CALTAP News & Events: July 7th, 2026

It's Back and it's Official:

Local HSIP Cycle 13 Call for Projects Webinar

July 21, 2026, 9am–11am PT



Caltrans DLA & FHWA are excited to share the latest details surrounding CA’s Local Highway Safety Improvement Program Cycle 13 Call-for-Projects.


This Call-for-Projects allocates $370M in HSIP funds to cover two application categories: Benefit Cost Ratio (BCR) and Funding Set-Asides.

Only a Few Seats Remaining!

Emerging Leadership Academy

Thursdays, July 9 – August 20, 2026, 9am–12pm PT


CALTAP is excited to offer its Emerging Leadership Academy (ELA), an intensive online professional development program designed to foster the growth of emerging municipal leaders. This virtual class is almost full!


This 7-Part Series Includes:


  • Fundamentals of Leadership
  • Fundamentals of Effective Communication
  • Fundamentals of Project Management
  • Fundamentals of Conflict Management
  • Fundamentals of Professional Presentations
  • Fundamentals of Leading Through Change
  • Capstone Project: Leadership in Action

There's Still Time to Register:

Leveraging Safety Data for Funding Applications

July 14, 2026, 9am–10am PT


This free webinar explores how locals, tribes, and MPOs can use crash data, Crash Modification Factors, systemic safety analysis, and other evidence-based tools to identify safety priorities and build stronger grant applications.


Gain insights into available safety data resources and learn how data-driven decision-making can improve project prioritization and grant competitiveness.

Webinar: How Cities & Counties 
are Connecting Project Delivery

July 8, 2026, 11am–12pm PT



This free webinar shares how cities and counties face mounting pressure to deliver more infrastructure projects with fewer resources and tighter timelines.


Topics:


  • Rising Infrastructure Demand & Risk
  • Aligning People, Roles, & Communication for Better Project Outcomes
  • Limited Resources Make Every Decision Critical
  • How an Integrated System Changes the Game

Webinar: How to Run a Proposal Evaluation

July 15, 2026, 9am–10am PT


How to Run a Proposal Evaluation That Holds Up Under Challenge is a practical online session on how procurement teams are running evaluations that are consistent, documented, and designed to hold up.


Through real-world case studies, participants will explore how severe weather and changing climate trends affected infrastructure systems and how agencies have adapted their design and construction approaches in response.


Learning Objectives:


  • Why scoring inconsistency happens — & what causes it
  • How to build scoring frameworks that hold up under scrutiny
  • What strong evaluation documentation looks like before & after award
  • How to move from scoring to award faster without cutting corners

Training: Subsurface Utility Engineering Essentials

August 6, 2026, 8am–9:30am PT


Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE) focuses on mapping and documenting existing utility facilities to reduce risks during the project delivery process. 


This 90-minute webinar offers an overview of agreed-upon SUE principles and procedures for conducting utility investigations.


Learning Objectives:


  • Explain how utility investigations can be integrated into project delivery
  • Describe the four quality levels &utility investigation methods
  • Describe how SUE can help to reduce project risks of delay

Webinar: Building a Long-Distance Adaptive Trail

August 6, 2026, 10am–11am PT


This free webinar shares the story of how Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina came to pursue an adaptive trail design, the construction techniques and lessons learned along the way, and how they are continuing to advance the project through outreach and future planning.


Learning Objectives:


  • Identify key planning & design decisions for adaptive trail standards
  • Recognize opportunities to expand accessibility during construction
  • Describe construction approaches & design considerations
  • Outline strategies for promoting adaptive trails
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Webinar: Local Assistance Day

August 11, 2026, 8:30am – 11:30am PT


Caltrans DLA and CALTAP present another edition of Local Assistance Day, the quarterly statewide webinar designed to update and inform our RTPA, MPO, local agency, and tribal partners. LAD is free to attend and all interested transportation stakeholders are invited.


