California Department of Transportation
Caltrans Transportation Planning Planning Offices Office of Regional and Interagency Planning

Office of Regional and Interagency Planning

Working cooperatively with the twelve Caltrans' district offices, the Office of Regional and Interagency Planning (ORIP) guides and maintains California's regional transportation planning process as follows:

  • Monitor the regional transportation planning process, coordinate the administration and funding of this process, and act as liaison and advocate for California's regional transportation planning program.
  • Responsible for the consistent and appropriate evolution of the regional planning process by reviewing and suggesting potential State and Federal legislation relating specifically to the regional transportation planning process.
  • Respond to expanding regional planning issues, including working with California's Native American Tribal Governments, implementing potential electronic fund transfer processes, analyzing impacts of new State and Federal legislation and maximizing the positive results of technological advances in planning and communications.

ORIP's goal is to identify and exceed customer expectations, maximize the use of resources, and provide additional training and support as needed.

This link provides you with an individual listing of personnel contacts for California's Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) and Regional Transportation Planning Agencies (RTPAs).

The following link includes Congestion Management Agencies, Local Transport Commissions, (non-MPO and non-RTPA only), and MPOs and RTPAs.

California MPO/RTPA Statewide Map

ORIP Organization Chart

ORIP Staff Contacts

 

What's New

  • 2008 Regional Transportation Planning Handbook
  • Adopted Addendum to the 2007 RTP Guidelines
  • 2007 RTP Guidelines
  • SAFETEA-LU: Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient, Transportation Equity Act - A Legacy for Users
    • MPOs vs Conformity Areas Map
    • Final Rule Comparison - The attached table was prepared by Caltrans staff to compare the draft changes to the regulations released by US DOT on June 9, 2006 and the final version released last month. This table will allow those involved in the development of RTPs and Regional Transportation Improvement Programs (RTIPs) to see where the changes took place between the draft regulations and the final regulations
    • Resource Agency List - The new SAFETEA-LU requirements included consultation with resource agencies in the development of the RTPs. We have assembled a list of possible contacts in the attached spreadsheet for your use.
    • SAFETEA-LU Statewide and Metropolitan Planning Regulations & RTP Guideline Information - On February 14, 2007, the US DOT issued the final rule revising the regulations governing the development of Metropolitan Transportation Plans (MTP or RTP in CA) prepared by Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) and the statewide transportation plan (CTP) prepared by Caltrans. These revised regulations were prepared as a result of the passage of SAFETEA-LU.
  • California Transportation Planning Conference Presentations - Presentations for the 2006 California Transportation Planning Conference are available.
  • California Regional Blueprint Planning Program - The Governor's Budget for FY 2005-2006 made $5 million for regional blueprint planning available to California's urban areas. The California Regional Blueprint Planning Program grants support the efforts of the California Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) to conduct comprehensive scenario planning that results in consensus by regional leaders, local governments and stakeholders on a preferred growth scenario - or "blueprint" - for a twenty-year planning horizon (through 2025). The California Regional Blueprint Planning Program is an additional strategy for implementing the Governor's Strategic Growth Initiative and GoCalifornia.

    Awarding the California Regional Blueprint Planning grants indicates the State's strong support for improving Californians' quality of life with better land use patterns that lead to a more efficient transportation infrastructure, housing and jobs proximity and environmental quality. The California Regional Blueprint Plans will help urban areas deal with future housing and mobility challenges, including congestion and air quality driven by population growth, changing demographics, the economy, and environmental concerns.


  • The Final Report for Phase 3 of the San Joaquin Valley Growth Response Study - This report describes a recent coordinated land use and transportation planning and modeling effort for the Fresno and Madera Counties Study Area. The overall goals of this study were to: explore best practices in land use/transportation coordination, develop a comprehensive approach to guide growth and development within this area, and develop, implement, and assess a "toolbox" of land use and transportation models to enhance regional efforts for coordinated land use, transportation, and environmental policies and plans.
  • Collaborative Planning in Inland Central California, A New Report and Maps - See the products of the Collaborative Planning Assessment of the 12 Inland Central California counties studied as part of a tri-agency partnership of the Business, Transportation and Housing Agency, the California Environmental Protection Agency and the Resources Agency. The 12-county area called Inland Central California for purposes of this study covers the counties of: Amador, Calaveras, Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Tulare, and Tuolumne. These counties have a strong agricultural and rural heritage that is pressured by growth from the west and south. The region needs improved transportation and housing infrastructure combined with economic development and environmental protection. This study explored the issues and interests of stakeholders and residents in the region as they face growth pressures while trying to develop their economy and protect their quality of life.

 

Garth Hopkins is the Acting Office Chief for the Office of Regional and Interagency Planning.