San Joaquin Valley Regional Early Action Planning (REAP) is a State of California funded grant program to help regions and jurisdictions with planning activities to meet the sixth cycle of the regional housing needs assessment, and to spur affordable housing production.
A Transportation Development Plan (TDP) updates a municipal or county operated transit system’s goals and objectives, develops service alternatives, provides funding estimates, and produces a plan to implement recommended service improvements for a five-year period.
The ability for transit agencies to provide services continues to grow more challenging. Therefore, the vision to the year 2030 must change in light of the changes in technology, community needs, regulations, funding opportunities, minimum wage increases, changes to traditional funding streams and other drivers of change. These changes do not have to be obstacles, if the transit agencies are able to successfully navigate the changes.
Kern COG understands that the primary mission of transit agencies is to move people from one place to another safely, efficiently. Technology over the past decade has developed to where zero emission transit buses – battery electric and fuel cell – are becoming a viable option for transit fleets of all sizes. Additionally, transit agencies are increasingly turning to mobile apps and shared mobility options as a means to carrying out their public transportation mission.
TRANSITions Transit Symposiums have been held annually since 2018 to bring together transit agencies with the California Air Resources Board, technology experts, funding program managers, pilot project managers, and vendors to discuss how we can work to advance clean, safe, efficient public transportation.
Every agency must develop a Transit Asset Management Plan (TAM) if it owns, operates, or manages capital assets used to provide public transportation and receives federal financial assistance under 49 U.S.C. Chapter 53 as a recipient or sub-recipient. Each transit provider must designate an Accountable Executive (49 CFR 625.5) to ensure appropriate resources for implementing the agency’s TAM Plan and the Transit Agency Safety Plan. Golden Empire Transit District and the City of Delano, both designated by the Federal Transit Administration as urbanized area recipients of Federal Transit Administration funds, prepared a TAM Plan and memorialized the Plan with Kern Council of Governments through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).
A Triennial Performance Audit is designed to be an independent and objective evaluation of the recipients of Transit Development Act (TDA) Article 4 funding as a public transit operator, providing operator management with information on the economy, efficiency, and effectiveness of its programs across the prior three fiscal years.
Triennial Performance Audits Fiscal Years 2018/19 – 2020/21
At the center of the transportation planning process is the Regional Transportation Plan (RTP). Updated on a 4-year cycle, the RTP is a long-term (20+ year) blueprint for the region’s transportation system, and encompasses projects for all types of travel, including freight, intermodal and aviation. The plan includes the Sustainable Community Strategy (SCS) designed to help reduce emissions from passenger vehicle travel. The plan is accompanied by a program level environmental document that analyzes cumulative impacts, and the regional air quality conformity analysis required by federal regulations.
The Federal Transportation Improvement Program (FTIP) is a plan for the incremental implementation of the long-range 2022 Regional Transportation Plan. The FTIP presents to federal funding agencies manageable components for the funding of long-term plans.
On July 18, 2024, the Kern COG Board of Directors adopted the 2025 Federal Transportation Improvement Program and corresponding 2024 Air Quality Conformity Analysis.
Under the requirements of the federal transportation spending bill (MAP-21) states and metropolitan planning organizations are required to annually monitor performance measure progress through the statewide and metropolitan planning process for the following items:
PM 1 – Safety PM 2 – Bridge and Pavement Condition PM 3 – Travel Time Reliability TAM – Transit Asset Management Plan
In addition, Kern COG includes an Integrated Performance Measures Analysis as an appendix to the most recently adopted Regional Transportation Plan. For an overview of the Integrated Performance Measure process, see this Performance Measure Case Study.
The Regional Transportation Improvement Program (RTIP) is the formal presentation to the state of regionally significant projects that local agencies wish to advance within the next four years. Once projects are approved in the Regional Transportation Plan, they are incorporated into the Regional Transportation Improvement Program for ultimate inclusion into the Federal Transportation Improvement Program.
