Planning, Policy and Program Development

Working with universities, research, and industry partners, the office develops comprehensive research projects and implementable innovations that directly address the needs of programs across Caltrans. We analyze data, produce reports, and develop forward-thinking proposals to advance policy and planning priorities. Our team collectively manages more than $10 million of work annually that influences Caltrans and State policies and programs.

Innovation Branch

Our team cultivates an innovative culture across Caltrans by providing technical resources staff and engaging leaders to take informed risks to improve what we do and how we do it.

• Executive Support 
  Lead the Innovation Leadership Council (ILC), a Caltrans chartered committee that governs innovation across the Department.
  
  
• Develop Staff Resources
  Create tailored materials such as trainings and decision support tools to staff at all levels.
  
  
• Vendor Engagement
  Work with the vendor community to ensure Caltrans has the resources it needs to achieve its goals.

Planning and Policy Research Branch

We provide support for developing key policy decisions by addressing critical transportation issues and forming a better understanding of travel behavior and the relationship between transportation and land use.

• New and Improved Products and Services
  Champion new and improved products and services to be used in the planning and policy areas of transportation research.

• Planning and Policy Research
  Conduct innovative research, develop practical applications, introduce deployable products, and facilitate the transfer of technology for planning and policy research.

• Preliminary Investigations and Policy Briefs
  Partner with our internal and external customers and stakeholders to deliver high quality transportation research preliminary investigations, policy briefs, and projects.

Research Program Development Branch

Our team coordinates the research selection process. We work with DRISI, the Research and Deployment Advisory Committee (RDAC), the Program Steering Committees (PSCs) and Technical Advisory Panels (TAPs) to evaluate, prioritize and select new research. We also advertise the Call for Submissions (CFS) as a service to DRISI Project Managers in soliciting research proposals from academic institutions. The branch is also responsible for coordinating the Preliminary Investigation process.

• Research Selection
  Support DRISI, RDAC, the PSCs and TAPs in selecting new research.

• Call For Submissions (CFS)
  Develop and advertise the CFS to public entities, and provide resultant research proposals to the DRISI Project Managers.

• Preliminary Investigations
  Coordinate the Preliminary Investigation process with DRISI, PSCs and consultant.