Planned Topics Include:


  • Updates from Caltrans DLA
  • SafeTREC Safety Resources
  • HSIP Cycle 13 Call for Projects & Best Practices
  • Office of Civil Compliance on DBE
  • Upcoming Training Opportunities
  • Plus: Meet the new RTPA 2026-27 Moderator!

Webinar: Generational Differences

August 11, 2026, 6am–8am PT



This webinar focuses on the highlights of the various generations in the workplace and how to effectively bridge the generational gap.


Generational differences are ever-present in the workplace and can impact effective communication and cohesive team building. Breaking them down can help us understand perspectives and how people approach their work.

Webinar: Public Customer Service

August 11, 2026, 6am–8am PT



Working and navigating public customer service presents its own unique set of challenges. This webinar shares an overview on public interfacing, including some of the misconceptions the public might have about government, the nature of hostile and abusive behavior, and specific strategies for defusing and managing challenging situations.

Webinar: Employee Recruitment & Retention

August 13, 2026, 6am–8am PT



Does your employee recruitment resemble a game of einy, meeny, miny, moe? The Employee Recruitment & Retention webinar offers tips & tricks for tackling the tough stuff: hiring good, honest, dependable employees


During this webinar, presenters examine recruitment and interview strategies that will help you find the best candidate for your open positions.

Other Upcoming Trainings & Events


Pothole Patching & Repair | July 8, 2026, 1–3:30pm

This 2-hour online training compares partial and full-depth repair techniques along with the materials used to implement them


What is GIS? | July 8, 2026, 8–9am

This GIS webinar explores fundamental concepts, spatial data sources, and software tools applicable across various research fields


Intro to Pavement Engineering & Mgmt. | July 8-15, 2026, 1–3:30pm

The class provides a basic understanding of how pavement materials, structural design, construction, and asset management interact


Airport Systems Planning & Design | July 13-17, 2026, 8:30–12:30pm

This week long course offers an overview of airport planning and design for those entering or wishing to become more familiar with the field


Safety Data for Funding Applications | July 14, 2026, 9–10am

Learn how to use crash data, CMFs, systemic safety analysis, and other evidence-based tools to identify safety priorities & build stronger applications


Nighttime Visibility: Ask an Expert | July 14, 2026, 11–12pm

Join the Every Day Counts Team for an engaging webinar where you get to ask lighting-related questions directly from a distinguished panel of experts


RSCP: Safety Analysis Process | July 15, 2026, 9am–11:30am

RSCP Core Module #7 will showcase how to apply the safety analysis process to both traditional site reviews and systemic network screenings


ATRC Office Hours | July 16, 2026, 11am–12pm

Join the Active Transportation Resource Center's office hours for questions regarding your Non-Infrastructure or Plan grant


National Regional Transportation Conference | July 20-22, 2026, 8am–5pm

This conference brings together transportation practitioners for three days of keynote addresses, best practices presentations, trainings, & workshops


CA MUTCD 2026 Updates | July 23, 2026, 10am–11am

Join the Active Transportation Resource Center for an overview of key changes in the recently released California MUTCD

Certified Public Infrastructure Inspector


APWA's Certified Public Infrastructure Inspector (CPII) credentialing program promotes quality infrastructure throughout the community by advancing the knowledge and practice of construction inspection.


CPII certification covers key concepts such as materials testing, planning, management, compliance, and documentation. These skills are essential to consistently delivering successful infrastructure projects.

Funding: Sustainable 
Transportation Planning Grants


On June 3rd, Caltrans released Draft FY2027-28 Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant (STPG) Application Guide, describing policies, grant program objectives, administrative requirements, and procedures for submitting a competitive grant application.


Two final virtual public workshops are being held July 15 & 16, 2026 to share a comment summary, anticipated updates, and provide a final opportunity for stakeholders to provide input before releasing the final FY 2027-28 STPG Application Guide and call-for-applications.

