Section 14526.8 - [Effective 1/1/2025] Consultation with agencies for guidance in implementation(a)(1) Consistent with proportional progress toward the 10-year targets of the relevant State Highway System Management Plan, the department shall commit to specific 4-year targets to incorporate complete streets facilities, including pedestrian and bicycle facilities that are not otherwise required under the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 12101 et seq.), into projects funded by the state highway operation and protection program, including on entrances and exits that interact with local streets.(2) Beginning with the 2028 state highway operation and protection program, the department shall, to the extent feasible and appropriate, in locations with current or future transit priority needs, provide and improve transit priority facilities on the state highway system in a manner consistent with the department's most recent guidance, transit plans, and the State Highway System Management Plan.(b)(1) For projects funded by the state highway operation and protection program with complete streets facilities, the department shall consult with, and document consultation with, public agencies and representatives from local bicycle, pedestrian, and transit advisory committees, community-based organizations, or other local stakeholders impacted by the project. In consultation with stakeholders, the department shall develop guidance to implement this subdivision.(2) A project with complete streets facilities in an underserved community shall include specific outreach targeted to the most underserved areas. The department shall establish a definition for "underserved community," to be used for purposes of this section, and that definition may include both of the following: (A) Equity priority communities based on the departments's transportation equity index or a similar or successor tool established by the department.(B) Disadvantaged communities, as defined by a region following a stakeholder engagement process that is part of a regular four-year cycle adoption of a regional transportation plan by a metropolitan planning organization or a regional transportation planning agency.(c) If the department decides to not include complete streets facilities in a manner consistent with the department's guidance on any project in the state highway operation and protection program, the justification for that decision shall be documented with final approval by the director or an executive with authority delegated by the director, and posted to the department's public internet website. If the director delegates approval authority described in this subdivision to an executive at the district level, the department shall develop guidance for those approvals, in consultation with stakeholders.Added by Stats 2024 ch 630 (SB 960),s 4, eff. 1/1/2025.