Local Assistance Procedures Manual · January 2026

Chapter 1 — Introduction and Overview

7 sections14 terms10 quiz items1 figureSource: LAPM Ch 1, p.1–3
Phase: Orientation · LAPM Structure · Federal vs State Project Coverage

The orientation chapter — Title 23, the LAPG companion, and the chapter map

The 23 USC framework that Caltrans cannot delegate. The LAPM-LAPG-SER three-manual stack. The federal-aid full-coverage rule vs the state-only partial-coverage carve-out: state projects use Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 16, 17. And the annual January publication cycle.

§1.1 · Purpose · What the LAPM is for

A procedural manual for LPAs using Federal-aid or state funding

The LAPM is intended to assist California LPAs scope, organize, design, construct, and maintain local public transportation facilities utilizing FHWA Federal-aid or state funding.

"The LAPM describes the required processes, procedures, documents, authorizations, approvals, and certifications to receive Federal-aid and/or state funds for many types of local transportation projects."

The audience: city engineers, public works directors, project managers, consultants, and Caltrans DLAEs who must navigate the procedural requirements for LPA projects. For StanCOG and its 11 member jurisdictions, the LAPM defines essentially every procedural touchpoint of a federal-aid project lifecycle.

§1.2 · Background · The non-delegable Title 23 responsibility

Title 23 USC and Caltrans' permanent administrative role

The LAPM is a compilation and summary of information from many sources including federal and state laws, regulations, and guidelines. Reflects practices and procedures developed over many years.

"These practices and procedures have been modified by superseding legislation which has provided LPAs with broad delegation, latitude, and responsibility for developing its projects."

Title 23 USC — Caltrans cannot delegate the umbrella responsibility "However, under Title 23 of the United States Code (U.S.C), Caltrans is responsible for the administration of Federal-aid transportation projects in California and cannot delegate this overall administrative responsibility."

This is the structural foundation of every chapter in the LAPM. Caltrans can delegate specific approval actions to LPAs (and through the Stewardship and Oversight Agreement, FHWA delegates most actions to Caltrans), but the umbrella accountability to FHWA for compliance with Title 23 sits with Caltrans permanently. The LPA inherits delegated authority through the Master Agreement (Ch 4), but the LPA's compliance ultimately reflects on Caltrans.
§1.3 · Related Manuals · The three-manual stack

LAPM + LAPG + SER (and a fourth for SHS projects)

ManualPurposeUse it for
LAPMLocal Assistance Procedures Manual. Procedures required to process LPA projects.How to do each step of a project. PS&E, R/W certification, consultant selection, audits.
LAPGLocal Assistance Program Guidelines. Describes each Federal-aid and state-funded Local Assistance program.Which program funds what kind of project. STBG eligibility, ATP scoring, CMAQ rules, HSIP processes, HBP procedures.
SERStandard Environmental Reference. Departmental policy and guidance on compliance with NEPA and related federal environmental laws.NEPA documents (CE, EA, EIS); cultural resources; biological reviews. Used statewide by LPAs and Caltrans.
Caltrans ManualsFor LPA projects on the State Highway System (SHS), all applicable Caltrans manuals and guidelines must be used.Caltrans Standard Specifications (CTSS), Construction Manual (CTCM), PDPM, Highway Design Manual.

"The LAPG provides detailed descriptions of the various state and federal programs available for financing local public transportation projects."

Cross-reference: PlanCheck reviewers regularly bounce between LAPM procedures (the "how") and LAPG program guidelines (the "which fund"). LAPG Chapters 23-25 cover state-only programs in detail.

§1.4 & §1.5 · Terms · Acronyms

Pinned external resources

DLA Glossary: https://dot.ca.gov/-/media/dot-media/programs/local-assistance/documents/guide/dla-glossary.pdf

DLA Acronyms List: https://dot.ca.gov/-/media/dot-media/programs/local-assistance/documents/guide/dla-acronyms.pdf

Both are updated on rolling basis and reflect current LAPM/LAPG terminology. Anyone reading the LAPM regularly should bookmark both — the LAPM uses dense acronym strings (CIAO, IOAI, DLAE, RBPI, CTC, MPO, RTPA, FTIP, FSTIP, FHWA, FMIS, FADS, etc.) and frequent reference back to the glossary saves wasted lookup time.

§1.6 · LAPM Organization · Federal vs State Coverage

The full-Federal-aid stack vs the state-only carve-out

"The LAPM is divided into individual chapters that describe processes and/or procedural steps important to the development of a Local Assistance project. Projects may not need to fulfill each process to be successfully implemented and to be eligible for federal or state funding, but each should be considered."

The state-only carve-out — 8 chapters apply "Projects utilizing only state funds require less oversight and review than those with Federal-aid funds. Not all of the processes described in the chapters of this manual apply to these projects. LAPM Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 16, and 17 apply in whole, or in part, to these projects. The LAPG further defines these programs."

