California Could Cut $600 Million From Active Transportation

Complete Streets advocates want the governor to fill the gap with funding from the state highway fund instead.

1 minute read

May 23, 2024, 12:00 PM PDT

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


Close-up on white "Bikes may use full lane" and green "Bike route" signs with tall California palm trees in background.

Dogora Sun / Adobe Stock

After California Governor Gavin Newsom proposed cutting $600 million from the state’s Active Transportation Program, road safety advocates are urging the governor to replace the funding from the State Highway Account, according to an article by Alex Nieves in Politico.

This, lawmakers like state Senator Catherine Blakespear argue, would underscore the state’s commitment to building more multimodal transportation infrastructure rather than support the car-centric status quo. “It’s a rerun of last year’s debate, when Newsom proposed cutting active transportation by $300 million — after setting aside $1 billion for it in his 2022 budget — but ultimately tapped the highway account to fully fund it. His Finance Department is so far holding firm with lawmakers, arguing that two years of highway maintenance cuts will start to show.”

Proponents of shifting the funds say the $200 million per year is a negligible portion of the state’s $5.2 billion highway fund.

Tuesday, May 21, 2024 in Politico

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Bird's eye view of manufactured home park.

Manufactured Crisis: Losing the Nation’s Largest Source of Unsubsidized Affordable Housing

Manufactured housing communities have long been an affordable housing option for millions of people living in the U.S., but that affordability is disappearing rapidly. How did we get here?

March 25, 2025 - Shelterforce

U-Haul truck on road with blurred grassy roadside in background.

Americans May Be Stuck — But Why?

Americans are moving a lot less than they once did, and that is a problem. While Yoni Applebaum, in his highly-publicized article Stuck, gets the reasons badly wrong, it's still important to ask: why are we moving so much less than before?

March 27, 2025 - Alan Mallach

Close-up of rear car bumper in traffic on freeway.

Research Shows More Roads = More Driving

A national study shows, once again, that increasing road supply induces additional vehicle travel, particularly over the long run.

March 23, 2025 - Road Capacity as a Fundamental Determinant of Vehicle Travel

'Opaeka'a Falls on the island of Kauai surrounded by lush green forest and blue sky.

How Protecting Kauaʻi’s Forests Safeguards Fresh Water

A University of Hawaiʻi study shows that protecting Kauaʻi’s native forests from invasive species significantly boosts groundwater recharge, making it a cost-effective strategy to secure fresh water and enhance climate resilience.

15 minutes ago - University of Hawai'i News

Aerial view of Gary, Indiana at golden hour with prominent white bulbous water tower on left historic stone church on the right.

Gary, Indiana to Expand Transit Service, Bike Share

The city plans to launch a bike share system in April and expand service on its bus routes.

1 hour ago - Mass Transit

Close-up of open charging port with charging cable plugged in on yellow electric school bus.

Pittsburgh Rolls Out Electric School Buses

Pittsburgh Public Schools has launched its first electric school buses, with plans to fully electrify its fleet over the next 14 months, aiming to create a cleaner, more sustainable transportation system supported by new charging infrastructure.

2 hours ago - CBS Pittsburgh