• Regional Blueprint Planning

Regional Blueprint Planning promotes the linking of transportation, land use, housing, and the environment while developing visions that support transportation plans and projects.

Regional Blueprint Planning grants help metropolitan planning organizations and regional transportation planning agencies carry out these visions during public outreach using scenario-planning tools to select community-preferred growth scenarios for future growth and development.

• Smart Mobility Framework

The Caltrans Smart Mobility 2010 document sets a vision and guide for Caltrans' transformation to a sustainable, multimodal transportation system. Smart Mobility is defined as moving people and freight while enhancing California's economic, environmental, and human resources by emphasizing:

• Convenient and safe multimodal travel
• Speed suitability
• Accessibility
• Management of the circulation network
• Efficient use of land

• Complete Streets

Complete Streets are roadways designed to enable safe access for all legal users, including bicyclists, pedestrians, people using mobility aids, motorists, and transit riders of all ages and abilities.

Caltrans has revised its policies and adopted the Complete Streets Implementation Action Plan to reflect the need to plan, design, and operate facilities as Complete Streets.

There are 73 efforts underway to improve Caltrans' procedures and practices, so Complete Streets can be more fully implemented throughout the statewide transportation system.

• Early Consideration on Environmental Issues

Caltrans and the California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) sponsored this study to conserve and ensure the continued existence of California wildlife and biodiversity by integrating natural resource information into planning.

By considering environmental impacts of transportation projects early in the planning process, this study will also allow Caltrans and CDFG to meet the requirements set forth in Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users, Section 6001.

• Caltrans Climate
  Action

The Global Warming Solution Act of 2006 created a comprehensive, multi-year program to reduce GHG emissions in California.

In response to AB 32, Governor's Executive Orders, Administrative policies, and related legislative rulings, Caltrans is working closely with the Administration's Climate Action Team (CAT) and the Natural Resources Agency California Air Resources Board to support the development and implementation of the State's climate change objectives.

Caltrans Climate Change Branch advocates and supports sustainable practices throughout all Caltrans activities to help mitigate for future climate change and adapt to climatic impacts on the state highway system. We develop policies and promote actions that reduce greenhouse gas emissions from our operations.

• Regional Advanced Mitigation Planning/Caltrans Statewide Advance Mitigation Initiative

Caltrans and the Department of Water Resources, with the assistance of federal and state resource and regulatory agencies, are developing advance mitigation planning programs.

Advance mitigaiton planning will allow state and federal agencies to consider the environmental impacts of several planned infrastructure projects at once. The "advance" time frame will identiify regional mitigation opportunities that will satisfy antincipated mitigation requirements early in the project planning and environmental review process

Part of the intent of SAFETEA-LU is to promote streamlining of environmental considerations throughout the transoprtation planning process, integrate natural resources into the decision-making process early, and early coordination.