CA AB1780

Expands Department of Transportation authority to prepare project study reports or equivalent planning documents for any projects on the state highway system, limited by available resources.

Requires the department to pay for its review and approval costs for project study reports prepared by other entities if projects are in an adopted regional transportation plan, voter-approved county sales tax measure, or other voter-approved transportation program; otherwise the preparing entity pays review costs.

Allows local entities to request the department prepare a project study report, with the department having 30 days to determine feasibility; if unable, the requesting entity may prepare the report at its own expense.

Establishes 60-day deadline for department review of submitted reports and 30-day deadline for final determination after revisions; removes previous California Transportation Commission guidelines requirement.

Mandates open and continuous communication between the department, requesting entity, and regional transportation planning agencies during project study report development.