Local Assistance Guidebooks are executive summaries which provide an overview of State and Federal programs and procedures for financing local public transportation projects. They incorporate key information from the Local Assistance Procedures Manual (LAPM), Local Assistance Program Guidelines (LAPG), and Local Programs Procedures (LPPs). These Guidebooks are not intended to be used in place of the LAPM, LAPG, or LPPs.

The Local Assistance Guidebooks may be obtained in three ways:

Option 1: Download entire set of Guidebooks
Option 2: Download individual Guidebooks
Option 3: Order hard copies of Guidebooks

Please read our DISCLAIMER.

Option #1- Download the entire set of Guidebooks (WinZip compressed executable file format. See our Tech Support page for help.) There is no charge for downloading Guidebooks. Downloaded Guidebooks, and their parts, may be printed and distributed; however, their content should not be altered in any way.

Local Assistance Guidebooks (2.6 MB)

Option #2- Download individual Guidebooks. There is no charge for downloading Guidebooks. Downloaded Guidebooks, and their parts, may be printed and distributed; however, their content should not be altered in any way.

Option #3- Order hard copies of the Guidebooks ($5)

Price is subject to change. Check or credit card. To order the Guidebooks from our publications unit and be placed on the mailing list for future updates (LPPs), please go directly to our Publications Web site or contact:

Descriptions of Guidebooks

SIMPLE PROJECTS GUIDEBOOK: Assists local agencies by giving an overview of the federal-aid process for “simple projects,” or in essence those projects with no right-of-way involvement and classified as Categorically Excluded with studies. The Local Assistance Procedures Manual (LAPM) explains in detail all the requirement of the federal-aid process for any type of project. The Local Assistance Procedures Guidelines (LAPG) provides guidelines and instructions for various programs available for financing local public transportation projects. This guidebook is not a replacement but should be used in conjunction with the LAPM and LAPG. As a result of the streamlining efforts of Assembly Bill 1012, this guidebook was written from the collective efforts of several local agencies and the California Department of Transportation, Division of Local Assistance, Headquarters and Districts 4 and 10.

TRANSPORTATION FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES GUIDEBOOK: STATE AND FEDERAL FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR LOCAL AGENCY PROJECTS: A reference for local agencies and consultants, this publication provides local project sponsors with a summary of information about current State and federal funding programs. For easy reference, the guidebook also identifies programs that have been discontinued and contains a directory of Caltrans District Local Assistance Engineers (DLAEs) who may assist project sponsors. The guidebook provides some detailed background about each federal and state program in a concise, one-to-two page description. Each program description includes key facts about eligibility, project selection processes, significant dates, references, sources for assistance and other essential information. More details about each program are contained in the Caltrans Local Assistance Program Guidelines and updates that are released as Local Programs Procedures. Return to list of guidebooks.

EMERGENCY RELIEF GUIDEBOOK: Assists city and county agencies as well as their consultants in obtaining federal and State resources for the repair of local federal-aid highway facilities that have been damaged and/or destroyed by natural disasters or major catastrophes. Contact information is provided for additional disaster assistance programs that are administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the State Office of Emergency Services. More details about emergency relief programs are contained in the Caltrans Local Assistance Program Guidelines and updates that are released as Local Programs Procedures. Return to list of guidebooks.

CONSULTANT SELECTION GUIDEBOOK: A reference for local agencies and consultants, this publication summarizes and highlights consultant selection and contracting procedures. Local agencies must follow these procedures if they intend to qualify for federal and/or State reimbursement of consultant service costs. Topics highlighted in the guidebook include how to get started, identifying a suitable method of consultant selection, and activities in completing the project. A separate section provides information that will help consultants prepare appropriate proposals and assist local agencies in evaluating them. For easy reference, a flowchart shows steps for each consultant selection method and contains a directory of Caltrans District Local Assistance Engineers (DLAEs) who may assist project sponsors. More details about consultant selection are contained in the Caltrans Local Assistance Procedures Manual and updates that are released as Local Programs Procedures.
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