AB2560 - Climate Action Plan for Transportation Infrastructure: goals.

Amended IN Assembly April 15, 2026 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 2560 Introduced by Assembly Member Schultz February 20, 2026 An act to amend Section 14526 of, and to add Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 13989.10) to Part 4.5 of Division 3 of Title 2 of, of the Government Code, to amend Section 75221 of the Public Resources Code, and to amend Sections 2033 and 2192 of, and to add Sections 2381.5 and 2392.5 to, the Streets and Highways Code, relating to transportation. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 2560, as amended, Schultz. Climate Action Plan for Transportation Infrastructure: goals. Existing law establishes the Transportation Agency, which has the power of general supervision over specified state entities. Existing law requires the agency to develop and report on legislative, budgetary, and administrative programs to accomplish comprehensive, long-range, coordinated planning and policy formation in the matters of public interest related to the agency. This bill would establish specified goals for the Climate Action Plan for Transportation Infrastructure (CAPTI), consistent with state law. Existing law provides for the funding of projects on the state highway system and other transportation improvements, including under the interregional transportation improvement program, the Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program, a program within the Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Program, commonly known as the Local Partnership Program, the Trade Corridor Enhancement Program, the Active Transportation Program, and the Solutions for Congested Corridors Program. This bill would establish the Climate Action Plan for Transportation Infrastructure (CAPTI) goals, and would authorize the Transportation Agency to update those CAPTI goals, as specified. The bill would require a project under the above-described programs to apply, where feasible, within the fix-it-first approach, the CAPTI goals as established or updated by the agency, as specified. Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO Bill Text The people of the State of California do enact as follows: SECTION 1. Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 13989.10) is added to Part 4.5 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, to read: CHAPTER 3. Climate Action Plan for Transportation Infrastructure 13989.10. (a) The Legislature finds and declares both of the following: (1) The that the Climate Action Plan for Transportation Infrastructure was first adopted by the agency. (2) Within the fix-it-first approach, this chapter codifies the investment framework and the guiding principles of the Climate Action Plan for Transportation Infrastructure, which shall be deployed, where feasible, to meet the goals set forth in subdivision (b). (b) The Climate Action Plan for Transportation Infrastructure goals are all of the following: following, consistent with state law: (1) Build toward an integrated, statewide rail and transit network, centered around the existing California State Rail Plan that leverages the California Integrated Travel Project to provide seamless, affordable, multimodal travel options in all contexts, including suburban and rural settings, to all users. (2) Invest in networks of safe and accessible bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, particularly by closing gaps on portions of the State Highway System that intersect local active transportation and transit networks or serve as small town or rural main streets, with a focus on investments in low-income and disadvantaged communities throughout the state. (3) Include investments in light-, medium-, and heavy-duty zero-emission vehicle infrastructure as part of larger transportation projects. Support projects, support the innovation in and development of the zero-emission vehicle market, and help ensure zero-emission vehicles are accessible to all, particularly to those in more rural or remote communities. (4) Reduce public health and economic harms and maximize community benefits to disproportionately impacted disadvantaged communities and low-income communities, in urbanized and rural regions, and involve these communities early in decisionmaking. (5) Make safety improvements to reduce fatalities and severe injuries of all users towards zero on the roadways, railways, and transit systems by focusing on context-appropriate speeds, prioritizing vulnerable user safety to support mode shift, designing roadways to accommodate for potential human error and injury tolerances, and ultimately implementing a safe systems approach. (6) Assess and integrate assessments of physical climate risk as standard practice for transportation infrastructure projects to enable informed decisionmaking, especially in communities that are most vulnerable to climate-related health and safety risks. (7) Promote projects that do not significantly increase passenger vehicle travel, particularly in congested urbanized settings where other mobility options can be provided and where projects are shown to induce significant auto travel. These projects should generally aim to reduce vehicle miles traveled and not induce significant vehicle miles traveled growth. When addressing congestion, consider alternatives to highway capacity expansion, such as providing multimodal options in the corridor, employing pricing strategies, and using technology to optimize operations. provided, while recognizing that highway expansion projects serve different purposes and as a result assessing the impacts of each project will vary based on context and project-specific analysis. (8) Promote compact infill development while protecting residents and businesses from displacement by funding transportation projects that support housing for low-income residents near job centers, provide walkable communities, and address affordability to reduce the housing-transportation cost burden and auto trips. (9) Develop a zero-emission freight transportation system that avoids and mitigates environmental justice impacts, reduces criteria and toxic air pollutants, improves freight’s economic competitiveness and efficiency, and integrates multimodal design and planning into infrastructure development on freight corridors. (10) Protect natural and working lands from conversion to more intensified uses and enhance biodiversity by supporting local and regional conservation planning that focuses development where it already exists and align transportation investments with conservation priorities to reduce transportation’s impact on the natural environment. (c) Where feasible, the goals set forth in subdivision (b), and as updated pursuant to subdivision (d), shall apply, within the fix-it-first approach, to all of the following transportation programs: (1) The interregional transportation improvement program described in Section 14526. (2) The Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program created pursuant to Section 75220 of the Public Resources Code. (3) The program described in Section 2033 of the Streets and Highways Code, which is a program within the Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Program, commonly known as the Local Partnership Program. (4) The Trade Corridor Enhancement Program established pursuant to Chapter 4.8 (commencing with Section 2192) of Division 3 of the Streets and Highways Code. (5) The Active Transportation Program established pursuant to Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 2380) of