Caltrans Reconnecting Communities Program

Overview

Caltrans' Reconnecting Communities Program was originally founded on the principal of mitigating the past harms caused when highway facilities were historically routed through certain communities, often those of color and/or less affluence. While funding priorities have changed at the federal level, Caltrans and the State of California remain committed to alleviating the damages caused by decisions made decades ago.

Caltrans is also looking at other ways communities have been separated and divided by transportation infrastructure and past choices while being mindful of the program’s historic mission. Moving forward, all new Reconnecting Communities projects will center on equitable community engagement and relationship building. This is to facilitate a way for affected communities to express how they are burdened by the placement of transportation infrastructure in their communities and/or transportation policies, identify their need for reconnection and improved access, and to work with Caltrans staff to develop transformational strategies and connectivity solutions.

While the Caltrans Reconnecting Communities Program continues to focus on healing communities divided by past highway placement, we are also taking a more holistic approach in looking at all transportation barriers, including but not limited to the following:

• Tribal nations and other tribal lands divided by the routing of state highways through their sovereign lands and other lands of significant cultural importance.
• Conversely, tribal nations and other rural communities disconnected by the lack of transportation facilities, where the lack of such often small facilities cause significant hardships in transportation trip times and expenses.
• Communities divided by the presence of rail and other train infrastructure without regular, well-placed official crossings for all modes.
• Urban and suburban communities built around limited access freeways after the construction of the freeway. These car-centric communities, built from the 1960’s to the present day, often give little consideration to the needs of those not traveling in an automobile. In many of these communities crossing of the freeway is only possible at high traffic-stress arterial interchanges. Often, even these limited arterial crossing can be miles apart, effectively creating an impermeable barrier for those traveling without a car.
• Communities separated by the discontinuation of historic regular passenger rail or other transit services, particularly those that still have active freight rail service and a market demand.
• Communities with underutilized or under performing freeways that have questionable utility, where a surface highway or boulevard may be much more cost effective and/or lead to community revitalization.

Background

In 2021, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) established the Federal Reconnecting Communities Pilot (RCP) grant program, a $1 billion discretionary grant program to reconnect communities divided by transportation infrastructure. In 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) established the $3.2 billion Neighborhood Access and Equity Grant (NAE) Program to provide funds for projects that improve walkability, safety, and affordable transportation access and address existing transportation facilities that create barriers to community connectivity in disadvantaged or undeserved communities. While federal funds for this program are likely not to return for the foreseeable future Caltrans and the State of California remain committed to the mission of Reconnecting Communities.

Caltrans Reconnecting Communities Handbook

The Caltrans Reconnecting Communities Handbook serves as a resource for Caltrans districts, government agencies, and community organizations statewide to navigate the opportunities and strategies for developing projects that restore community connectivity. This handbook, at the highest level, aligns with Department’s core mission to provide a safe and reliable transportation network that serves all the people of California.

A draft of the handbook was made available for public comment in March 2023. Based upon comments received, Caltrans edited for process clarifications and noted topic areas to address in future updates of the handbook, which is considered a living document.

Reconnecting Communities Handbook (PDF) (TXT)

Contacts

Submit questions about Caltrans Reconnecting Communities to CRCP@dot.ca.gov

Or call 209-429-7489

Related Links

Reconnecting Communities Pilot (RCP) Grant Program

Reconnecting Communities: Highways-to-Boulevards