California Transportation Commission

Administrative History

The California Transportation Commission (CTC) was created by the 1977 Statutes, operative as of February 1, 1978, to assume the duties and responsibilities of four existing bodies: the California Toll Bridge Authority, State Transportation Board, State Aeronautics Board, and California Highway Commission (Statutes of 1977, Chapter 1106). According to Section 2 of Chapter 1106, the Commission was created for the purposes of simplifying and clarifying the transportation planning and programming process; consolidating the various transportation boards and commissions into a single planning and fund allocation commission; and to increase the responsibility and effectiveness of the Legislature in deciding state transportation policy.

General CTC responsibilities include advising and assisting the Secretary of Business, Transportation, and Housing Agency and the Legislature in formulating and evaluating State policies and plans for California transportation programs. Specifically CTC is responsible for adopting a State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) including an estimate and allocation of State and Federal funds for transportation projects over a five year period and ranking those projects in keeping with statewide interests; preparing a Biennial Report to the Legislature that evaluates significant transportation issues, making an overview of necessary future investments, and recommending legislative and administrative actions to meet California's emerging transportation problems; and evaluating the proposed budget of the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and commenting upon that budget before the California Legislature (Government Code, sections 14520-14536). Statutes of 1981, Chapter 541 (SB215), amended the legislation requiring CTC comment on the Caltrans budget by adding language that required the Commission report to recommend "adjustments of the motor vehicle fuel tax rates and commercial vehicle weight fees necessary to fund the State highway program..." In 1982 further language additions required the budget report to "reflect the Commission's judgment regarding the overall funding levels for each program category and shall not duplicate the item-by-item analysis conducted by the Legislative Analyst." (Statutes of 1982, Chapter 580, SB1376)

The Commission consists of eleven members. Nine members are appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate, one of whom must be a member of the California Public Utilities Commission (Government. Code, section 14502). The two remaining members participate in Commission activities according to their availability, but are non-voting members appointed as follows: one member of the Senate, appointed by the Senate Rules Committee, and one member of the Assembly, appointed by the Speaker. The nine voting members of the Commission serve four year terms and are then either reappointed or replaced once a successors is appointed and qualified by the Senate (Government. Code, section 14503). Members are to be from varied and balanced geographic backgrounds in order to sufficiently represent the northern, southern, urban, and rural population of the State (Government Code, section 15404). Appointees attend Commission meetings, conduct their research, and prepare reports and presentations without resigning from their current employment responsibilities. (Government Code, section 14509). The Commission elects a chairman and vice chairman from its members who preside at meetings and appoint members to committees after consultation with Commission members (Gov. Codes 15405, 15404.5).

By law, the CTC organizes itself into at least four committees: the Committee on Aeronautics, Committee on Streets and Highways, Committee on Mass Transportation, and the Committee on Planning. The chairman also appoints a Technical Advisory Committee on Aeronautics "based on consultation with the aviation industry, airport operators, pilots, and other aviation interest groups and experts that shall give technical advice to the Committee on Aeronautics regarding issues considered by the Commission" (Gov. Codes 15406, 15406.5). In April 1978, two ad-hoc committees, namely the Review Committee and the Programming Committee, were appointed by Commission Chairman, Norton Simon, in order for Commission members to determine their specific interests and capabilities before establishing membership of the permanent committees as required by law (Norton Simon Correspondence, April 10, 1978 to Commission members). The Review Committee's responsibilities include the screening of all potential agenda items for each Commission meeting in order to determine which items will not be considered by the full Commission using a "Consent Calendar" basis thereby allowing the Commission to focus on only those items of the greatest importance and urgency. "In other words, this committee concerns itself with agenda content and provides a method to deal with appropriate access to its recommendations. The programming committee evaluates and integrates existing programming documents from predecessor Commissions, input from the Legislative and Executive branches, Caltrans and others, and develop these documents into a coherent set of documents as required by law."

The Commission established a policy direction for transportation which emphasizes protection and preservation of the existing system through adequate maintenance and rehabilitation; safety and other operating improvements; fulfillment of existing commitments; capturing all available Federal funds; and a reasonable balance between new highway and transit improvements (Biennial Report II, Draft February 26, 1981, "Stabilizing Transportation Financing in California"). Since 1987, the CTC's mission as an independent public agency reflected their efforts to enhance the economic, social and environmental welfare of all California citizens by providing for a comprehensive multimodal State Transportation System which is consistent and compatible with the orderly economic and social progress of the State.

As of 2010, the Commission was still in existence but with thirteen members (Statutes of 2007, Chapter 717, AB1672). The May 2010 mission statement for the CTC identifies the Commission as dedicated to ensuring a safe, financially sustainable, world-class multimodal transportation system that reduces congestion, improves the environment, and facilitates economic development through the efficient movement of people and goods. The Commission is responsible for the programming and allocating of funds for the construction of highway, passenger rail and transit improvements throughout California (http://www.catc.ca.gov/mission.htm, accessed on July 19, 2010).

From the guide to the California Transportation Commission Records, 1978-1990, (California State Archives)