Caltrans Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant Program

The Fiscal Year 2015-16 Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant Application Period is Now Closed

Caltrans received 190 grant applications totaling $41.1 million in requests for the Fiscal Year 2015-16 grant cycle. Caltrans management is now in the process of approving the Headquarters Review Committees' grant award recommendations. Grant awards are anticipated to be announced during March/April 2015.

The Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant Program was created to support the California Department of Transportation’s (Caltrans) current Mission:  Provide a safe, sustainable, integrated and efficient transportation system to enhance California’s economy and livability. 

Current significant efforts were also considered during grant program development, such as:

• California Transportation Infrastructure Priorities Vision and Core Concepts;
• State Smart Transportation Initiative Assessment and Recommendations;
• Caltrans Program Review Major Actions;
• California Transportation Plan 2040 Vision and Goals;
• Smart Mobility 2010 Principles. 

Grant Program Overarching Objectives were also identified to ensure consideration of these major efforts in transportation planning, including: Sustainability, Preservation, Mobility, Safety, Innovation, Economy, Health, and Equity. 

In addition, grant administration processes have been streamlined and made consistent to benefit our partners.  Most notable is the earlier release date of the Grant Application Guide, the earlier application deadline, and an earlier grant award announcement date.  With this advanced process, grant recipients can anticipate starting project activities in July 2015, pending State Budget approval.

The intent of the Grant Program remains unchanged.  Although dedicated grants no longer exist for Environmental Justice, Community-Based Transportation Planning, and Transit Planning, these important areas are still eligible for funding under the new Grant Program.  Caltrans still provides transportation planning grants to promote a balanced, comprehensive multimodal transportation system.  However, Caltrans revised the Grant Program to reflect current goals that direct us to emphasize more transportation planning efforts that promote sustainability.

These grants may be used for a wide range of transportation planning purposes, which address local and regional transportation needs and issues.  The implementation of these grants should ultimately lead to the adoption, initiation, and programming of transportation improvements.  The Caltrans Division of Transportation Planning provides the following transportation planning grants:

• Strategic Partnerships
• Sustainable Communities

Fiscal Year (FY) 2014-15 Schedule for FY 2015-16 Grant Awards

September 2, 2014 — Release Call for Applications – COMPLETE

October 31 at 5 PM – Application Deadline – COMPLETE

November – District Grant Application Review/Ranking – COMPLETE

December/January – HQ Grant Committee Review/Funding Recommendations – COMPLETE

February/March – Management Approval of Committee Recommendations – IN PROGRESS

March – Send Preliminary Notifications to All Applicants

April – Send Conditional Award Letters with State Budget Contingency

July 2015– Grantees May Begin Work, Pending State Budget Approval

Grant Program Information

More information about each grant's purpose and goal, eligibility, and grant funding cap can be found in the Office of Regional Planning's grants website.

Archived Grants Information

Fiscal Years 2000/01 to 2014/15

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