Corridor and System Planning

Interregional Transportation Strategic Plan

The Interregional Transportation Strategic Plan (ITSP) provides direction to programs, districts, and partner agencies on the policies and strategies that should be considered when assessing the interregional transportation system and identifying improvements. The ITSP also provides policy direction for the development of the Interregional Transportation Improvement Program (ITIP).

2022 ITSP Addendum

The Interregional Transportation Strategic Plan (ITSP) Addendum builds on the 2021 ITSP by providing more information on the needs of each strategic interregional corridor. The Addendum tailors the ITSP’s statewide strategies to suit the unique needs of California’s diverse regions. It also provides regional context for the new topics added in the 2021 ITSP, including racial equity, public health, climate resilience, and single-occupancy vehicle trip reduction. In doing so, this Addendum is a tool for future state, regional, local, and corridor plans; and investment in the Interregional Transportation Improvement Program (ITIP).

• 2022 ITSP Addendum - December, 2022 (PDF)
• 2022 Draft ITSP Comments Matrix (PDF)
  

The Final ITSP Addendum was released January 11, 2023. 

Please send comments to our Office Chief, Gustavo Alfaro.

Past Plans

• 2021 Interregional Transportation Strategic Plan - October 4, 2021 (PDF)
  • Appendix A: ITIP Scoring Criteria (PDF)
• 2015 Interregional Transportation Strategic Plan - December 2015 (PDF)
  

Accessibility Assistance
Caltrans makes every attempt to ensure our documents are accessible. Due to variances between assistive technologies, there may be portions of this document which are not accessible. Where documents cannot be made accessible, we are committed to providing alternative access to the content. Should you need additional assistance, please contact us at (916) 654-2852 or visit https://dot.ca.gov/request-ada-compliant-documents.

23 U.S.C. 135 – Statewide and non-metropolitan transportation planning (↗)
Defines required statewide transportation planning practices and processes.

California Government Code Section 65086 (Transportation Planning and Programming) (↗)
The Department of Transportation, in consultation with transportation planning agencies, county transportation commissions, counties, and cities, shall carry out long-term state highway system planning to identify future highway improvements.

Executive Order N-19-19 (2019) (↗)
Governor signed an executive order requiring every aspect of state government to redouble its efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate the impacts of climate change while building a sustainable, inclusive economy.

Project Initiation

State-Sponsored

• State-Sponsored Non-SHOPP PID Project Nomination Guidance (PDF)
• State-Sponsored Non-SHOPP PID Scoring Rubric (PDF)

Locally Sponsored PID CAPTI Assessment Guidance

The Locally Sponsored Project Initiation Document (PID) Climate Action Plan for Transportation Infrastructure (CAPTI) Assessment is a Caltrans tool, consistent with the Project Development Procedures Manual (PDPM), designed to guide both local agencies and Caltrans staff in the development of PIDs for projects on the State Highway System (SHS). This process supports early coordination between partners to shape project concepts and scopes that help advance the CAPTI objectives and other statewide transportation priorities. By completing the assessment early in the PID process, both parties can identify opportunities to incorporate elements that support safety, climate resilience, expand multimodal access, and benefit underserved communities.

• Local-Sponsored PID Alignment Guidance (PDF)
• Appendix B – Initial CAPTI Assessment and Impact Scores (DOCX)
• Appendix C – CAPTI Assessment Memo Template V3 (PDF)
• Appendix D – Locally Sponsored PID Evaluation Project Intake Form (↗)
• Appendix G – 60 Percent CAPTI Assessment Form (DOCX)

Caltrans Corridor Planning Process Guide

The Caltrans Corridor Planning Process Guide (Guide) was prepared for the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) by the Division of Transportation Planning for use in preparing corridor planning documents. This Guide establishes a comprehensive planning approach through desired protocols and procedures to identify and implement multimodal transportation needs. It is neither intended as nor does it establish, a legal standard for these functions.

Caltrans Corridor Planning Process Guide - April 2022 (PDF)

 

Emphasis Area Guides

These are supplementary guides to the Corridor Planning Process Guide that provides additional information and guidance on specific emphasis areas and planning topics. Please select or click on the link below to access the EA guide:

• Active Transportation (PDF)
• Climate Change (PDF)
• Freight (PDF)

Planning for Operations Strategic Work Plan

Planning for Operations is a concept meant to promote multimodal planning that supports transportation system management and operations. System management strategies typically have high benefit/cost ratios and help Caltrans achieve its goals of system performance, stewardship, safety, and operational efficiency. New and evolving federal and State policies direct Caltrans to improve its system management planning practices as a basis for performance-based decision-making. Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) planning and deployment is an important component of Planning for Operations activities.

This project developed a statewide framework for planning for operations at Caltrans. This was accomplished by developing and coordinating processes for integrating Caltrans’ mission, vision, and goals into multi-modal planning for operations activities, as well as providing an action plan with goals, steps, roles, and responsibilities. The outcome of implementing this Strategic Work Plan will be improvements in Caltrans business practices to deliver safe, sustainable, and efficient operational strategies system-wide over the long term.

• Planning for Operations (P4Ops) Strategic Work Plan (PDF)

District System Management Plan Guidelines

The District System Management Plan (DSMP) is a long-range (20 year) strategic and policy planning document that presents the long-range goals, policies, and programs the district intends to follow in maintaining, managing, and developing the transportation system. It serves as a resource for informing federal, state, regional, and local agencies, and the public and private sector of the plans the district intends to follow in its partnership role with local and regional agencies.

Relinquishment Assessment Report (RAR) Guidelines

Relinquishment is the act and the process of legally transferring property rights, title, liability, and maintenance responsibilities of a portion or entirety of a state highway or a park-and-ride lot to another entity. The removal of a highway or associated facilities, either in whole or in part, from the State Highway System (SHS) requires approval by the California Transportation Commission (CTC). The Relinquishment Assessment Report (RAR) is the initial step in the Relinquishment process for legislative enactment type relinquishments and relinquishment of park-and-ride lots. 

There are four types of relinquishments:

1. relinquishment of a State Route or portion of a State Route by legislative enactment
2. relinquishment of a State Route by superseding with a new State Route
3. relinquishment of collateral facilities (including park-and-ride lots)
4. relinquishment of non-motorized transportation facilities