The California Transportation Commission (CTC) will decide how billions of dollars are spent in 2026 — from roads and transit to bike paths. Their decisions shape whether California’s transportation system supports cleaner, more affordable travel or reinforces car dependency. 

The first year of California’s 2025–2026 legislative session is in the bag. Are we passing the policies and funding the programs needed to align California’s transportation, housing, and land use — and drive down climate pollution? Not quite. ClimatePlan’s Jeanie Ward-Waller sums it up: “It was a mixed bag — we saw some wins, but also real losses. What matters now is that 2026 sets the stage for 2027, when new leadership will shape where California goes next.” Here’s how it went down: the good, the bad, the ugly, and the unknown.