The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) is inviting county transportation and planning agencies to participate in its TNC Access for All Program as Local Access Fund Administrators (LAFAs) for fiscal years 2026–2027. The initiative aims to expand on-demand wheelchair accessible vehicle (WAV) services across the state.
Established under Senate Bill 1376 and extended through Assembly Bill 1532, the TNC Access for All Program is authorized through January 1, 2032. It provides funding to improve access to WAV services, particularly in areas where such transportation remains limited.
Counties selected as LAFAs will have a direct role in shaping local WAV programs. According to the CPUC, “Becoming a LAFA is not just an administrative role. It is a chance for counties to directly shape how accessible transportation works for their residents.”
LAFAs will be responsible for managing program funds at the county level, developing plans tailored to local needs, coordinating with on-demand transportation providers, and ensuring compliance with program requirements. The approach allows counties flexibility in addressing specific service gaps within their communities.
“Counties can design a local program that reflects their geography, travel patterns, and service gaps, while working directly with local transportation providers. The result is more reliable access to jobs, health care, education, and community life for residents who rely on wheelchair accessible transportation,” according to the CPUC.
Eligible applicants include Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs), Regional Transportation Planning Agencies (RTPAs), county transportation commissions not already designated as MPOs or RTPAs, and qualifying local transit agencies if other categories do not apply.
Applications are due by April 1, 2026. Required materials include a completed LAFA application with certification of program requirements, a notarized affidavit agreeing to all terms, and a Payee Data Record form. Applications must be submitted via email to tncaccess@cpuc.ca.gov.
The CPUC expects to select LAFAs by July 1, 2026. After selection, approved administrators must submit additional documentation within 15 days so that funding can be distributed by September 30 and local planning can begin promptly.
Following selection as a LAFA, counties will develop WAV programs with community input and set up processes for selecting access providers. They will also coordinate quarterly data reporting with the CPUC during implementation.
The full development period runs from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027; contracting with access providers starts July 1, 2027. All Round 6 funds must be liquidated by June 30, 2028.
The CPUC emphasizes that “Transportation access is about more than travel. It is about independence, dignity, and the ability to fully participate in community life.”
Additional information—including each county’s Notice of Funding Availability—is available on the CPUC’s TNC Access for All webpage.
