Regional and Community Planning

The Regional Coordination Branch serves a critical role in regional and community planning, working cooperatively with the twelve Caltrans district offices to guide and maintain California's regional transportation planning process. The Branch collaborates with Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs), Regional Transportation Planning Agencies (RTPAs), the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to oversee and administer key regional planning documents, such as Regional Transportation Plans (RTPs) and Overall Work Programs (OWPs).

The Branch is responsible for the oversight of regional transportation planning funds, including the federal Consolidated Planning Grant (CPG), State Rural Planning Assistance (RPA), and the Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant Program. It provides technical assistance, policy guidance, and training to ensure compliance with state and federal regulations, tracks funding eligibility, and maintains agreements for planning and programming. Through collaborative efforts with federal, state, and regional partners, the Branch ensures effective oversight and consistency in regional planning efforts.

For more information, visit the Regional Coordination and Fiscal Management & Oversight webpage.

The Fiscal Management & Oversight Branch manages over $134 million in federal and state pass-through funds annually, ensuring efficient and compliant resource distribution. Federal funds, including Metropolitan Planning (PL) and Section 5303 funds, support multimodal transportation planning, while additional competitive grants like SPR and Section 5304 are streamlined under the Consolidated Planning Grant (CPG). State funds, such as Rural Planning Assistance (RPA) and SB 1 funds, support regional and sustainable transportation initiatives through formula-based and competitive grant programs, promoting greenhouse gas reduction and statewide planning goals. For more details, visit the Regional Coordination and Fiscal Management & Oversight webpage.

The Grant Management Branch administers the Caltrans Sustainable Transportation Planning Grants within the Headquarters Division of Transportation Planning. The Sustainable Transportation Planning Grants are comprised of the following four grant categories – Sustainable Communities (Competitive & Formula), Strategic Partnerships and Strategic Partnerships - Transit – which award a total of approximately $34.8 million (State and federal funding) annually to local and regional planning agencies, cities, counties, transit agencies, and Native American Tribal Governments. For more details, visit the Sustainable Transportation Planning Grants webpage.

The Local Development Review (LDR) program proactively collaborates with cities, counties, regional transportation agencies, metropolitan planning organizations, state and federal agencies, tribal governments, and developers during project development to address potential impacts and identify mitigation opportunities.

LDR ensures proposed developments, projects, and plans comply with state and federal regulations through proactive communication and coordination. The program’s goals include enhancing safety for travelers and freight movement, promoting equitable access, supporting smart growth, encouraging efficient infill, and implementing sustainable multimodal strategies to proactively improve quality of life, health, and economic prosperity for all who rely on the State Highway System (SHS) and related facilities.

For more information, visit the Local Development Review webpage.

The Contracts and Audit Compliance Branch (CACB) plays a critical role in supporting regional planning and funding efforts across Caltrans' twelve districts. The branch provides guidance on contract and audit compliance, collaborating with district contract managers, MPOs, RTPAs, and local governments to address auditing and compliance for planning funds administered through the Caltrans Office of Regional and Community Planning. CACB also works closely with the Caltrans Internal Audits Office (CIAO) to ensure alignment with State auditing procedures. Additionally, the branch provides expertise in meeting federal Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) requirements in regional planning activities.

For more information visit, the Contracts and Audit Compliance webpage.