Keaton PetersCalifornia is doubling down on efforts to align transportation investments with its climate goals. The California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA) has released an update of its Climate Action Plan for Transportation Infrastructure, CAPTI 2.0, outlining new strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector.
The updated plan builds on the original CAPTI framework established in 2021. The plan focuses on reducing transportation emissions, ensuring beneficial outcomes for local communities and improving transparency in how the state approaches transportation projects. Transportation accounts for more than half of total emissions in California. With CAPTI 2.0, the state is looking to make major advances in its goals to address climate change.
“Over the past three years, CAPTI implementation has shown that with the appropriate action, we can make enormously significant strides in tackling transportation emissions from infrastructure investments,” said California Transportation Secretary Toks Omishakin, in the introduction to the plan. “California must continue to invest in mobility options that are sustainable, convenient, seamless and affordable while also connecting our communities throughout the state.”
The 2022 California Air Resources Board’s Scoping Plan calls for a 25% reduction in vehicle miles traveled (VMT) by 2035 compared to 2019 levels — a target that will require sustained effort beyond current initiatives.
A study by the Mineta Transportation Institute at San Jose State University demonstrates the effectiveness of the original plan’s implementation, finding that discretionary transportation infrastructure investments now generate only one-fifth the amount of greenhouse gas emissions compared to investments made during prior administrations.
Among the most significant actions, CalSTA will create a Statewide Express Mobility Plan that defines the role of roadway pricing with equity-based practices, implement a climate adaptation framework at Caltrans and establish a team focused on zero-emission freight infrastructure planning and implementation.
The plan also commits to creating a statewide VMT mitigation bank or exchange program that will facilitate infill housing development to reduce driving. It also includes updates to freight corridor and congested corridors program guidelines to mitigate the impact of traffic and passenger vehicle travel.
To address equity concerns, CAPTI 2.0 strengthens existing program guidelines to better account for environmental justice impacts and improves technical assistance to tribal governments. Caltrans will also create a policy focused on avoiding housing displacement caused by transportation projects, particularly in disadvantaged communities.
For transparency, the plan will provide a public database of projects under development on the state highway system and explore opportunities to preserve CAPTI’s guiding principles in future administrations.
CalSTA completed the original CAPTI’s 34 actions last July and developed the update through extensive public engagement throughout 2024, including listening sessions, public workshops and comment periods. The agency will monitor implementation and publish a progress report before the end of 2026.
