Bringing Caltrans Into The 21st Century

Can the nation's largest state department of transportation, long oriented to building highways and fighting congestion, be brought into the modern, multi-modal era? The State Smart Transportation Initiative's report for Caltrans may do just that.

2 minute read

February 1, 2014, 1:00 PM PST

By Irvin Dawid


"An independent review of the California Department of Transportation      (Caltrans) released Jan. 30, called for sweeping reforms of the department to improve mobility in the face of environmental challenges and a decline in the number of miles driven by Californians," writes Charles Piller.

While the review was ordered last year by Gov. Jerry Brown "following news that the Bay Bridge bolts might not be working properly and could delay the bridge's opening," reported KXTV News 10 Staff last May, the focus of State Smart Transportation Initiative (SSTI) was not on the Bay Bridge but with "Caltrans reorganization and taking a fresh look (at the department)" the governor said.

In the California State Transportation Agency's press release (PDF), the new state agency where Caltrans has been located since July 1, CalSTA Secretary Brian Kelly supported the findings in the 89-page SSTI report (PDF) and its call for modernizing the state DOT that "led the nation during construction of the interstate system after World War II, but has not adapted to modern trends in transportation..."

“Climate change puts new demands on the state transportation system,” said Kelly. “More transportation choices, efficient land use, highway preservation, sustainable movement of people and freight—these now are the order of the day. Caltrans must modernize its mission and describe its vision to deliver on these demands.”

Now it is up to CalSTA and Caltrans to develop the skills and resources needed in the "modern, post-Interstate building era", as the report states it its executive summary.

SSTI includes a network of nineteen state department of transportation directors with a small staff that is part of a research center at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. They have produced evalautions for other state departments of transportation and transportation issues found here and here.

Friday, January 31, 2014 in The Sacramento Bee

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

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 16, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Green vintage Chicago streetcar from the 1940s parked at the Illinois Railroad Museum in 1988.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails

Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

July 13, 2025 - WTTV

Blue and silver Amtrak train with vibrant green and yellow foliage in background.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail

The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

July 14, 2025 - Smart Cities Dive

Worker in yellow safety vest and hard hat looks up at servers in data center.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power

Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

July 18 - Inside Climate News

Former MARTA CEO Collie Greenwood standing in front of MARTA HQ with blurred MARTA sign visible in background.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns

MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

July 18 - WABE

Rendering of proposed protected bikeway in Santa Clara, California.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant

A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.

July 17 - San José Spotlight