Introducing Knowledge Café Tech Tastings


AASHTO's Committee on Knowledge Management recently hosted "Tech Tastings" which brought together transportation professionals to exchange practical ideas, tools, and innovations that improve everyday work.


The session featured short demos from state agencies on knowledge sharing and continuous learning within the transportation community. Presenters showcased software, applications, and practical techniques they use to streamline workflows and increase productivity.

California Autonomous Vehicle Dashboard


UC Berkeley's SafeTREC has launched its new California Autonomous Vehicle Crash Dashboard, providing a public resource to explore autonomous vehicle crash data reported in California.


The dashboard offers an accessible way for the public to better understand the safety performance of this emerging technology as autonomous vehicle (AV) operations continue to expand throughout California.


Information Includes:


  • The number of AV crashes over time
  • Injury severity in reported crashes
  • Types of parties involved in crashes
  • Autonomous vehicle pre-crash movements
  • Geographic locations of crashes

Funding: Transformative Climate

Communities Grants


The TCC program invests in community-led climate resilience projects in the state’s most overburdened communities. Its objectives are to reduce GHG emissions, improve public health and the environment, and support economic opportunity and shared prosperity.


TCC makes available $82.5M in implementation grants and $900K in planning grants. Applications are due NLT September 30, 2026.

Concrete Pavement Week 2026


From June 28th to July 4th, the Southwest Concrete Pavement Association (SWCPA) celebrated the inaugural Concrete Pavement Week to recognize the people, innovation, and commitment behind the pavements that connect our communities, support commerce, and keep our transportation system moving. 


Today’s concrete pavements incorporate innovation in materials, construction practices, sustainability, and long-term performance. These advancements help deliver resilient pavements designed to provide decades of service while reducing maintenance impacts and improving value for the traveling public.

Integrating TSMO into

Transportation Asset Management


NCHRP's Integrating Transportation Systems Management & Operations into Transportation Asset Management: A Guide provides a comprehensive approach for transportation agencies to integrate TSMO into TAM.


This integration helps ensure assets are managed efficiently to support agency goals and operational outcomes by enhancing the performance, reliability, and safety of the transportation system, while optimizing resource allocation.

Other Recordings, Research, & Reports


Podcast: Advancing Accessibility in Transportation

The Stream by AASHTO podcast features an interview with Alan Hejl, who explains how his company Spark Access fosters awareness & accessibility


Recovery Operations Field Manual

APWA's Recovery Operations Field Manual covers what you need to know as you transition from event response to recovery


Recording: 2026 State of the Region Report

SCAG's Exploring Regional Progress with the 2026 State of the Region Report session examines major trends in Southern California


Building Resilient Infrastructure & Communities Grant Program

FEMA's BRIC program makes $1B in federal funding available for hazard mitigation activities


PWX Radio: Social Media Tips

APWA's Public Works Radio explores top social media tips for public-works professionals from the first half of season one


Design Challenge: Fallen Highway Workers Memorial

FHWA is requesting detailed proposals for the design, construction, and installation of a National Fallen Highway Workers Memorial


Institutionalizing the Safe System Approach

NCHRP's Toolkit for Institutionalizing the Safe System Approach presents 30 tools designed to support the broader institutionalization of SSA


Asphalt Paving Guidance in the Field

The Airport Asphalt Pavement Technology Program has transformed the essential Asphalt Paving Handbook into a fully searchable website and app


AI & Big Data in Regional Planning

SCAG's newly released white paper explores how emerging technologies are transforming regional planning


Recording: Project Fit Analysis

Watch this SNCC June presentation to help determine which funding program—SS4A, HSIP, ATP, or others—is the best fit for your specific safety project

More Training Coming Up in July


Need a closer look? Stop by CALTAP.org for a calendar view of upcoming training and events focused specifically on local agency project success.

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California Local Technical Assistance Program

Center for international Trade & Transportation

California State University, Long Beach

6300 E State University Dr, Long Beach, CA 90815

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