California Legislators Stand Up for the Active Transportation Program
The Active Transportation Program (ATP) provides one of the only statewide funding sources dedicated to biking and walking infrastructure projects. It is chronically underfunded, receiving far more excellent applications than it can greenlight, and recent cuts have made the situation even more dire.
Now, 13 senators and assemblymembers have signed on to a letter to Governor Gavin Newsom, Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, and Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel, who chairs the Assembly Budget Committee. They are throwing their support behind the campaign to restore $400 million taken from the ATP in 2024.
Deep cuts to bike infrastructure
The ATP was targeted for cuts by the governor in the past two tight fiscal years. In 2023, legislators were able to restore funding for this program, which is one of California’s most equity-focused transportation programs and also one that reduces greenhouse gas emissions by making biking, walking, and taking transit safer and more appealing.
In 2024, legislators were only able to restore $200 million of the $600 million originally cut from the program. That allowed Cycle 7 of ATP grants to move forward, but the reduced funds meant that only 13 projects got funding, and local communities are rethinking their reliance on the ATP.
A demand to restore funding
Last year’s budget deal between the governor and the legislature called for restoring the $400 million cut from the ATP if future funds became available. CalBike and our allies have campaigned for the restoration of those funds, and that’s exactly what the letter signed by these legislators asks for. They note that $400 million could fund an additional 36 high-scoring projects from the ATP’s Cycle 7.
It’s rare for legislators to go on the record with a demand like this, and we commend them for supporting active transportation. If any of these legislators represents you, please send them a message thanking them.
Catherine Blakespear, Senate District 38
Damon Connolly, Assembly District 12
Mike Fong, Assembly District 49
Mark Gonzalez, Assembly District 54
Mike Gipson, Assembly District 65
John Laird, Senate District 17
Liz Ortega, Assembly District 20
Blanca Pacheco, Assembly District 64
Nick Schultz, Assembly District 44
José Solache, Assembly District 62
Esmeralda Soria, Assembly District 27
Tom Umberg, Senate District 34
Chris Ward, Assembly District 78
