Government Code § 14556.14
ARTICLE 3. Fund Allocation and Expenditure
The commission shall ascertain from the appropriate regional transportation planning agency that a project is included in, or is consistent with, the appropriate regional transportation plan before approving a project application involving right-of-way or construction phases. A project that involves only studies or project development phases is not required to be included in a regional transportation plan, unless federal funds will also be used to fund the project.