The Federal Transportation Improvement Program (FTIP) is a plan for the incremental implementation of the long-range Regional Transportation Plan. The FTIP presents to federal funding agencies manageable components for the funding of long-term plans.
Current and previous FTIP documents are available here.
| Route 99 Interchange Feasibility Study – McFarland | McFarland | 2011 |
| Route 58 & 223 Interchange Feasibility Study | Metro Bakersfield | 2011 |
| Retrofit Noise Barrier Study – Route 58 | Bakersfield | 2010 |
| Retrofit Noise Barrier Study – Route 99 | Bakersfield | 2010 |
| Retrofit Noise Barrier Study – Route 14 | Rosamond | 2011 |
| Eastern Sierra Corridor Enhancement Program | Kern County | 2010 |
| Bakersfield System Study Summary Report | Metro Bakersfield | 2002 |
| Metropolitan Bakersfield Major Transportation Investment Strategy | Metro Bakersfield | 1997 |
| South Beltway Transportation Corridor | Metro Bakersfield | 1994 |
| Mojave Corridor Study | Mojave | 1990 |
| West Beltway Corridor Study | Metro Bakersfield | 1990 |
| Route 178 Corridor Study | Bakersfield | 1986 |
| Kern River Canyon Highway Corridor Study Route 178 | Kern County | 1984 |
The Kern Council of Governments (Kern COG) embarked on a study to determine how advanced technologies can reshape the future of transportation in the Kern Region. The combination of both urban and rural land uses in Kern County results in a unique crosssection of transportation challenges. Intelligent Transportation Systems offer the potential to address these problems, often at a substantial cost savings over traditional solutions such as building new roads or adding new lanes. By applying advanced technologies to the surface transportation network, mobility can be improved in a safe and efficient manner that will help preserve the quality of life and healthy local economy that Kern County enjoys.
Kern COG, along with a regionwide Steering Committee, spearheaded efforts that will result in a practical plan to meet the transportation needs of Kern County well into the 21st century. Input from area residents, business owners, and public officials was critical to identify the goals and transportation needs of those that live and work in Kern County. There were many opportunities throughout this 15 month project for the public to provide input to the project, including rural area public workshops, urban area special event exhibits, group meetings, and ITS UPDATE newsletter which provided a progress report on study findings and informative articles on current ITS technologies and programs.
Intelligent Transportation System Early Deployment Plan For The Kern Region – 1997
San Joaquin Valley ITS Strategic Deployment Plan – 2001
San Joaquin Valley ITS Maintenance Plan – 2005
Building Blocks of the ITS
The entire idea of a regional ITS is founded on these basic building blocks working together to improve the efficiency and safety of the community’s overall transportation network.
Problems & Opportunities
The following is a “Top 10” list of the most frequently identified needs and deficiencies:
10-Year Vision: Kern ITS Programs
Six programs have been developed which will make Kern’s transportation system a more intelligent one in terms of improving the safety and efficiency of day to day travel within and through the region. These initial programs will be implemented over the next ten years to build a sound, strong foundation for future technologies and strategies. These Kern ITS programs represent the first integration of rural and urban ITS solutions in California, and will facilitate the integration and coordination of transportation and ITS applications region and statewide in conjunction with other EDPs being developed throughout California.
ITS on the Web
Check out the directory for Rural ITS. You can also access the main US Department of Transportation’s web site which can connect you with transportation related web sites from around the world.
Advanced Traffic Management Systems (ATMS) and Advanced Traveler Information Systems (ATIS)
ATMS and ATIS are key components that help traffic run smoothly, particularly in congested urban areas. Some examples include:
Advanced Rural Transportation Systems (ARTS)
ARTS use some of the same technologies found in an urban ATMS and ATIS, but focus on addressing the unique travel conditions along rural roadways, including:
Commercial Vehicle Operation (CVO)
CVO technologies generally allow drivers with proper documentation to have their vehicles cleared without stopping at weigh stations or ports of entry. Some examples include:
Advanced Public Transportation Systems (APTS)
APTS are designed to improve transit service and passenger safety. Some programs that are currently operational include:
Advanced Vehicle Control and Safety Systems (AVCSS)
Several AVCSS are in testing phases, but there are a few that are commercially available:
Kern Traveler Safety Program
Traveler safety concerns in Kern vary from adverse weather conditions, to red light violations, to railroad crossing safety. This program combines proven technologies with newer, innovative applications to provide Kern with an aggressive, “cutting edge” approach to rural and urban safety.
