What you need to know: Caltrans is awarding more than $51 million in planning grants to 89 projects to help make the state’s transportation system more resilient to the impacts of climate change. Of the total, $48.3 million (94 percent) will benefit disadvantaged communities.
SACRAMENTO — With a majority of funding coming from Governor Gavin Newsom’s clean transportation infrastructure package and the California Climate Commitment, Caltrans today awarded $51.4 million in planning grants for 89 sustainable, climate-resilient transportation projects throughout California to help communities better withstand the impacts of extreme weather events fueled by climate change.
The selected projects will help reduce planet-warming pollution, improve resiliency of the state highway system, enhance access to safe walkways and bike paths, and expand natural disaster preparedness. Nearly $29 million comes from one-time state and federal sources made possible by Governor Newsom’s historic $15 billion clean transportation package in the 2022-23 state budget to further the state’s ambitious climate goals. Another $12.4 million comes from Senate Bill (SB) 1, the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017. The awards will fund project planning and conceptual design efforts, helping move the projects closer to construction.
“California is at the forefront of planning transportation projects built to help underserved communities withstand the effects of climate change,” said Caltrans Director Tony Tavares. “By working closely with local partners, we can maintain a sustainable, adaptable and resilient transportation system that will serve all Californians far into the future.”
In total, Caltrans will fund:
- $28.8 million in Climate Adaptation Planning Grants – all from Governor Newsom’s clean transportation infrastructure package – to 30 local, regional and transit agencies to identify transportation-related climate vulnerabilities through the development of climate adaptation plans, as well as project-level adaptation planning to address climate impacts to transportation infrastructure. Ninety-seven percent of these projects will benefit disadvantaged communities.
- $19.2 million in Sustainable Communities Competitive and Technical Grants to 50 local, regional and transit agencies for transportation and land use planning, as well as planning for electric vehicle charging infrastructure. This includes more than $6 million to fund planning for 16 projects that improve safety and access for people who walk and bike. Ninety-two percent of these projects will benefit disadvantaged communities.
- $3.4 million in federally funded Strategic Partnerships Grants to nine projects that will plan for managed lanes, training and certification for local elected officials, comprehensive multimodal corridors, transit network and comprehensive operational analyses, improve interregional ADA paratransit coordination, develop airport passenger transportation recommendations, develop a zero-emissions bus fleet, coordinate multimodal transportation and land use compatibility.
District 1 projects include:
- Climate Adaptation Planning for Transportation Drainage Infrastructure - The project is specific to drainage infrastructure within the Del Norte County maintained road system. A countywide geographic information system (GIS) documenting existing drainage infrastructure associated with the County maintained road system will be developed. Existing conditions will be evaluated relative to anticipated impacts from climate change through a hydrology and hydraulics analysis, and a capital improvement plan (CIP) for county drainage infrastructure will be developed. Improvements included in the CIP may be designed up to 30% to inform future climate adaptation project development efforts and the Regional Transportation Plan. The project will prioritize public engagement, climate adaptation planning and the program objectives outlined by the grant.
- Humboldt Partnering Assets & Authorities for Comprehensive Transit (PAACT) - The project will build strong government-to-government partnerships, harnessing interagency leadership to reshape the region’s transit system into a more connected, efficient, and more user-focused multi-modal network that attracts significantly more users in upcoming years. A transit network analysis will complement the short-term Transit Development Plan by identifying long-term opportunities to coordinate or consolidate routes, services, and/or governance, and leverage additional funding sources to expand transit service and multimodal options. The project will focus on building strong working relationships among Humboldt County Association of Governments, Humboldt Transit Authority, other transit and mobility-service providers, Caltrans, local tribes, cities, and county agencies to collaboratively plan transportation and land use.
- Lake County Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Plan - The Project aims to develop a Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) charging/fueling infrastructure plan. This project allows Lake County to join a larger energy network with neighboring jurisdictions that have already developed an electric vehicle charging network with future expansion, while Lake County’s budget constraints have limited such progress. Aligned with the State’s 2021 Climate Action Plan for Transportation Infrastructure, the project emphasizes investment in ZEV infrastructure, especially in rural areas. It involves collaboration with local Lake County agencies, including planning and public works, as well as tribal governments, to assess ZEV infrastructure needs and integrate these into land use and planning tools.
- Mendocino County Sea Level Rise Roadway Impact Study - This project will develop a feasibility study to identify, analyze, and propose modifications to at-risk Mendocino County coastal roads vulnerable to sea level encroachments. The study is needed to identify the facilities at risk of failure due to impacts of sea-level rise & climate change. Project deliverables include preliminary reports and cost estimates, alternative analysis report, and draft/final reports. The desired outcome is a final report detailing locations of at-risk roads, existing conditions, prioritization, and feasible alternatives for modifications. Parties involved include Mendocino Council of Governments, Caltrans District 1, Mendocino County Department of Transportation, City of Fort Bragg, City of Point Arena, Gualala and Westport Municipal Advisory Councils, tribes, community-based organizations, public safety officials, community members, and elected officials.
View the complete list of this year’s planning grant project awardees.
Caltrans awards transportation planning grants each year through a competitive process to encourage local and regional projects. Applications are evaluated on how projects advance state transportation and climate goals by identifying and addressing statewide, interregional, or regional transportation deficiencies on the highway system. The grant program began in the 2015-16 fiscal year. Since then, Caltrans has awarded 685 planning grants totaling $266 million, and more than 60 percent of those projects have been completed.
SB 1 provides $5 billion in transportation funding annually that is shared between state and local agencies. Road projects progress through construction phases more quickly based on the availability of SB 1 funds, including projects that are partially funded by SB 1.
Find more projects that are building California’s climate-friendly future at build.ca.gov and RebuildingCA.ca.gov.