Caltrans Issues Final Version of Highway/Rail Improvement Plan

The California Department of Transportation has released the final version of its 2021 Interregional Transportation Strategic Plan or ITSP; a highway and rail improvement plan to prioritize and develop transportation projects that connect the state’s different regions and move people and goods more safely, efficiently, and sustainably.

[Above photo by Caltrans]

“Caltrans envisions a transportation system that fits the unique needs of all areas and people of our state,” noted Toks Omishakin, director of Caltrans, in a statement.

Toks Omishakin. Photo by Caltrans.

“Forward-thinking plans like this provide a roadmap to meeting our sustainability and equity goals while safely and efficiently getting both people and goods where they need to go,” he said.

Updated every five years, the 2021 ITSP focuses on enhancements to key highway and rail corridors connecting different regions throughout the state to expand travel options, improve safety and accessibility, ensure the efficient movement of goods, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and fortify transportation infrastructure to be more resilient to the impacts of climate change.

Caltrans said those policies and goals align with other recent statewide plans – including the Climate Action Plan for Transportation InfrastructureCalifornia Transportation Plan 2050California Freight Mobility Plan 2020 and the 2018 California State Rail Plan – to form a comprehensive strategy for a safe, equitable, sustainable, accessible and resilient transportation system.

Caltrans said it plans to implement the 2021 ITSP to guide investments and prioritize interregional projects while coordinating with local agency partners and public stakeholders.

Related articles