Staff
Helen Kerstein
(916) 319-8364
Forestry, Parks, and High Speed Rail
Frank Jimenez
(916) 319-8324
Highways and Roads, Recycling, Agriculture, and Toxics
Luke Koushmaro
(916) 319-8355
Mass Transportation, Traffic Enforcement, Statewide Planning and Infrastructure
Rachel Ehlers
(916) 319-8330
Deputy Legislative Analyst: Environment and Transportation


Publications

Transportation

To browse all LAO publications, visit our Publications page.



Report

The 2023-24 Budget: Overview of the Governor's Budget

January 13, 2023 - On January 10, 2023, Governor Newsom presented his proposed state budget to the Legislature. In this report, we provide a brief summary of the proposed budget based on our initial review. In the coming weeks, we will analyze the plan in more detail and release several additional budget analyses.


Report

The 2022-23 Budget: California Spending Plan Series

September 29, 2022 - Each year, our office publishes California Spending Plan, a series of publications that summarize the annual state budget. The Overview of the California Spending Plan is presented here along with short online posts that focus on major areas and features of the 2022-23 budget package. As more of these posts become available, we will add them below.


Post

The 2022-23 California Spending Plan: Transportation

September 29, 2022 - The budget package provides a total of $33 billion for transportation-related programs in 2022-23, including for the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA), local streets and roads (shared revenues), California Highway Patrol (CHP), Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), and High-Speed Rail Authority (HSRA).


Post

Climate Change Impacts Across California - Transportation

April 5, 2022 - This report focuses on how a changing climate is affecting transportation infrastructure and key issues the Legislature faces in responding to those impacts. This is one of a series of reports summarizing how climate change will impact different sectors across California.


Post

Climate Change Impacts Across California - Crosscutting Issues

April 5, 2022 - This report contains four primary sections: (1) a description of the five key climate hazards affecting California, (2) the major ways those hazards impact sectors across the state, (3) significant existing state‑level efforts underway to address climate change impacts, and (4) key issues for the Legislature to consider in response to these impacts. This is one of a series of reports summarizing how climate change will impact different sectors across California.


Handout

High-Speed Rail Draft 2022 Business Plan

March 8, 2022 - Presented to: Senate Transportation Committee and Senate Budget Subcommittee No. 5 on Corrections, Public Safety, Judiciary, Labor and Transportation


Handout

High-Speed Rail Draft 2022 Business Plan

February 21, 2022 - In this handout, we (1) provide background information on the planned high-speed rail system, (2) describe the major features of the High-Speed Rail Authority’s draft 2022 business plan, (3) identify some preliminary issues for legislative consideration, and (4) discuss key decisions facing the Legislature.


Report

The 2022-23 Budget: Supply Chain and Port Infrastructure Proposals

February 15, 2022 - This brief provides our initial assessment and recommendations in response to the Governor’s supply chain and port infrastructure package.


Report

The 2022-23 Budget: Transportation Infrastructure Package

February 15, 2022 - This brief provides our initial assessment and recommendations in response to the Governor’s transportation infrastructure package.


Post

The 2022-23 Budget: Highway Violence Task Force

February 14, 2022 - The Governor proposes $4 million General Fund for the California Highway Patrol (CHP) to support the Highway Violence Task Force. Although providing resources to CHP to address highway violence has merit, it is unclear whether the proposal is the most effective solution given the limited understanding of the factors associated with highway violence and the high levels of vacancies at CHP. In addition, we find that the Motor Vehicle Account (MVA) is a more appropriate funding source than the General Fund to address highway violence. To the extent that the Legislature considers highway violence a priority, we recommend the Legislature consider research‑based alternatives, fund the various activities from the MVA, and require reporting on the prevalence and associated factors of highway violence.


Post

The 2022-23 Budget: Clean California Local Grant Program

February 10, 2022 - In this post, we assess the Governor’s 2022-23 budget proposal to provide an additional year of funding for the Clean California Local Grant Program administered by the California Department of Transportation.


Report

The 2022-23 Budget: Overview of the Governor's Budget

January 13, 2022 - On January 10, 2022, Governor Newsom presented his proposed state budget to the Legislature. In this report, we provide a brief summary of the proposed budget based on our initial review. In the coming weeks, we will analyze the plan in more detail and release several additional budget analyses.

Update (1/21/22): Includes a corrected estimate of Governor’s Budget proposals that are excludable under the State Appropriations Limit (SAL).


Post

The 2021-22 Spending Plan: Transportation

October 1, 2021 - The 2021‑22 budget provides a total of $31.7 billion for transportation-related programs, including the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA), local streets and roads (shared revenues), California Highway Patrol (CHP), Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), and High-Speed Rail Authority (HSRA).


Post

The 2021-22 Budget: Initial Comments on the Governor’s May Revision

May 17, 2021 - On May 14, 2021, Governor Newsom presented a revised state budget proposal to the Legislature. (This annual proposed revised budget is called the “May Revision.”) In this post, we provide a summary of the Governor’s revised budget, focusing on the overall condition and structure of the state General Fund—the budget’s main operating account. In the coming days, we will analyze the plan in more detail and provide additional comments in hearing testimony and online.


Handout

High-Speed Rail Revised Draft 2020 Business Plan

March 16, 2021 - Senate Committee on Transportation and Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee No. 5 on Corrections, Public Safety, Labor and Transportation