California Awards $26 Million in Sustainable Planning Transportation Grants to Local Projects

California Awards $26 Million in Sustainable Planning Transportation Grants to Local Projects

Sacramento – – Caltrans today announced its award of $26.5 million in planning grants for 65 local projects to strengthen climate resiliency, reduce planet-warming pollution, improve bicycle and pedestrian safety and increase natural disaster preparedness throughout California. Including the grants announced today, the Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant program has awarded more than $292 million to 750 projects since 2015.

Nearly $3 million of these funds comes from one-time state and federal sources made possible by Governor Gavin Newsom’s historic $15 billion clean transportation package — part of the 2022-23 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.

“These selected projects will greatly improve mobility statewide by supporting multimodal transportation and help our under-resourced communities become more climate resilient,” said Caltrans Director Dina El-Tawansy. “By supporting our local and tribal partners, California can maintain a sustainable, adaptable and resilient transportation system to help all Californians become better connected.”

Funding includes:

• $21.2 million in Sustainable Communities Competitive and Technical Grants to 51 local and regional, transit agencies and tribes for transportation and land use planning, as well as planning for electric vehicle charging infrastructure. This includes more than $10 million to fund 25 projects that improve safety and access for people who walk and bike. Ninety-four percent of these projects awarded will benefit under-resourced communities.
• $3.1 million in Climate Adaptation Planning Grants – all from Governor Newsom’s clean transportation infrastructure package – to eight local and regional 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. Seventy-five percent of these projects awarded will benefit under-resourced communities.
• $2.2 million in federally funded Strategic Partnerships Grants to six projects that will plan for an equitable regional tolling program, comprehensive multimodal corridors, regional freight resilience planning, rural corridor studies to improve transportation infrastructure on or near tribal lands, transit mobility hubs and Bus Rapid Transit.

Projects benefiting Caltrans District 10 include:

• $450,000 for the Downtown Modesto Multimodal Transportation Network and Land Use Compatibility Action Plan. In collaboration with multiple partnering agencies and stakeholders, and direct engagement with local underserved communities, the plan will help expand regional access, encourage infill development, and assist residents to utilize multimodal travel options, with a focus on the Altamont Commuter Express (ACE) commuter rail station. These improvements will also support multimodal trips to many key destinations within the region.
• $213,986 for the Calaveras Council of Governments (CCOG) to analyze, modernize and improve transportation planning, tools and infrastructure for Calaveras County. CCOG will partner with Caltrans to guide sustainable growth, drive greenhouse gas reduction and support equitable multimodal connectivity.
• $288,608 to foster sustainable growth, equitable mobility, and improved quality of life for all Merced County residents through the partnership and collaboration of the Merced County Association of Governments and the Transit Joint Powers Authority of Merced County to develop the 2030 Regional Transportation Plan and Sustainable Communities Strategy.

View the complete list of this year’s planning grant project awardees

Caltrans awards transportation planning grants each year through a competitive process to fund local and regional multimodal transportation and land use planning projects. These grants assist in achieving the Caltrans Mission and Grant Program Objectives. Applications are evaluated based on how projects advance state transportation and climate goals by identifying and addressing statewide, interregional or regional transportation deficiencies on the highway system.

SB 1 provides $5 billion in transportation funding annually that is shared equally 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.

To view the latest news and information on state and federal infrastructure investments, visit Build.CA.gov.