State-only projects skip the federal-specific chapters: Ch 6 (NEPA/Environmental — CEQA still applies through the SER but federal NEPA does not), Ch 7 (Field Review), Ch 8 (Public Hearings), Ch 9 (DBE/Civil Rights — federal DBE requirements don't attach to state-only funds), Chs 11-15 (Design, PS&E, R/W, Utility, Advertise-and-Award federal-specific procedures), Ch 18 (Federal-aid maintenance), Ch 20 (Federal audits). Roles, Authorization (state allocation), Agreements (state-only Master), Invoicing, Consultant Selection (still QBS for engineering), Construction admin (CTSS still applies), and Project Completion are common.
Figure 1-A · LAPM Chapter Map by Project Phase
LAPM CHAPTERS BY PROJECT PHASE FOUNDATIONS Ch 1 — Intro/Overview Ch 2 — Roles & Responsibilities Ch 3 — Project Authorization FINANCIAL Ch 4 — Agreements Ch 5 — Invoicing PROJECT INITIATION Ch 6 — Environmental Ch 7 — Field Review Ch 8 — Public Hearings PROCUREMENT Ch 9 — DBE/Civil Rights Ch 10 — Consultant Selection DESIGN Ch 11 — Design Guidance Ch 12 — PS&E PROPERTY Ch 13 — Right of Way Ch 14 — Utility Relocations CONSTRUCTION Ch 15 — Advertise & Award Ch 16 — Administer Contracts Ch 17 — Project Completion POST-COMPLETION Ch 18 — Maintenance Ch 19 — (Reserved) Ch 20 — Audits & Corrective STATE-ONLY COVERAGE Apply: Ch 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 16, 17 Skip federal-only: Ch 6, 7, 8, 9, 11-15, 18, 20
The LAPM chapter structure is roughly chronological. Federal-aid projects engage all 19 active chapters (Ch 19 is reserved). State-only projects engage just 8 — but those 8 are nontrivial and still drive PSA execution, invoicing rules, A&E QBS procurement, construction administration, and FROE submission.

Chapter Summary Index

  • Ch 2 Roles and Responsibilities — FHWA, Caltrans, LPA, CTC, MPO/RTPA. Person in responsible charge.
  • Ch 3 Project Authorization — E-76, PE/R/W/CON phases, PED, advance construction, toll credit.
  • Ch 4 Agreements — Master Agreement and Program Supplement Agreement.
  • Ch 5 Invoicing — Reimbursement requirements, monthly invoicing, EFT, pro rata vs lump sum.
  • Ch 6-8 Environmental Procedures, Field Review, Public Hearings — project initiation.
  • Ch 9 Civil Rights and DBE — required for federal-aid contracts with subcontracting opportunities.
  • Ch 10 Consultant Selection — A&E procurement, QBS, ICR review.
  • Chs 11-12 Design Guidance and PS&E — design standards, plans/specs/estimate development.
  • Chs 13-14 Right of Way and Utility Relocations.
  • Chs 15-17 Advertise and Award, Administer Construction Contracts, Project Completion.
  • Ch 18 Maintenance — ongoing post-acceptance responsibilities.
  • Ch 19 Reserved for future use.
  • Ch 20 Audits and Corrective Actions — CIAO and IOAI.
§1.7 · LAPM Updates · Annual January Publication

January cycle, LPP supplements, DLA-OB interim updates

"The LAPM is updated on an annual basis and published every January."

Three forms of updates accumulate between full publications:

  1. Annual full publication — every January, the full LAPM is reissued reflecting all formal changes
  2. Local Programs Procedures (LPPs) — used for the formal deployment of new procedures and policy changes. Numbered by calendar year and order (e.g., LPP 20-01, LPP 25-01)
  3. DLA Office Bulletins (DLA-OBs) — interim policy/procedure updates. "ALERT: Some portions of these LPPs along with the LAPM and LAPG may have been superseded by Division of Local Assistance Office Bulletins (DLA-OBs). Always check DLA-OBs for any recent policy or procedure updates that have not yet been issued as LPPs."

Comments and suggestions for improvement to the manual: DLAPublications@dot.ca.gov.

The check-DLA-OBs rule The LAPM publishes annually, but DLA-OBs update the procedural details much more frequently. For example, LAPM 3-A (Project Authorization/Adjustment Request) was introduced via DLA-OB 18-03 in late 2018 — and didn't show up in a full LAPM publication until later. For any critical procedural step, particularly during pre-award and authorization, always cross-check the LAPM section against the current DLA-OB list. A 2026 LAPM section may already be superseded by a 2026 mid-year DLA-OB.
Section · Self-check

Ten questions on Chapter 1

LAPM purpose, related manuals, chapter coverage rules, update mechanisms.

SCORE 0/10
References cited in this chapter
  • LAPM Ch 1 (2026) · the primary source
  • Title 23 United States Code · Federal-aid Highway Program
  • Local Assistance Program Guidelines (LAPG)
  • Standard Environmental Reference (SER)
  • DLA Glossary · https://dot.ca.gov/-/media/dot-media/programs/local-assistance/documents/guide/dla-glossary.pdf
  • DLA Acronyms List · https://dot.ca.gov/-/media/dot-media/programs/local-assistance/documents/guide/dla-acronyms.pdf
  • LAPM home · https://dot.ca.gov/programs/local-assistance/guidelines-and-procedures/local-assistance-procedures-manual-lapm
  • Local Programs Procedures (LPPs) · https://dot.ca.gov/programs/local-assistance/guidelines-and-procedures/local-programs-procedures-lpp
  • Division of Local Assistance Office Bulletins (DLA-OBs)
  • DLAPublications@dot.ca.gov · LAPM feedback inbox