Bill Text: CA AB954 | 2025-2026 | Regular Session | Amended

California Assembly Bill 954

Bill Title: Interregional transportation strategic plan: bicycle highways.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2)

Status: (Engrossed) 2025-08-29 - Ordered to inactive file at the request of Senator Menjivar. [AB954 Detail]

Download: California-2025-AB954-Amended.html

Amended IN Senate June 30, 2025

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill

No. 954

Introduced by Assembly Member Bennett
(Coauthor: Assembly Member Harabedian)

February 20, 2025

An act to ~~add and repeal Section 14526.1~~ amend Section 14524.4 of the Government Code, relating to transportation.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 954, as amended, Bennett. ~~State transportation improvement program: bicycle highway pilot program.~~ Interregional transportation strategic plan: bicycle highways.

Existing law establishes the state transportation improvement program (STIP) process, pursuant to which the California Transportation Commission programs, on a biennial basis, available state and federal funds for transportation capital improvement projects, other than state highway rehabilitation and repair projects, for the 5-year period of the STIP, based on the interregional transportation improvement program (ITIP) prepared by the Department of Transportation and the regional transportation improvement programs (RTIP) prepared by regional transportation planning agencies. Existing law requires projects included in the ITIP to be consistent with the interregional transportation strategic plan (ITSP). Existing law requires the department to submit the ITSP to the commission for approval and requires the ITSP, among other things, to be directed at achieving a high functioning and balanced interregional transportation system and consistent with the California Transportation Plan.

This bill would require the department to prepare a proposal for the development, including the selection, of sites for a pilot program establishing branded networks of bicycle highways that are numbered and signed within 2 of California’s major metropolitan areas. The bill would require the department, on or before January 1, 2030, to include the proposal in the draft ITIP and would require the department to perform all other actions necessary for the pilot program to be programmed in the STIP, as specified. The bill would require the department, on or before July 1, 2031, to report to the relevant policy committees of the Legislature on the status of the pilot program and recommendations for the development of additional networks of bicycle highways.
This bill would require, to the extent feasible and consistent with the California Transportation Plan, the department to assess incorporating bicycle highways into strategic interregional corridors within the ITSP.

Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

Section 14524.4 of the Government Code is amended to read:

14524.4.

(a) On or before June 30, 2015, the department shall submit to the commission for approval an interregional transportation strategic plan directed at achieving a high functioning and balanced interregional transportation system. The plan shall be action oriented and pragmatic, considering both the short-term and long-term future, and shall present clear, concise policy guidance to the department for managing the state’s transportation system.

(b) The interregional transportation strategic plan shall be consistent with the California Transportation Plan as updated pursuant to Section 65071.

(c) To the extent feasible and consistent with the California Transportation Plan, the department shall assess incorporating bicycle highways into strategic interregional corridors within the interregional transportation strategic plan.

SECTION 1.Section 14526.1 is added to the Government Code, to read:
14526.1.
(a)(1)The department shall prepare a proposal for the development, including the selection, of sites for a pilot program establishing branded networks of bicycle highways that are numbered and signed within two of California’s major metropolitan areas in different regions of the state.
(2)The pilot program shall restrict use of a network to bicyclists, and ensure the network contains intermittent entrances and exits, serves trips of 5 miles or more, and supports higher speed travel of up to 25 miles per hour.
(3)The department shall select the sites for the pilot program based on regional support, connectivity to other bike routes, and potential to maximize active transportation and its associated benefits.
(b)(1)On or before January 1, 2030, the department shall include the proposal prepared pursuant to subdivision (a) in the draft interregional transportation improvement program described in Section 14526. The department shall perform all other actions necessary for the proposal to be programmed in the state transportation improvement program, including, but not limited to, developing a project study report or major investment study.
(2)Notwithstanding subdivisions (a), (b), and (e) of Section 14526, the proposal described in subdivision (a) shall be eligible for inclusion in the draft interregional transportation improvement program described in Section 14526.
(c)On or before July 1, 2031, the department shall report to the relevant policy committees of the Legislature on the status of the pilot program and recommendations for the development of additional networks of bicycle highways.
~~(d)(1)A report to be submitted pursuant to subdivision (c) shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795.~~
~~(2)Pursuant to Section 10231.5, this section shall become inoperative on July 1, 2035, and, as of January 1, 2036, is repealed.~~