California Governor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order directing state transportation agencies to accelerate the development and modernization of local and regional public transit systems statewide.

The order instructs the California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA) and other agencies to implement strategies to improve bus, rail, and passenger transportation services by reducing project delays, expanding transit access, and modernizing fare payment and data systems. State officials said the initiative is intended to make public transportation faster, more reliable, and more accessible for residents.

California’s Continued Growth

The executive order comes as California prepares to host major international events and expects continued tourism growth, which is increasing demand for local and regional transit services.

The Newsom administration said the order also responds to proposed federal budget reductions for public transportation and passenger rail.

According to the governor's office, the President's proposed Fiscal Year 2027 budget would reduce federal public transit funding by approximately 23% and passenger rail funding by about 82%, and eliminate funding for several clean transportation programs established under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The administration said those reductions could affect transit modernization and rail projects nationwide.

California Transportation Secretary Toks Omishakin said the executive order continues the state's efforts to expand transportation infrastructure while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and dependence on fossil fuels.

Goals of the Executive Order

Under the order, CalSTA and other state agencies are directed to:

• Develop a statewide priority list for local and regional transit projects.
• Create public dashboards tracking transit grant funding and application timelines.
• Streamline design and permitting processes for transit infrastructure on the state highway system.
• Improve coordination between bus and rail services to reduce service gaps, particularly in rural and underserved communities.
• Expand the California Integrated Travel Project (Cal-ITP), which supports standardized transit data, real-time arrival information, and contactless fare payment systems.
• Support the expansion of Bus Rapid Transit projects and dedicated bus lanes on the state highway network.
• Establish a Caltrans Active Transportation Deployment Team to improve the delivery of bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure projects.

 The executive order also incorporates recommendations from the SB 125 Transit Transformation Task Force Final Report and fulfills a requirement in SB 960 (2024) directing the state to establish a statewide transit policy.

Building on Transit’s Progress

The governor's office said the order builds on previous state transportation investments, including more than $11.5 billion provided through SB 1 (2017) and California's Cap-and-Invest program to support public transit, passenger rail, and transit-oriented development.

According to the administration, the California State Transportation Agency oversees more than $12 billion in annual transportation funding across eight state agencies. In comparison, the California Transportation Commission allocates approximately $10 billion annually for transportation projects.

The administration also highlighted ongoing transportation initiatives, including California's high-speed rail project. State officials reported that 171 miles of the Merced-to-Bakersfield segment are under design or construction, with more than 80 miles of guideway completed and most environmental reviews finished for the planned San Francisco-to-Los Angeles/Anaheim system. Officials said construction has created nearly 19,200 jobs, primarily in the Central Valley.

State officials also cited continued investment in zero-emission transportation, including electric vehicle incentives, clean school buses, and hydrogen-powered passenger rail.