Kern Informed Traveler Program (TravelKIT)
Making Kern travelers more informed travelers will reduce congestion and the number of avoidable accidents when advance warnings are available. The best way to keep the transportation system working safely and efficiently is to get information to travelers quickly. This allows travelers to make informed decisions about when to leave for a trip, which route to take, and even what mode of transportation would be best.
Enhanced Emergency Response Program
The Enhanced Emergency Response Program improves the safety of the transportation system by providing police, sheriff, fire, ambulance and other emergency service providers with the tools that they need to quickly and accurately determine the fastest and safest routes.
Kern Smart Transit Program
The Kern Smart Transit Program applies to the Kern Regional Transit and the Golden Empire Transit (GET) systems. The program improves the efficiency and productivity of the transit systems, enabling them to provide better, more reliable service; extend coverage temporally and geographically; and become more self sustaining in terms of costs and revenue.
Traffic and Incident Management Program
Traffic and incident management improves day to day traffic operations through the use of advanced technologies and proven management strategies. This means that accidents get cleared more quickly, daily traffic problems are relieved, roadway safety is improved, and agencies can get more done.
Communication Network Development Program
An extensive communications network will be provided to connect different agencies within the region to allow cooperation and coordination in operating and managing the transportation system.
The key to successful implementation of the EDP lies in the thorough identification of the specific needs of the Kern Region.
We encourage you to express your comments by contacting Raquel Pacheco.
Kern Council of Governments (Kern COG), in partnership with Gladstein, Neandross & Associates (GNA) and key stakeholders will develop a Blueprint for medium- and heavy-duty zero emission vehicle infrastructure. The Blueprint will identify major gaps in infrastructure for zero emission trucks and buses, community needs, available technology solutions, and ultimately a set of high-impact ‘shovel-ready’ infrastructure projects illustrative of pathways of progress to zero emission transportation.
Kern County is situated strategically between California’s San Joaquin Valley and the Southern California Ports, eastern United States, and the California Central Coast, and therefore a key location for goods movement. High-impact clean transportation projects identified through the Blueprint will facilitate more widespread use of zero emission medium-and heavy-duty trucks all along California’s major truck corridors and place Kern County on a path to achieving its Sustainable Communities Strategy greenhouse gas emission reduction goals at an accelerated rate.
The project approach is designed to accelerate the region’s clean transportation goals through the identification of high-impact or transformational infrastructure projects capable of stimulating additional outside investment. Projects identified through the planning process will not only have merit because of their immediate benefits (i.e., emissions reductions), but also because of their ability to demonstrate innovation and induce other fleet operators to electrify. The project team will document progress to-date in deploying zero emission infrastructure, engage with stakeholders to align the Blueprint with community needs, develop transparent and agreed upon methodologies for project selection, conduct thorough analyses, and produce detailed implementation plans for each site. The project scope will include both electric charging and hydrogen fueling infrastructure.
The document posted here is a working draft of the final Blueprint. Several key sections will be added as they become available. The Executive Summary and Project Information sections will be posted following completion of the other sections.
Comments on the document are welcomed. Please send written comments as a memo or document, not only an email, to Linda Urata, Regional Planner, Kern COG at lurata@kerncog.org by April 9, 2023 (prior to 8:00am PST on Monday, April 10, 2023).
2023 Kern Medium-Heavy Duty ZEV Infrastructure Blueprint DRAFT
The purpose of the Kern Electric Vehicle Charging Station (EVCS) Blueprint is to accelerate the deployment of zero emission transportation to help reach Kern COG 2018 Regional Transportation Plan air quality goals. Kern COG was awarded a grant of $200,000 from the California Energy Commission to create a Kern EVCS Blueprint. Kern COG staff, the consultant Center for Sustainable Energy and the Kern EVCS Work Group (WG) are working to complete a draft Kern EVCS Blueprint in March 2019 and a completed Blueprint in May 2019.
The Kern EVCS WG is tasked with the following work:
Kern COG’s Annual Report provides an overview of the results achieved by various projects conducted throughout the fiscal year.
