Existing law establishes the Active Transportation Program in the Department of Transportation for the purpose of encouraging increased use of active modes of transportation, such as biking and walking. Existing law requires the California Transportation Commission to develop guidelines and project selection criteria for the program, including guidelines with regard to project eligibility that include, among other project types, safe routes to transit projects that will encourage transit by improving biking and walking routes to mass transportation facilities and schoolbus stops.
This bill would, on and after January 1, 2028, instead require the guidelines with regard to project eligibility to include projects for safe routes to transit projects that encourage access to transit facilities and schoolbus stops by biking and walking, as specified, and projects that will expand access to transit in underserved or rural areas.
Existing law authorizes the guidelines to include incentives to maximize the potential for attracting funds other than program funds for eligible projects.
This bill would, on and after January 1, 2028, (1) instead require the guidelines to include incentives intended to maximize the potential for attracting funds other than program funds for eligible projects in order to scale funding for larger or network-level active transportation improvements, (2) require the guidelines to include a progressive range of penalties for an applicant that failed to use previously received program funds in a timely manner, as specified, and (3) require the guidelines to include a requirement for an applicant to consult with the executive officer of a transit agency operating in a project corridor if the project will be adjacent to an existing bus, shuttle, or paratransit route, as specified.

Statutes affected:
AB2168: 2380 SHC, 2380 SHC, 2382 SHC, 2382 SHC, 11000 SHC
02/18/26 - Introduced: 11000 SHC
03/16/26 - Amended Assembly: 2380 SHC, 2380 SHC, 2382 SHC, 2382 SHC, 11000 SHC
04/13/26 - Amended Assembly: 2380 SHC, 2382 SHC
05/18/26 - Amended Assembly: 2380 SHC, 2382 SHC, 2382 SHC, 2382 SHC
06/22/26 - Amended Senate: 2380 SHC, 2382 SHC
AB 2168: 11000 SHC