core product is the regional transportation plan (RTP). OWP activities support the RTP and development of the RTP is an OWP activity. The RTP is implemented through the Regional Transportation Improvement Program (RTIP) and the Federal Transportation Improvement Program (FTIP). Development of the RTIP and FTIP are OWP activities.

Tribal Liaison/Coordination

The Native American Liaison Branch (NALB) provides leadership and direction for the Department’s effort to improve the government-to-government relationships with Tribal Governments by serving as a liaison among Caltrans, the 109 Federally-recognized Tribes in California, tribal communities, state, local and regional transportation agencies; and other key stakeholders. NALB facilitates compliance with Departmental policy and federal statutes and regulations requiring that Tribal Governments be involved in transportation planning and programming processes.

The Native American Liaison Branch works with the Caltrans Native American Advisory Committee (NAAC) to improve government-to-government relationships between the Tribes and Caltrans. The NAAC is comprised of tribal representatives from throughout California. The NAAC provides policy advice to the Director about matters of interest or concern to the Tribes and their constituents.

There are eight federally recognized tribal governments and numerous tribal communities (tribes without Federal recognition) within District 6. Both tribal governments and tribal communities are considered under the definition of Environmental Justice. Consultation and coordination with tribal governments and tribal communities is the primary focus in these efforts.

This page has been developed to facilitate communication and exchange of information about transportation projects that may involve tribal governments and communities. Additionally, questions about projects, Tribal Employment Rights Ordinance (TERO), Government-to-Government Memorandums of Understanding (MOU's), and other topics can be directed to the District 6 Tribal Liaison: Contact Lupita Mendoza at (559) 488-4260 or Lupita.Mendoza@dot.ca.gov.

Transit Coordination

• Federal Transit Program
• State Transit Programs

The strategic objective of the Caltrans Mass Transportation program is to reduce single occupancy vehicle (SOV) usage. District 6 Transit Representatives (DTRs) work with transit operators and MPOs by participating in local meetings and facilitating transit strategies for streets, roads and highways in conjunction with promoting enhancement of urban and non-urban transit opportunities. DTRs transmit all pertinent information required to deliver Caltrans Mass Transportation program projects to transit stakeholders.

DTRs are involved in statewide endeavors to encourage and promote the use of public transportation with statewide transit planning and training endeavors. They provide MPOs, cities, counties, and local transit providers with technical support in administering the Transportation Development Act (TDA).

DTRs assist local transit grant recipients and ensure that all State and Federal laws regarding transit funding are met and guidelines followed; review State and Federal grant applications, funding requests for accuracy and assist transit operators with timely submittal; and ensure all grant/project fund reimbursements to recipients are processed in a timely and efficient manner.

Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant Program

Transportation Planning Grant funds are available for planning projects that improve mobility and lead to the planning, programming, and implementation of transportation improvement projects.

Transportation Planning grants are intended to promote a balanced, comprehensive, multi-modal transportation system. The Federal and State goals provide a framework for the grant programs. The results of these grants should ultimately lead to the adoption, initiation, and programming of transportation improvements.

• Strategic Partnerships
• Sustainable Communities

District Planning Grant Coordinators work to ensure that every Caltrans Transportation Planning Grant proposal is coordinated with transportation planning efforts taking place in the region’s MPO. This includes being in accord with the region’s Blueprint Plan and Sustainable Communities Strategies when developed (SB 375). Regional blueprints and sustainable community strategies are tools that help communities reduce greenhouse gases and will assist transportation agencies in creating enduring communities for their residents.

Special Projects

Other transportation planning areas that District Planning staff work on are:

• Bicycle Coordination/Complete Streets
• Air Quality/FTIP Coordination
• Climate Change
• Blueprint Planning
• High Speed Rail

Local Development Review/Intergovernmental Review Coordination (LD/IGR)

Local Development-Intergovernmental Review (LD-IGR) is a mandated ongoing statewide effort focused primarily on avoiding, eliminating, or reducing to insignificance, potential adverse impacts of local development on the transportation system. Caltrans is proud to share our expertise with other jurisdictions and assist them throughout their land use planning and decision-making processes, consistent with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), Streets and Highways Code, and numerous planning and zoning laws that affect our stewardship of the State Highway System. This Program is directed to use ‘best practices’ analysis methodologies that focus on: improving person-capacity of our multi-modal transportation system; efficiently moving goods and services; and accurately describing transportation tradeoffs with other community values. These values include: a sound business economy with housing near employment; a healthy ‘ climate change sensitive’ environment, and equally safe access for both motorized and non-vehicular transportation users.

Planning North Contact

David Padilla
Branch Chief
Senior Transportation Planner
Phone: (559) 905-9371

Planning South Contact

Lorena Mendibles
Branch Chief
Senior Transportation Planner
Phone: (559) 840-6066