Sierra County 2025 Regional Transportation Plan

The Sierra County Transportation Commission (SCTC) serves as the Regional Transportation Planning Agency (RTPA) for Sierra County, ensuring the alignment of local, state, and federal transportation objectives. The SCTC’s mission includes facilitating sustainable, safe, and equitable transportation solutions that enhance mobility for all residents and visitors. As a predominantly rural county with dispersed population centers like Loyalton, Downieville, Alleghany, Pike, Verdi, Sierra City, Calpine, and Sierraville, SCTC addresses unique challenges, including limited transit access, aging infrastructure, and diverse stakeholder interests. The Sierra County Transportation Commission (SCTC) is the Regional Transportation Planning Agency (RTPA) for Sierra County, responsible for overseeing the development and implementation of transportation planning within the region. As a rural county nestled in the northern Sierra Nevada, Sierra County’s transportation network serves diverse needs, including local travel, tourism, and emergency services. SCTC’s mission is to ensure a transportation system that is safe, efficient, and accessible to all residents while preserving the county’s natural environment. Federal law (Title 23 CFR 450.300, Subpart B) and California Government Code Section 65080 mandate RTPAs to prepare long-range transportation plans to guide transportation investments over a minimum 20-year horizon. The 2025 Sierra County Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) serves as a roadmap for addressing current transportation challenges and preparing for future needs. By updating the RTP every four to five years, Sierra County remains eligible for critical state and federal funding programs. The RTPA is required by California law to adopt and submit an updated Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) to the California Transportation Commission (CTC) and to the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) every five years. The last update to the Sierra County RTP was adopted in 2020. The planning horizon for the 2025 Sierra County RTP is 2045, with transportation improvements in the RTP identified as short-term (0-10 years) and long term (11-20 years). The 2025 Regional Transportation Plan is considered a “Project” under CEQA, and this Initial Study is focused on the Plan as a long-term planning effort. Projects identified within the Plan will be individually evaluated under CEQA at the project level when the project is being delivered. The RTP update must be consistent with the Caltrans 2024 Regional Transportation Plan Guidelines for Regional Transportation Planning Agencies, which requires inclusion of program-level outcome-based performance measures and close ties to the Regional Transportation Improvement Program (RTIP) and the Interregional Transportation Improvement Program (ITIP). The overall focus of the 2025 RTP is directed at developing a coordinated and balanced multimodal regional transportation system that is financially constrained to the revenues anticipated over the life of the plan. The RTP is a result of coordination between County, Caltrans, local communities, governmental resource agencies, commercial interests, and residents. Balance is achieved by considering investments and improvements for moving people and goods across all modes including roads, transit, bicycle, pedestrian, trucking, and aviation. The 2025 RTP builds on the foundation of the 2020 plan, incorporating updated data and addressing new priorities, such as climate resilience, equity, and emerging technologies. It considers all modes of transportation, including roadways, public transit, active transportation, freight, aviation, and emergency routes. Developed through collaboration with Caltrans, Tribal governments, community stakeholders, and the public, the RTP aligns with state and federal goals while addressing Sierra County’s unique rural context.