Cal. SHC § 2392

A regional transportation planning agency or county transportation commission or authority responsible for preparing a regional transportation improvement plan under Section 14527 of the Government Code or the department may nominate projects for funding through the program that are consistent with the policy objectives of the program as set forth in this chapter. The commission shall allocate no more than one-half of the funds available each year to projects nominated exclusively by the department. Preference shall be given to corridor plans that demonstrate that the plans and the specific project improvements to be undertaken are the result of collaboration between the department and local or regional partners that reflect a comprehensive approach to addressing congestion and quality-of-life issues within the affected corridor through investment in transportation and related environmental solutions. Collaboration between the partners may be demonstrated by a project being jointly nominated by both the regional agency and the department.