The California DOT (Caltrans) this week unveiled the California Transportation Plan (CTP) 2050, which details the state's long-range transportation vision and establishes a roadmap to improve mobility and accessibility in the state while reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions related to transportation.
"California’s transportation system connects 40 million residents to jobs, housing, vital services and recreation. The plan sets a bold vision to foster economic vitality, protect our environment and meet the transportation needs of all Californians," Caltrans Director Toks Omishakin said in a statement.
Caltrans says the CTP 2050 is a comprehensive plan that—as opposed to focusing on individual projects or budget—examines wide-ranging policies and strategies to meet several key objectives, including (among other goals): creating a low-carbon transportation system that protects public and environmental health; advancing transportation equity and improving quality of life for Californians; enhancing safety and security on bridges, highways, and roads; fostering healthy lifestyles through walking and bicycling paths; and harnessing potential changes in travel behavior, such as increased use of autonomous vehicles, shared mobility services, and the effects of increased telework, telehealth, and distance learning to reduce reliance on driving.
By 2050, Caltrans says the state's transportation system will need to support an estimated 45 million residents with an integrated, sustainable network of mobility options that provide safe, convenient, and reliable access to jobs, education, health care, and other services that improve quality of life in all areas of the state. California must do this while also achieving its goal of reducing GHG emissions from transportation to 80% below 1990 emissions levels by 2050. To make this a reality, Caltrans and local transportation agencies identified eight priorities in the CTP 2050 to guide policy and budget decisions and transportation planning in the years ahead:
- Safety – Provide a safe and secure system designed to eliminate transportation-related fatalities and serious injuries and withstand natural disasters
- Climate – Achieve statewide GHG emission reduction targets and make the state’s transportation system more resilient to climate change
- Equity – Eliminate transportation barriers and expand access across all communities, particularly in low-income neighborhoods and communities of color and for people with disabilities
- Accessibility – Improve mobility across all modes of transportation, including transit, walking, biking, and vehicle travel so all Californians can safely and easily reach their destination
- Quality of Life and Public Health – Enable vibrant, healthy communities through expanded walking and bicycling paths and convenient transit options to reduce GHG emissions and dependence on driving
- Economy – Support a vibrant, resilient economy by improving freight movement and access to housing and jobs
- Environment – Reduce the negative impacts of transportation by expanding low-carbon and sustainable mobility options
- Infrastructure – Maintain a reliable transportation system that is sustainable and resilient to climate change and natural disasters
More information on the CTP 2050 can be found on the Caltrans website.
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SOURCE: Caltrans
