Key active transportation highlights and the latest news from the Active Transportation Resource Center.
The Active Transportation Resources Center publishes a monthly e-newsletter, the Active Transportation Messenger. Sign up for the newsletter and other ATRC announcements here.
To submit an item for consideration in the Partner News section of the newsletter, please contact us with your request by the second Wednesday of the month of publication.
October 15, 2025
This two-day event will include inspiring speakers, interactive workshops, breakout sessions, and opportunities to connect with partners to further your work. In-person tickets are sold out! If you are not joining us in person, the above sessions will be livestreamed and recorded for future viewing. There is no cost to attend these sessions virtually.
October 15, 2025
Green infrastructure, like tree planting and landscape design, can do more than beautify a street. It can cool neighborhoods, improve air quality, support mental and physical health, and help communities adapt to climate change. This ATRC webinar will explore how greening strategies can be integrated into active transportation projects to build climate resiliency. You’ll also learn how to collaborate with the California Conservation Corps to install green amenities, and hear the inspiration behind a San Joaquin Valley community that is incorporating green infrastructure into its design.
October 15, 2025
We are seeking feedback from local agencies on the current NI guidance, to be updated for use in Cycle 8 of the ATP program. Please utilize the form to provide feedback by October 31, 2025.
October 15, 2025
Were you awarded a Non-Infrastructure (NI) or Plan grant through the Active Transportation Program and have questions? Would you like to apply for an NI or Plan grant and want help? Join the ATRC's office hours via Zoom where your questions will be addressed one-on-one.
October 15, 2025
The ATRC is happy to announce three opportunities to attend this free, one-day course intended to introduce active transportation planning and design concepts to planners, engineers, public health practitioners, community-based organizations, and other champions with no or limited experience with the topic.
October 15, 2025
The ATRC is offering a free Walk/Bike Audit training at California State University, Long Beach. This two-module training includes a virtual session with classroom instruction and an in-person
session with hands-on fieldwork.
September 18, 2025
Walk and Roll to School Day is an annual event that shines light on the powerful act of walking to school. It’s a day when communities, schools, families, and children come together to celebrate the joys and benefits of walking as a mode of transportation. With a focus on health, safety, community, and the environment, Walk and Roll to School Day encourages students to take a step in the right direction by embracing the many benefits of walking to school.
September 16, 2025
Even though summer is ending, many Californians know that the heat doesn’t always fade with the season. The fall can still bring unseasonably hot days, and these conditions continue to affect how people move through their communities. A recent study found that extreme heat is reshaping daily routines and travel patterns across the country, often discouraging active modes of transport. For many vulnerable populations, particularly those in communities suffering from historical underinvestment, travel options are limited. These populations can remain exposed to dangerous heat while traveling on foot, by bike, or waiting for transit, underscoring equity gaps in how different communities experience climate change.
September 3, 2025
In-person tickets for the 2025 California Active Transportation Program Symposium are sold out, but we invite you to join us virtually! We are pleased to announce that the following sessions will be livestreamed and recorded for future viewing. There is no cost to attend these sessions virtually.
August 29, 2025
Were you awarded a Non-Infrastructure (NI) or Plan grant through the Active Transportation Program and have questions? Would you like to apply for an NI or Plan grant and want help? Join the ATRC's office hours via Zoom where your questions will be addressed one-on-one.
August 20, 2025
Fall is an especially busy time on our streets with back-to-school bringing many families, including children, onto the roadway network. Traffic volumes increase in residential areas, especially during peak school hours. Increased traffic near schools can often lead to a decline in children walking or biking to school as parents become concerned about safety. This creates a cycle where increased motor vehicle volumes further discourage active commutes.
August 13, 2025
Tuesday, September 16, 2025 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM.
The Caltrans Active Transportation Program (ATP) invites local agencies with ATP-funded projects to attend an upcoming training webinar. This webinar will help agencies better understand their reporting responsibilities and ensure compliance with program requirements.
July 10, 2025
August 27, 2025, 10:00-11:00 a.m.
The ATRC invites you to its next webinar to learn about two California health databases that can be used to demonstrate need and provide additional context when applying for the Active Transportation Program. The speakers will demonstrate how to use the Healthy Places Index and Epi Center databases.
July 10, 2025
Wednesday, August 20, 2025 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM.
This workshop hosted by the Caltrans ATP Team will outline the next steps for the Cycle 7 awarded agency to begin their project.
July 9, 2025
On May 15 and June 27, 2025, the California Transportation Commission (CTC) awarded funds to 37 projects for a total of $67.481 million in the Cycle 7 metropolitan planning organization (MPO) component of the Active Transportation Program (ATP).
July 9, 2025
When we call a crash an “accident,” we’re telling a story- that the event was random and simply just bad luck. But that story is wrong. It’s time we told a different story, one that is more accurate and focused on prevention.
July 7, 2025
If you have questions regarding the Active Transportation Program, non-infrastructure (NI) and plans project type, or your project, please join the ATRC's office hours via Zoom where your questions will be addressed one-on-one. Possible topics include implementation, resources, reporting questions, NI program evaluation, and more.
June 17, 2025
If you have questions regarding the Active Transportation Program, non-infrastructure (NI) and plans project type, or your project, please join the ATRC's office hours via Webex. Possible topics include implementation, resources, reporting questions, NI program evaluation, and more.
May 16, 2025
If you have questions regarding the Active Transportation Program, non-infrastructure (NI) and plans project type, or your project, please join the ATRC's office hours via Webex. Possible topics include implementation, resources, reporting questions, NI program evaluation, and more.
