(a) The Active Transportation Program shall be funded by state and federal funds from appropriations in the annual Budget Act. Funds for the program shall be appropriated to the department, for allocation by the commission. The amount to be appropriated shall include 100 percent of the federal Transportation Alternative Program funds, except for any federal Recreational Trails Program funds appropriated to the Department of Parks and Recreation; twenty-one million dollars ($21,000,000) of federal Highway Safety Improvement funds or other federal funds; and State Highway Account funds. Future funding may be augmented if state or federal funds increase, or if other funding sources are identified. Funds appropriated for the Active Transportation Program shall be distributed as follows:

(1) Forty percent to metropolitan planning organizations in urban areas with populations greater than 200,000, in proportion to their relative share of population. Funds allocated under this paragraph shall be obligated for eligible projects selected through a competitive process by the metropolitan planning organizations in consultation with the department and the commission and in accordance with guidelines established pursuant to this chapter.

(2) Ten percent to small urban and rural regions with populations of 200,000 or less, with projects competitively awarded by the commission to projects in those regions.

(3) Fifty percent to projects competitively awarded by the commission on a statewide basis.

(b) For the purpose of paragraph (1) of subdivision (a), the following shall apply in the region served by the multicounty designated transportation planning agency described in Section 130004 of the Public Utilities Code:

(1) The multicounty designated transportation planning agency shall consult with the county transportation commissions created pursuant to Sections 130050, 130050.1, and 132800 of the Public Utilities Code, the commission, and the department in the development of competitive selection criteria to be adopted by the multicounty designated transportation planning agency, which should include consideration of geographic equity, consistent with program objectives.

(2) The multicounty designated transportation planning agency shall place priority on projects that are consistent with plans adopted by local and regional governments within the county where the project is located.

(3) The multicounty designated transportation planning agency shall obtain concurrence from the county transportation commissions, adopt the projects selected in a comprehensive program of projects, and make funds available to selected project recipients.

(c) The Legislature finds and declares that the program described in this chapter constitutes a highway purpose under Article XIX of the California Constitution and justifies the expenditure of highway funds therefor, and all expenditures of Article XIX funds under this program shall be consistent with Article XIX.

(Added by Stats. 2013, Ch. 359, Sec. 15. (SB 99) Effective September 26, 2013.)