At the center of the transportation planning process is the Regional Transportation Plan (RTP). Updated on a 4-year cycle, the RTP is a long-term (20+ year) blueprint for the region’s transportation system, and encompasses projects for all types of travel, including freight, intermodal and aviation. The plan includes the Sustainable Community Strategy (SCS) designed to help reduce emissions from passenger vehicle travel. The plan is accompanied by a program level environmental document that analyzes cumulative impacts, and the regional air quality conformity analysis required by federal regulations.
The Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Plan is a critical component in addressing the transportation needs of the region. Kern COG is developing a well needed update to the 1997 Early Deployment Plan for the Kern Region in consideration of the ITS projects being implemented by our partners, the rapid advances in technology in recent years, and to respond to specific recommendations and requirements needed to bring the MPO into compliance (23 CFR 940) with current ITS program standards set by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) for development of architecture and strategic plans as well as the Federal Transit Administration’s National ITS Architecture Policy on Transit Projects. The ITS Plan will provide a vision for ITS, outline a program of low, medium and high priority projects, identify a funding strategy, and establish a plan for managing, integrating, operating, and maintaining the ITS elements in the region that are to be implemented over a 20-year horizon.
“Pedestrians and bicycles” is meant to cover non-motorized means of transit. This is the most non-polluting form of transportation. Kern COG has the role of encouraging and finding funds for improvements to facilitate non-motorized transit. Kern COG has adopted a Bicycle Facilities Plan and currently is a funding conduit for improvements in non-motorized transportation.
Caltrans’ Mission is to provide a safe, sustainable, integrated and efficient transportation system to enhance California’s economy and livability. Enhancing bicycle access along with pedestrian and transit is instrumental and vital to accomplishing this mission.
Through an extensive review of existing conditions and comprehensive community and stakeholder outreach, the Active Transportation Plan establishes a regional vision complemented by stand-alone recommendations for each jurisdiction and unincorporated area. User-friendly maps and prioritized projects provide a clearly defined implementation strategy, enabling communities to put their respective plans into action.
2013 City of Bakersfield Bicycle Transportation Plan
This Bicycle Transportation Plan provides an overarching vision supported by strategies and actions for improving the bicycling environment in Bakersfield. The purpose of this Plan is to identify strategic expansion of the existing network, complete network gaps, provide greater connectivity, educate, and encourage the public, and to maximize funding sources.
The 2012 Kern County Bicycle Master Plan and Complete Streets Recommendations provides a broad vision for encouraging increased bicycle travel, as well as strategies and actions, to improve conditions for bicycling throughout the unincorporated communities throughout the county. This Plan provides direction for expanding the existing bikeway network and connecting gaps within the unincorporated communities and throughout the county as a means of bettering the bicycling environment.
The Kern County Bicycle Plan has been produced so that much of the information related to bicycling in the Kern region will be available in a single document. The purpose this serves is to simplify and clarify bicycle travel facilities planning and serve as a basis of understanding for existing facilities and identify where the system needs to be expanded.
California high-speed rail will connect the mega-regions of the state, contribute to economic development and a cleaner environment, create jobs and preserve agricultural and protected lands. By 2029, the system will run from San Francisco to the Los Angeles basin in under three hours at speeds capable of over 200 miles per hour.
High-Speed Rail Routes
The high-speed rail system planned for California will eventually encompass over 800 miles of rail, with up to 24 stations. Because the project is so large, and will run through areas of the state with extremely different geographical, environmental and economic issues, the project has been broken into ten separate sections, two of which go through Kern County.
The California High-Speed Rail Authority understands that private property owners will be affected by the proposed construction of the high-speed rail system. In light of this fact, the Authority has committed to do everything it can to educate, inform, and work collaboratively with affected property owners.
The documents on this page provide an at-a-glance reference for frequently asked questions and an overview of the procedures for acquiring property, the right-of-way process and the Permit-to-Enter process.
Heavy Maintenance Facility
In 2009, the California High Speed Rail Authority released a Request for Expression of Interest to site a Heavy Maintenance Facility (HMF) in the Central Valley. Kern COG submitted two proposals. One to be located in Shafter just north of the International Trade and Transportation Center and 7th Standard Rd and Santa Fe Way. The other located on the east side of Wasco below Highway 46. There were 15 proposals submitted statewide.