The ATP was created by Senate Bill (SB) 99 in 2013, with the first competitive program in 2014. The ATP combines several smaller active transportation funding sources into one larger program with broader eligibilities. The primary goal of the ATP is to increase use of active modes, and SB 99 requires that a minimum of 25 percent of ATP funds must benefit disadvantaged communities.
The ATP is a highly competitive program jointly managed by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and the California Transportation Commission (CTC). The ATP has a sequential selection process split between a statewide competition followed by regional competitions, each with its own funds. Projects that are unsuccessful in the statewide ATP can then compete for funding in the Regional ATP. Regional ATP evaluation criteria include deliverability measures to emphasize the importance of keeping funds in our region.
SACOG staff work with El Dorado County Transportation Commission and Placer County Transportation Planning Agency to develop and implement the Regional ATP. The Statewide ATP Guidelines place restrictions on how regions can distribute funds, but MPOs can submit regional guidelines to the CTC for approval to use in regional processes. CTC identified the areas to which a Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) can propose changes when implementing a regional program. Those areas are scoring criteria and weighting, minimum project sizes, match requirements, definitions of disadvantaged communities, and using a supplemental call for projects and applications.
2027 ATP Cycle 8
March 19-20, 2026 - Statewide call for projects
June 22, 2026 - Statewide ATP deadline
June 25 or 26, 2026 Regional ATP call for projects (aligned with CTC adoption of Policy Framework)
September 30, 2026 - Project applications due to SACOG
November 2026 - Statewide recommendations released
March 2027 - SACOG staff funding recommendations
April 2027 - SACOG Board adopts funding recommendations
April 2027 - SACOG funding recommendations submitted to CTC
June 2027 - CTC adopts SACOG selected ATP projects
2027 ATP Cycle 8
SACOG's Cycle 8 Regional ATP (R-ATP) total amount available is $20,518,434
- $17,331,000 is available for all eligible project types
- $3,187,434 is available in a set aside for trails
Cycle 8 R-ATP Call for Projects Open June 26 through September 30, 2026. If you have any questions, please contact Summer Lopez slopez@sacog.ca.gov.
Instructions: Please review ALL documents below. Important context and further information on each question and how it will be scored can be found in the Instructions and Scoring Criteria.
Required forms for all applications:
The following resources are meant to help you plan for and prepare your ATP application. As always, if you have questions or would like 1:1 support to talk about your application, please reach out to Summer Lopez (slopez@sacog.org)