Caltrans carries out its mission of improving mobility across California through six primary programs including highways, mass transportation, and aeronautics. It manages over 50,000 miles of highways and freeways in the state, provides inter-city rail services, permits 400 public airports, and works with local agencies. The Caltrans Strategic Research Plan from 2008/2009 identified 38 strategic research questions organized under safety, mobility, goods movement, climate change, and infrastructure.

1. Garth Hopkins Chief, Office of Regional and Interagency Planning California Department of Transportation HQ Division of Transportation Planning

3. Manages more than 50,000 miles of California's highway and freeway lanes;

4. Provides inter-city rail services;

5. Permits more than 400 public-use airports and special-use hospital heliports;

6. And work with local/regional agencies.

7. The Caltrans Fiscal Year 2009/10 Highlights Report is available at:http://www.dot.ca.gov/ctjournal/2010-2/

8. The Strategic Research Plan Approved in 2008/2009 Driven by research needs and the Caltrans Strategic Plan 38 Strategic Research Questions (SRQs) 9 Priority SRQs

10. Safety

11. SF1 Design and Construction

12. SF4 Proactive Safety

13. Mobility

14. M1 Data

15. M2 ICM

16. M5 TDM Real Time

17. M6 TDM System Elements

18. Goods Movement

19. M8 Goods Movement

20. Climate Change

21. ST6 Climate Change

22. Infrastructure

25. Alternative Fuels/Vehicles

26. Data, Modeling & Performance Measures

27. Climate Change Adaptation

28. Planning and Policy