Transportation Equity and Community Engagement

The EEH Branch leads the division in guidance, tools, and training regarding the implementation of equitable policies and practices, community engagement throughout the planning and project delivery process, and health considerations throughout the transportation planning process.

If you need assistance on items relating to equity, engagement, and/or health, please contact the EEH Branch at eeh@dot.ca.gov.

Caltrans Planning and Modal Programs, Project Delivery, and External Affairs are working together to improve engagement efforts across the Department. Headquarters Division of Transportation Planning, Office of Transportation Equity & Community Engagement is leading this new approach by creating guidance, tools, and training for staff statewide, but also supporting the twelve new District Community Engagement Coordinators. District Community Engagement Coordinators are a District level Subject Matter Expert resource to answer questions and provide guidance on engagement from planning through project delivery. The Community Engagement Coordinator is leading the design and development of the district's approach for early and continuous engagement by:

• Working across Caltrans functions
• Leading development of their District Community Engagement Playbook
• Being the Caltrans Engagement Portal Point-of-Contact
• Building capacity by strategizing on when to create Public Engagement Plans (PEPs) and providing guidance depending on the type of project and needs of the community
• Working proactively to help ensure engagement resources are identified in PIDs so that they will be available in the subsequent project phases

The Caltrans Engagement Portal is a web-based platform to collect, store, categorize, track, measure, retrieve, and respond to public comments on Caltrans projects from planning through construction. The platform will provide better continuity, consistency, and efficiency for Caltrans and increase accessibility and transparency for the public.

A pilot deployment will occur from May 2024 - April 2025, in which eighteen plans and projects throughout the state will begin using the Caltrans Engagement Portal while conducting public engagement. After the pilot, the Caltrans Engagement Portal is expected to be available to all Caltrans plans and projects to use.

The public-facing Portal can be accessed at:  https://engage.dot.ca.gov/.

Caltrans' Reconnecting Communities Program centers on equitable community engagement and relationship building to facilitate a way for affected communities to express how they are burdened by highway facilities, identify their need for reconnection and improved access, and develop transformational strategies and connectivity solutions.

Visit this page here for more information about the program and submit questions to CRCP@dot.ca.gov.isit this page here for more information about the program and submit questions to CRCP@dot.ca.gov. Visit this page here for more information about the program and submit questions to CRCP@dot.ca.gov.