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).
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.
Now Available
The Final 2026 Regional Transportation Plan / Sustainable Communities Strategy (RTP/SCS), the Environmental Impact Report (EIR), 2027 Federal Transportation Improvement Program (FTIP) and Corresponding Conformity Analysis documents are available below and include response to comments.
The 55-day public review and comment period for the 2026 Regional Transportation Plan / Sustainable Communities Strategy (RTP/SCS), the 45-day public review and comment period for the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and the 30-day public review and comment period for the Draft 2027 Federal Transportation Improvement Program (FTIP) and corresponding Conformity Analysis closed July 2, 2026.
Comments were welcomed at the public hearing 6:00 P.M. June 1, 2026 (Tehachapi) and 6:30 P.M. June 18, 2026 (Bakersfield) or were accepted in writing by 5:00 PM July 2, 2026. For additional questions, please contact the RTP team at RTP2026@kerncog.org.
Aplicaciones de traducción de idiomas gratuitas están disponibles si las necesita en las siguientes paginas de web. Para obtener ayuda adicional, comuníquese con Kern COG al 661-635-2900 Kern Council of Governments no respalda estos sitios y no se hace responsable de traducciónes incorrectas.
A video presentation (25 min.) highlighting some of Kern’s more than 60 transformative success stories implementing California’s SB 375 greenhouse gas reductions regulations over the first decade and a half.
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 California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), in cooperation with California’s 18 Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) and rural Regional Transportation Planning Agencies (RTPAs), has prepared California’s Draft 2027 Federal Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (FSTIP) for public review and comment. The 21-day public review period for California’s Draft 2027 FSTIP begins on October 9, 2026, and ends on October 30, 2026.
The FSTIP is a federally mandated, statewide, multi-year program of transportation projects. California’s Draft 2027 FSTIP will cover four Federal Fiscal Years (FFYs) from 2027 through 2030. Each of California’s 18 MPOs develops its own Federal Transportation Improvement Program (FTIP), which identifies a financially constrained, prioritized program of transportation projects. The Draft 2027 FSTIP incorporates projects within all 18 MPOs’ boundaries, as well as transportation projects in rural areas beyond the MPOs’ boundaries. The FSTIP includes funding phases of capital and support (non-capital) as well as fiscal year of allocation for the transportation projects.
During the public review period, all public comments received by Caltrans will be documented and addressed in Exhibit IX, the Response to Public Comments section in the Final 2027 FSTIP document. Following the 21-day public review period, Caltrans will submit the final FSTIP to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) by November 13, 2026. Once approved, the 2027 FSTIP will replace the previously approved 2025 FSTIP.
California’s Draft 2027 Federal Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (FSTIP) is available for public review and comment on the following website:
