Del Norte LTC outlines 2026–27 work program, plans full RTP update and directs staff to proceed
January 06, 2026 | Del Norte County, California
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Del Norte Local Transportation Commission staff presented the draft 2026–27 overall work program and received commission consensus to develop the plan into a final draft for approval.
Staff said the program combines mandatory and preferred work and noted the region has more planning funding than in recent years after multi‑year advocacy by the rural counties task force. "We have more funding this year than we are used to having because the RTPAs across the state in rural regions have an increase of funding for the first time in 8–10 years," staff said.
The presentation reviewed the primary work elements: daily/ongoing state highway policy coordination; an economic and demographic profile (the region's data book); regional GIS mapping and flexible regional mapping funds (staff noted $17,000 currently budgeted in the mapping line); the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) programming and monitoring (approximately $30,000/year in STIP planning, programming and monitoring funds); and Transportation Development Act (TDA) administration and triennial audits for transit funding.
Staff described a planned full 2028 regional transportation plan update to run from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2028, replacing last year's abbreviated 'RTP light.' Staff said the active transportation plan will continue through December 2026, a transit facilities development plan will begin with an RFP posted July 1, and the ZEV infrastructure plan will receive a minor update.
The staff presentation also noted operational challenges with the statewide call box system after a single vendor consolidation (Knightscope) and estimated local safe‑system funds of roughly $25,000 annually to maintain approximately 21 call boxes in Del Norte County.
A commissioner asked what produced the recent funding increase; staff said it resulted from sustained rural counties task force advocacy to the California Transportation Commission and state agencies, and from changes to how rural planning funds are distributed. The commission did not vote to adopt the final overall work program at this meeting but directed staff to prepare the final draft based on the presented work element spreadsheets and TAC recommendations.
The commission agreed staff will return with the finalized draft for formal adoption in a future meeting.
Staff said the program combines mandatory and preferred work and noted the region has more planning funding than in recent years after multi‑year advocacy by the rural counties task force. "We have more funding this year than we are used to having because the RTPAs across the state in rural regions have an increase of funding for the first time in 8–10 years," staff said.
The presentation reviewed the primary work elements: daily/ongoing state highway policy coordination; an economic and demographic profile (the region's data book); regional GIS mapping and flexible regional mapping funds (staff noted $17,000 currently budgeted in the mapping line); the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) programming and monitoring (approximately $30,000/year in STIP planning, programming and monitoring funds); and Transportation Development Act (TDA) administration and triennial audits for transit funding.
Staff described a planned full 2028 regional transportation plan update to run from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2028, replacing last year's abbreviated 'RTP light.' Staff said the active transportation plan will continue through December 2026, a transit facilities development plan will begin with an RFP posted July 1, and the ZEV infrastructure plan will receive a minor update.
The staff presentation also noted operational challenges with the statewide call box system after a single vendor consolidation (Knightscope) and estimated local safe‑system funds of roughly $25,000 annually to maintain approximately 21 call boxes in Del Norte County.
A commissioner asked what produced the recent funding increase; staff said it resulted from sustained rural counties task force advocacy to the California Transportation Commission and state agencies, and from changes to how rural planning funds are distributed. The commission did not vote to adopt the final overall work program at this meeting but directed staff to prepare the final draft based on the presented work element spreadsheets and TAC recommendations.
The commission agreed staff will return with the finalized draft for formal adoption in a future meeting.
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