Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 25480. Section 25480.
As used in this chapter, “department” means the Department of Transportation.
CHAPTER 5.8. Energy Conservation in Transportation [25480. - 25485.]
Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC 5.8.
in effectCal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 25481. Section 25481.
The Legislature hereby finds and declares that:
(a)
Due to the projected rapid growth in demand for energy, coupled with the mounting difficulties in providing energy supplies, a continuing energy shortage exists, posing a significant danger to public health and welfare.
(b)
The use of the automobile represents the single largest use of energy in this state and, therefore, the growing use of energy by automobiles is a major factor contributing to such shortage.
(c)
Heavy automobile traffic in our major cities has resulted in serious problems of air pollution and traffic congestion.
(d)
Increased ridesharing by commuters would aid in lowering air pollution levels, conserving energy, and reducing urban traffic congestion.
It is, therefore, the purpose of this chapter to provide incentives for the wider use of ridesharing by commuters in metropolitan areas.
Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 25482. Section 25482.
All state agencies shall provide assistance to their employees living in metropolitan areas in establishing carpools and locating potential carpool participants. The department shall be responsible for coordinating these efforts.
Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 25483. Section 25483.
In order to perform its new function of promoting and assisting ridesharing, the department is authorized to establish ridesharing programs in metropolitan areas for public and private employees with funds made available for such purpose from any source. The ridesharing programs may be established and maintained entirely by the department or by the department in cooperation with public or private parties pursuant to contract.
Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 25484. Section 25484.
The ridesharing programs established by the department may include, but are not limited to, computer or manual matching systems, promotional efforts to encourage carpooling, vanpooling, buspooling, and flexible work hours, and preferential treatment on highways.
Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 25485. Section 25485.
The department shall develop programs and undertake any necessary construction to establish, for the use of carpool vehicles carrying at least three persons, preferential lanes on major freeways in metropolitan areas where the total benefits to the carpool vehicles will bear a reasonable relationship to the total adverse effects on the remaining vehicles, as established on the basis of an engineering study. The department shall also permit such carpool vehicles to have access to preferential bus lanes established on major freeways, unless congestion seriously impeding the travel of buses will result or will present a serious traffic hazard.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026