Earlier this month, Caltrans unveiled a new and innovative tool to prioritize transportation projects that further California’s climate, safety and equity goals for state and federal grants. The Caltrans System Investment Strategy (CSIS) updates the department’s project evaluation and nomination process to better identify and promote multimodal, climate-friendly projects in funding decisions.

The new tool fulfills a key action in the Climate Action Plan for Transportation Infrastructure (CAPTI), which called for a data- and performance-driven investment strategy to more effectively align the projects Caltrans supports for state and federal grants with the state’s ambitious climate goals.

“Deploying this forward-thinking and progressive investment strategy will not only significantly reduce our carbon footprint but provide a tool to vastly improve the safety, equity and accessibility of our highway system,” said Caltrans Director Tony Tavares.

The new analytical tool includes nine quantitative and two qualitative metrics to evaluate projects. Quantitative metrics include safety, vehicle miles traveled, accessibility, the effect on disadvantaged communities, land usage, improvements to bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, improvements to zero-emission vehicle infrastructure, and improvements to freight movement. Qualitative metrics include climate resilience and public engagement. Caltrans will use the recently unveiled Equity Index tool as part of the process.

Under CSIS, projects that reduce dependence on driving and expand access to multimodal options such as transit, walking and biking will score higher during the project evaluation process. Caltrans will use CSIS to inform its decisions around which projects to nominate for applicable state and federal grants while collaborating closely with partner agencies to make their projects as competitive as possible. In addition to combatting climate change, the new investment strategy will help the department gauge other values in transportation infrastructure projects such as safety, mobility and accessibility, environmental health and justice, and quality of life.

Caltrans published the draft CSIS for public comment on March 1, and incorporated feedback in the updated plan. Caltrans reviewed comments from regional transportation agencies, local governments, rail authorities, advocacy groups, and interested individuals.

The new tool will be tested by Caltrans in upcoming grant processes, and officials will evaluate the results, and update it as needed to make it as effective as possible.

Find projects that are building California’s climate-friendly future at Build.ca.gov and RebuildingCA.ca.gov.