Latest News:

GOVERNOR BROWN'S REORGANIZATION PLAN

The most comprehensive overhaul of state government in decades became official following legislative approval of Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr.’s Reorganization Plan. The Governor’s plan, which will be implemented over the next year, cuts the number of state agencies from 12 to 10 and eliminates or consolidates dozens of departments and entities.

Agency Convenes California transportation infrastructure priorities workgroup

Acting Secretary of the Business, Transportation and Housing Agency, Brian Kelly, has announced the formation of the California Transportation Infrastructure Priorities Workgroup (Workgroup), which will help set priorities for transportation spending and explore long-term funding options to deliver California’s infrastructure needs.

This year's budget directs the new Transportation Agency to work with stakeholders to develop transportation funding priorities and explore long-term funding options. The Business, Transportation and Housing Agency—which becomes the new Transportation Agency on July 1, 2013—convened this Workgroup to carry out that directive by refining the broader transportation infrastructure needs assessment developed by the California Transportation Commission.

The members of this Workgroup will work with the new Transportation Agency to identify critical transportation infrastructure needs in California and investigate funding options for meeting those needs. This effort will also be informed by the work of the California Freight Advisory Committee, a group announced yesterday, which is developing plans for freight-related transportation investments in California. The Workgroup will explore long-term, pay-as-you-go funding options and evaluate high-priority investments. The Workgroup will develop a set of recommendations for consideration later this year.

The workgroup membership is located here

Business, Transportation and Housing Agency Announces California Freight Advisory Committee

Acting Secretary of the Business, Transportation and Housing Agency, Brian Kelly, today announced the membership of the California Freight Advisory Committee (Committee), which will help determine the state's plans for freight-related transportation investments in California.

The Business, Transportation and Housing Agency--which becomes the new Transportation Agency on July 1, 2013--formed the Committee in response to the federal Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21), legislation that encourages each state to establish a State Freight Advisory Committee and develop a comprehensive State Freight Plan. The committee will advise Caltrans, which is in the process of updating the State Freight Plan.

A large part of California’s economy and millions of jobs depend on freight-related systems and industries. Competition for this economic sector exists at local, national and international level. Recognizing these facts, this statewide advisory body is taking action to guide California’s freight policies and priorities.

The membership of the Committee is here

Acting Secretary Kelly Presentation to the Strategic Growth Council on November 7, 2012

Challenges, Progress and Opportunities for Increasing Sustainability in California’s Transportation Sector (pdf)

Governor Brown Backs High Speed Rail

On July 18, Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. signed into law Senate Bill 1029, which creates thousands of new jobs by modernizing California’s existing transit systems and linking them to the nation’s first high-speed rail system. SB 1029 invests $4.7 billion in state bonds funds that will be matched by an additional $7.9 billion in federal and local dollars for statewide improvements to transportation in California. The California High Speed Rail Authority is currently an independent entity, but next year it joins with Caltrans, the Department of Motor Vehicles, the California Highway Patrol, the California Transportation Commission, the Board of Pilot Commissioners and the Office of Traffic Safety in a new, stand-alone Transportation Agency.