May 8, 2025
The ATRC wants to remind everyone that May is Bike Month (MIBM)! Here are some ideas you can quickly implement to help people in your community join the fun.
April 18, 2025
The ATP Disadvantaged Communities Technical Assistance (DAC TA) Program application deadline has been extended to COB Friday, May 30, 2025. The ATP DAC TA Program provides no-cost training workshops and application development to agencies with projects serving disadvantaged communities that have had limited success in receiving funding for active transportation projects. The ATP DAC TA Program offers tailored assistance for 3 cohorts (urban/suburban, rural and Tribal), each serving up to 10 jurisdictions.
April 8, 2025
Join the ATRC for a conversation with an all-star cast of transportation professionals as they share their research, experiences, lessons, and ideas for implementing open streets events with ATP funds. Learn how to activate your community and have fun doing it.
March 19, 2025
If you have questions regarding the Active Transportation Program, non-infrastructure (NI) and plans project type, or your project, please join the ATRC's office hours via Webex. Possible topics include implementation, resources, reporting questions, NI program evaluation, and more.
March 19, 2025
Warmer weather is a sign that National Bike & Roll to School Day is on its way! On May 7, 2025, and throughout the month of May, children, families, school officials, and community leaders across the U.S. will strap on helmets and bike or roll to school, highlighting the joys of active travel and the need for safety along those routes.
February 21, 2025
The ATP Disadvantaged Communities Technical Assistance (DAC TA) Program provides no-cost training workshops and application development to agencies with projects serving disadvantaged communities that have had limited success in receiving funding for active transportation projects. The ATP DAC TA Program offers tailored assistance for 3 cohorts (urban/suburban, rural and Tribal), each serving up to 10 jurisdictions. Applications are due by COB Monday, April 21, 2025.
February 20, 2025
October 22-23, 2025 at the UC Davis Conference Center. Registration for the California Active Transportation Program Symposium is now open! Early Bird pricing of $50 is available through August 2025 when registration will increase to $75.
January 15, 2025
The coldest months of the year are upon us and contrary to popular belief, many of our California communities are experiencing ice and snow. Does that stop people from walking and bicycling? No! Some people choose to walk or bicycle in winter because they enjoy it while others do so because it’s the best or only transportation option available to them. But, ice and snow can put a damper on the walking and bicycling experience and cause travelers to change their plans.
January 14, 2025
The California Active Transportation Program (ATP) is the state's only dedicated funding source for projects supporting walking and bicycling. Since its inception, ATP projects have benefited urban, rural, and Tribal communities across the state. These projects are critical to meeting California’s climate, safety, and equity goals. In December 2024, the California Transportation Commission (CTC) awarded funding to 13 projects: 9 projects were selected in the Statewide component, and 4 projects in the Small Urban and Rural component. All funds will directly benefit disadvantaged communities, providing more equitable transportation access and prioritizing safety for the most vulnerable road users.
December 17, 2024
The extraordinary rise in micromobility services continues across the U.S., while the private market consolidates around a few major companies.
It is difficult for us to wrap our heads around all this change we read about in the news. What does it mean for micromobility services? How can and should cities be planning for micromobility services amidst all this change?
December 16, 2024
Communities across California rely heavily on state and federal grants to build vital active transportation projects and programs. While funding for these efforts is limited and the demand is high, the benefits of projects that receive funding speak for themselves. Investing in active transportation improves safety, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, enhances public health, reduces congestion, increases accessibility, and so much more!
December 15, 2024
Is there a topic you want to hear about at the Symposium? The Symposium Planning Committee is working to provide sessions on current challenges, trends, and best practices related to active transportation projects across the state. If you have a suggestion for a topic you would like to hear about, please let us know by January 10, 2025.
December 15, 2024
In order to facilitate connections between CBOs and local government agencies and other organizations working in their areas, the ATRC has created a webpage where CBOs that are interested in partnering on active transportation projects can share information about their organization, geographic reach, and services and expertise.
November 21, 2024
If you have questions about your Active Transportation Program non-infrastructure (NI) or plan project, join the ATRC's office hours via Zoom on the second Thursday of each month from 10 - 11 am or 1 - 2 pm.
October 28, 2024
October 22-23, 2025 at the UC Davis Conference Center.
The California Active Transportation Program Symposium is a two-day event co-hosted by the California Transportation Commission and Caltrans with support from the Active Transportation Resource Center. This two-day event will include inspiring speakers, interactive workshops, breakout sessions, and opportunities to connect with partners to further your work.
October 14, 2024
Art installations can enhance biking and walking experiences by fostering community engagement, preserving local culture, and creating a sense of place that promotes community well-being, tourism, and economic development.
October 13, 2024
What’s been going on over at the ATRC?
The ATRC is excited to be working with a number of partners on projects and initiatives that support ATP applicants, ATP recipients, and others working to improve active transportation across California.
September 23, 2024
The ATRC is excited to launch its new logo, branding, and website. The new logo and branding reflect the ATRC’s commitment to supporting people walking, bicycling, and rolling throughout the state.
September 23, 2024
The ATRC would like to know more about any upcoming Active Transportation Program (ATP) education and encouragement events you have planned for this fall.
September 23, 2024
During their August meeting, the California Transportation Commission (CTC) heard an update on the 2025 Active Transportation Program (ATP Cycle 7) and adopted amendments to the 2025 ATP Guidelines and Fund Estimate.