Division 3 of the Streets and Highways Code. (6) The Solutions for Congested Corridors Program created pursuant to Chapter 8.5 (commencing with Section 2390) of Division 3 of the Streets and Highways Code. (d) (1) The agency may update the Climate Action Plan for Transportation Infrastructure goals through a process that includes, but is not limited to, both of the following: (A) One public workshop regarding proposed updates before adopting the updates. (B) The posting of the proposed updates on the agency’s internet website throughout a 30-day informal public comment period. Concurrent with the posting of that information on the agency’s internet website, the agency shall transmit the proposed update to Secretary of the Senate, the Chief Clerk of the Assembly, and the appropriate policy committees of the Legislature. (2) The Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1) shall not apply to the agency’s updates to the Climate Action Plan for Transportation Infrastructure goals pursuant to this subdivision. SEC. 2. Section 14526 of the Government Code is amended to read: 14526. (a) Not later than October 15 of each odd-numbered year, based on the guidelines established pursuant to Section 14530.1, and after consulting with the transportation planning agencies, county transportation commissions, and transportation authorities, the department shall submit to the commission the draft five-year interregional transportation improvement program consisting of all of the following: (1) Projects to improve state highways, pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 164 of the Streets and Highways Code. (2) Projects to improve the intercity passenger rail system. (3) Projects to improve interregional movement of people, vehicles, and goods. (b) (1) Projects included in the interregional transportation improvement program shall be consistent with the state interregional transportation strategic plan prepared pursuant to Section 14524.4. (2) Where feasible, projects included in the interregional transportation improvement program shall apply, within the fix-it-first approach, the Climate Action Plan for Transportation Infrastructure goals described in Section 13989.10. (c) Projects shall not be included in the draft interregional transportation improvement program without a project study report or major investment study. (d) Major projects shall include current costs updated as of November 1 of the year of submittal and escalated to the appropriate year, and shall be consistent with, and provide the information required in, subdivision (b) of Section 14529. (e) Projects included in the draft interregional transportation improvement program shall be consistent with the adopted regional transportation plan. (f) On or before November 15 of each odd-numbered year, the commission shall hold at least one hearing in northern California and one hearing in southern California to attempt to reconcile any objections by any member of the public or other stakeholder to the draft interregional transportation improvement program. (g) The department shall consider the input received at the hearings conducted pursuant to subdivision (f) and shall develop a final interregional transportation improvement program. The final interregional transportation improvement program shall include a summary of the major comments received at the hearings and responses to those comments, and shall be submitted to the commission for approval not later than December 15 of each odd-numbered year. (h) The commission shall, when approving the final interregional transportation improvement program pursuant to subdivision (g), evaluate the extent to which the program is consistent with funding priorities established in Section 167 of the Streets and Highways Code. SEC. 3. Section 75221 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read: 75221. (a) Projects eligible for funding under the program include, but are not limited to, all of the following: (1) Rail capital projects, including acquisition of rail cars and locomotives, that expand, enhance, and improve existing rail systems and connectivity to existing and future transit systems, including the high-speed rail system. (2) Intercity, commuter, and urban rail projects that increase service levels, improve reliability, or decrease travel times, including infrastructure access payments to host railroads in lieu of capital investments. (3) Rail, bus, and ferry integration implementation, including integrated ticketing and scheduling systems, shared-use corridors, related planning efforts, and other service integration initiatives. (4) Bus rapid transit and other bus and ferry transit investments to increase ridership and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. (b) In order to be eligible for funding under the program, a project shall demonstrate that it will achieve a reduction in emissions of greenhouse gases. In selecting projects for funding, the Transportation Agency shall consider the extent to which a project reduces emissions of greenhouse gases. (c) The program shall have a programmatic goal of providing at least 25 percent of available funding to projects benefiting disadvantaged communities, consistent with the objectives of Chapter 830 of the Statutes of 2012. (d) In evaluating grant applications for funding, the Transportation Agency shall consider all of the following: (1) The cobenefits of projects that support the implementation of sustainable communities strategies through one or more of the following: (A) Reducing vehicle miles traveled from automobiles and the number of automobile trips through growth in transit ridership. (B) Promoting housing development in the vicinity of rail stations and major transit centers. (C) Expanding existing rail and public transit systems. (D) Enhancing the connectivity, integration, and coordination of the state’s various transit systems, including, but not limited to, regional and local transit systems and the high-speed rail system. (E) Implementing clean vehicle technology. (F) Promoting active transportation. (G) Improving public health. (2) The project priorities developed through the collaboration of two or more rail operators and any memoranda of understanding between state agencies and local or regional rail operators. (3) Geographic equity. (4) Consistency with an adopted sustainable communities strategy or, if a sustainable strategy is not required for a region by law, a regional plan that includes policies and programs to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. (5) The extent to which a project has supplemental funding committed to it from other nonstate sources. (6) The extent to which the project will increase transit ridership. (e) Eligible applicants under the program shall be public agencies, including joint powers agencies, that operate or have planning responsibility for existing or planned regularly scheduled intercity or commuter passenger rail service, urban rail transit service, or bus or ferry transit service. (f) A recipient of moneys under the program may combine funding from the program with other state funding, including, but not limited to, the State Transportation Improvement Program, the Low Carbon Transit Operations Program, the State Air Resources Board clean vehicle program, and state transportation bond funds. (g) Where feasible, projects included in the program shall apply, within the fix-it-first approach, the Climate Action Plan for Transportation Infrastructure goals described in Section 13989.10 [Text truncated for display. Full text available on Congress.gov.]