2382
. (a) The California Transportation Commission shall develop
guidelines and project selection criteria for the Active
Transportation Program in consultation with the Active Transportation
Program Workgroup, which shall be formed for purposes of providing
guidance on matters including, but not limited to, development of and
subsequent revisions to program guidelines, schedules and
procedures, project selection criteria, performance measures, and
program evaluation. The workgroup shall include, but not be limited
to, representatives of government agencies and active transportation
stakeholder organizations with expertise in pedestrian and bicycle
issues, including Safe Routes to School programs.
(b) The guidelines shall be the complete and full statement of the
policies and criteria that the commission intends to use in
selecting projects to be included in the program. The guidelines
shall address subjects that include, but are not limited to, project
eligibility, application timelines, application rating and ranking
criteria, project monitoring, reporting, and transparency, and
project performance measurement.
(c) The guidelines shall include a process to ensure that no less
than 25 percent of overall program funds benefit disadvantaged
communities during each program cycle. The guidelines shall establish
a program definition for disadvantaged communities that may include,
but need not be limited to, the definition in Section 39711 of the
Health and Safety Code and the definition of low-income schools in
paragraph (7) of subdivision (b) of former Section 2333.5, as that
section read on January 1, 2013. A project eligible under this
subdivision shall clearly demonstrate a benefit to a disadvantaged
community or be directly located in a disadvantaged community.
(d) The California Transportation Commission shall adopt the
guidelines and selection criteria for, and define the types of
projects eligible to be funded through, the program following at
least two public hearings. Projects funded in this program shall be
limited to active transportation projects. The guidelines shall
ensure that eligible projects meet one or more of the goals set forth
in Section 2380 and may give increased weight to projects meeting
multiple goals.
(e) In developing the guidelines with regard to project
eligibility, the commission shall include, but need not be limited
to, the following project types:
(1) Development of new bikeways and walkways, or improvements to
existing bikeways and walkways, that improve mobility, access, or
safety for nonmotorized users.
(2) Secure bicycle parking at employment centers, park and ride
lots, rail and transit stations, and ferry docks and landings.
(3) Bicycle-carrying facilities on public transit, including rail
and ferries.
(4) Installation of traffic control devices to improve the safety
of pedestrians and bicyclists.
(5) Elimination of hazardous conditions on existing bikeways and
walkways.
(6) Maintenance of bikeways and walkways.
(7) Recreational trails and trailheads, park projects that
facilitate trail linkages or connectivity to nonmotorized corridors,
and conversion of abandoned railroad corridors to trails.
(8) Safe Routes to School projects that improve the safety of
children walking and bicycling to school, in accordance with Section
1404 of Public Law 109-59.
(9) Safe routes to transit projects, which will encourage transit
by improving biking and walking routes to mass transportation
facilities and schoolbus stops.
(10) Educational programs to increase biking and walking, and
other noninfrastructure investments that demonstrate effectiveness in
increasing active transportation.
(f) In developing the guidelines with regard to project selection,
the commission shall include, but need not be limited to, the
following criteria:
(1) Demonstrated needs of the applicant.
(2) Potential for reducing pedestrian and bicyclist injuries and
fatalities.
(3) Potential for encouraging increased walking and bicycling,
especially among students.
(4) Identification of safety hazards for pedestrians and
bicyclists.
(5) Identification of walking and bicycling routes to and from
schools, transit facilities, and community centers.
(6) Identification of the local public participation process that
culminated in the project proposal, which may include noticed public
meetings and consultation with local stakeholders.
(7) Benefit to disadvantaged communities. In developing guidelines
relative to this paragraph, the commission shall consider, but need
not be limited to, the definition of disadvantaged communities as
applied pursuant to subdivision (c).
(8) Cost-effectiveness, defined as maximizing the impact of the
funds provided.
(9) The adoption by a city or county applicant of a bicycle
transportation plan, pursuant to Section 891.2, a pedestrian plan, a
safe routes to school plan, or an overall active transportation plan.
(10) Use of California Conservation Corps or qualified community
conservation corps, as defined in Section 14507.5 of the Public
Resources Code, as partners to undertake or construct applicable
projects in accordance with Section 1524 of Public Law 112-141.
(11) Other factors, such as potential for reducing congestion,
improving air quality, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and
increasing and improving connectivity and mobility of nonmotorized
users.
(g) For the use of federal Transportation Alternative Program
funds, or other federal funds, commission guidelines shall meet all
applicable federal requirements.
(h) For the use of federal Highway Safety Improvement Program
funds for active transportation projects specific to reducing
fatalities and serious injuries, the criteria for the selection of
projects shall be based on a data-driven process that is aligned with
the state's Strategic Highway Safety Plan.
(i) The guidelines may include incentives intended to maximize the
potential for attracting funds other than program funds for eligible
projects.
(j) In reviewing and selecting projects funded by federal funds in
the Recreational Trails Program, the commission shall collaborate
with the Department of Parks and Recreation to evaluate proposed
projects, and to ensure federal requirements are met.
(k) To ensure that regional agencies charged with allocating funds
to projects pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section
2381 have sufficient discretion to develop regional guidelines, the
commission may adopt separate guidelines for the state and for the
regional agencies relative to subdivision (f).