TLDR: The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is significantly expanding its use of artificial intelligence, particularly generative AI, to improve traffic management, enhance roadway safety, and boost internal efficiencies. Following successful pilot projects, the department is strengthening its data strategy and policy framework, and is actively recruiting a Chief Data and AI Officer to spearhead these initiatives, aligning with Governor Newsom’s broader state executive order on AI.
The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is making significant strides in integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into its operations, with recent updates highlighting successful pilot projects and ambitious future plans. These initiatives aim to leverage AI to enhance traffic management, improve roadway safety, and streamline internal processes, positioning Caltrans at the forefront of AI adoption within state government.
Caltrans has already seen success with two generative AI pilot projects, prompting the department to further bolster its policy and data efforts. The agency is actively exploring additional applications for AI technology across its daily operations. A key component of this expansion is the recruitment for a Chief Data and Artificial Intelligence Officer (CDAO), a visionary leader tasked with driving the department’s enterprise data strategy and accelerating the responsible use of AI. This role, which has been held in an acting capacity by Dara Wheeler since May 2025, is critical for developing and implementing policies, strategies, and operations related to enterprise data management, analytics, data governance, digital transformation, and the ethical deployment of AI. According to California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA) Deputy Secretary Marcie Kahbody, this position will “drive the department’s enterprise data strategy and accelerate the responsible use of artificial intelligence.”
Among the specific AI use cases being pursued, Caltrans is utilizing generative AI to investigate near misses of injuries and fatalities. This involves identifying high-risk areas and monitoring the effectiveness of interventions designed to increase the safety of vulnerable road users, such as cyclists and pedestrians. In one such project, Deloitte Consulting, LLP, employed Gemini GenAI technology to pinpoint high-collision locations and recommend targeted safety improvements across the highway system.
Furthermore, Caltrans is harnessing AI to process and interpret complex data, aiming to improve traffic pattern analysis, address bottlenecks, and enhance overall traffic management. A partnership involving Azure Open AI technology, developed by Microsoft and utilized by Accenture, LLP, has been instrumental in analyzing vast amounts of data from authentic sources to develop solutions for reducing traffic congestion, enhancing incident response, and improving transit reliability. The next phase of this project will involve analyzing real-time and historical roadway data to predict traffic bottlenecks, detect incidents faster, and identify locations for safety enhancements, ultimately empowering Caltrans to improve mobility and reduce delays statewide. AI is also being explored for boosting call center productivity.
These efforts are part of a broader statewide initiative under Governor Gavin Newsom’s Executive Order on Generative Artificial Intelligence, which seeks to integrate cutting-edge AI technology into state operations. Caltrans is one of four departments specifically tasked with piloting real-world AI use cases as part of this executive order. California Government Operations Agency Secretary Nick Maduros emphasized the state’s commitment, stating, “We are committed to harnessing the latest technologies to better serve Californians. With GenAI, we’re improving government service while also showing the benefits this California-based industry can bring to governments all over the world.”
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Looking ahead, Caltrans is focused on developing a comprehensive AI Strategy and Governance Framework, implementing extensive AI literacy and upskilling programs for its workforce, and fostering organizational adaptation through cross-functional teams to support rapid technological changes. In the near term (1-3 years), the department plans to primarily leverage generative AI through pilot projects aimed at enhancing productivity, such as using AI for data summarization, report drafting, and preliminary data analysis, augmenting human capabilities.