Kern COG’s traditional newsletter, the Kern COG Quarterly, is published up to four times a year and is designed to keep the public informed of fiscal operations.
Kern COG’s Overall Work Program (OWP) documents the activities and products mandated by Federal regulations in sufficient detail (i.e. activity description, products, schedule, cost, etc.) to clearly explain the purpose and results of the work to be accomplished, including how they support the Federal transportation planning process.
The Annual Financial Plans include budgets for Kern COG and the Kern Motorist Aid Authority (KMAA).
Policies and procedures used by the Kern Council of Governments.
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.
| TRANSITions program | 2022 |
| TRANSITions presentations | 2022 |
| TRANSITions presentations | 2021 |
| TRANSITions video | 2021 |
| TRANSITions program | 2020 |
| TRANSITions presentations | 2020 |
| TRANSITions program | 2019 |
| TRANSITions presentations | 2019 |
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).
| Delano Transit Asset Management Plan | 2018 |
| GET Transit Asset Management Plan | 2018 |
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.
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.
| City of Arvin | 2019 |
| City of California City | 2019 |
| City of Delano | 2019 |
| City of McFarland | 2019 |
| City of Ridgecrest | 2019 |
| City of Shafter | 2019 |
| City of Taft | 2019 |
| City of Tehachapi | 2019 |
| City of Wasco | 2019 |
| County of Kern (Kern Transit) | 2019 |
| Golden Empire Transit District (GET) | 2019 |
| North of the River CTSA | 2019 |
| Kern Council of Governments (RTPA) | 2019 |
The Kern Council of Governments commissions a yearly Quality of Life Survey of residents of Kern County with the following research objectives:
The survey is also designed to track the results of telephone surveys conducted in previous years.
California is committed to a future where we all have the option to live closer to our jobs, services, and daily destinations. We can achieve this future through more Housing options and affordability in nearby neighborhoods, which includes transportation options so we can walk our kids to school, ride our bikes to work, or take transit. REAP 2.0 is a key part of the state’s strategic investments toward this more sustainable, resilient, and inclusive future for people in all areas of the state.
REAP 2.0 is explicitly intended to meet multiple objectives – Infill Housing Development, Housing for all incomes, Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) reduction, and Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) in ways that lead to transformative Policy Outcomes and accelerate the implementation of regional and local plans to achieve these goals.
Total State Funds Available to MPOs: $510,000,000
Funds Available to Kern COG: $ 12,670,717
Please take the survey
Por favor tome la encuesta
The California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) is required to allocate the region’s share of the statewide housing need to Councils of Governments (COG) based on Department of Finance (DOF) population projections and regional population forecasts used in preparing regional transportation plans. Kern COG, acting in the capacity as the state designated Regional Planning Agency, has the responsibility of developing the state-mandated Regional Housing Need Allocation (RHNA) Plan.
The RHNA process will identify the number of housing units that each local government must accommodate in the Housing Element of its General Plan (Government Code §65584). As part of the region’s planning efforts, Kern COG works with local governments and stakeholders on the RHNA Plan. Kern COG identifies areas within the region sufficient to house an eight and a half year projection of the regional housing need. Additionally, the RHNA allocates housing units within the region consistent with the development pattern included in the Sustainable Communities Strategy (SCS), and is part of the Regional Transportation Plan. The development of Kern COG’s 2022 RTP/SCS will happen in tandem with the 6th Cycle RHNA Plan.
The development of the 6th Cycle RHNA Plan commenced in Spring 2021. This page will have updates on the RHNA development, draft and final plans, and other information. Updates will also be provided during Regional Planning Advisory Meetings and Transportation Planning Policy Committee Meetings.
July 2022
April – June 2022
March 2022
February 2022
January 2022
November 2021 – December 2021
October 2021
September 2021
August 2021
July 2021
RHNA Cycles
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.
Visit the SJV REAP Website for workshops, technical assistance, case studies and other resources.
Regional Housing Needs Allocation
Local Early Action Planning (LEAP)
Housing Elements
Annual Progress Reports (APR) including link to APR Dashboard
Active Funding Programs
The Regional Transportation Improvement Program (RTIP) is the formal presentation to the state of projects that local agencies wish to implement 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.
Current and previous RTIP documents are available here.
