System Planning is Caltrans long-range (20-years) transportation planning process to evaluate current and future operating conditions and deficiencies on the State transportation system. The process considers the entire transportation system, including highways and local arterials; transit services; railroads; airports; seaports; non-motorized modes of transportation (i.e. bicycles and walking); goods movement, Intelligent Transportation Systems, and local land use plans.

All System Planning activities are conducted in an open environment where input is actively and aggressively solicited from the local agencies involved with guiding and approving local development. Our objective is to come to an early consensus with our external partners regarding the capacity of the State Highway System facilities needed to accommodate local growth. Caltrans and the local agencies can then work together to ensure transportation improvements accompany growth and ensure continued mobility for all Californians.

The traditional System Planning elements include the District System Management Plan, Transportation Corridor Concept Reports, and the Transportation System Development Plan. Below are summaries explaining these concepts and links to the above documents. Another System Planning element is being developed now, the Corridor System Management Plans, which is summarized in the Corridor System Management Planning link.

District System Management Plan

The District 3 System Management Plan (DSMP) is District 3 long-range strategic policy planning document describing the Districts vision for the State Highway System development, maintenance, and management for the next 20 years. The DSMP includes a description of the major issues and challenges facing the District, as well as a listing of the highest priority improvement projects.

The DSMP is currently being updated and should be completed soon. Please direct any questions regarding the DSMP to Marlo Tinney at (916) 274-0610 E-mail

Transportation Corridor Concept Reports

Transportation Corridor Concept Reports (TCCR) are Caltrans long range (20-year) planning documents for each State Highway Route that identifies existing route conditions and future needs. Each TCCR includes a route summary, segment summaries, existing and forecasted travel data, route maps, and a list of planned, programmed, and needed projects for the Highway over the next 20 years. The most important information included within a TCCR are Level of Service standards, Concept and Ultimate Facilities, and a list of Programmed, Planned, and Needed Projects.

The Level of Service (LOS) for the highway is basically a report card for evaluating traffic flow with being best and being worst. The LOS establishes the minimum standard at which the District expects the highway to function. If travel forecasting predicts the LOS will drop below that level, the District will design improvements to maintain acceptable highway conditions.

The Concept Facility identifies the number of highway lanes and the type of facility (freeway, expressway, conventional highway) needed to manage the traffic expected for the next 20-years. The Ultimate Facility determines the same information as the Concept Facility, but instead for the entire life of the highway. The purpose for this information is to inform Caltrans, local agencies, and developers the expected needs of the highway to ensure development does not encroach upon the required right of way.

The TCCR also identifies the Programmed, Planned, and Other Needed Projects to maintain and improve the highway. Programmed Projects are projects included in the State Transportation Improvement Program, State Highway Operations and Protection Plan, or California Federal Transportation Improvement Program; Planned Projects are projects included in an approved Regional Transportation Plan; and Other Needed Projects are projects needed to maintain mobility on the segment that are not yet included in a plan or programming document. These lists will show the projects expected to be completed and identify improvements which Caltrans should consider designing and constructing in the future.

The District is continually updating TCCRs to ensure we are fully prepared to address future needs for all the State Highways we have responsibility to maintain. Currently a large number of TCCRs are being created or updated. As Draft TCCRs are prepared, they will be posted on this site for the public to review and provide comments. The latest approved TCCR for each route can be found by clicking on the highway shields below:

							D-3 MAP

If you have any questions about the TCCRs, please contact Scott Sauer at (916) 274-0612 E-mail

Transportation System Development Plan

This Transportation System Development Program (TSDP) provides a dynamic list of transportation improvement projects to maintain and improve mobility throughout the District. It is very similar to the action element of a regional transportation plan. Although the TSDP is not financially constrained, most of the projects are included in adopted, financially-constrained Regional Transportation Plans of the nine regional transportation planning agencies in District 3.

The TSDP includes a broad spectrum of projects to address major issues of congestion and system connectivity, including not only projects on the State Highway System, but also major transit improvements, such as light rail extensions and regional rail systems, and goods movement improvement projects.

The TSDP is scheduled for completion within the next few months. Please direct any questions regarding TSDP to Joanne Marvelli at (530) 741-4286 E-mail