Contact: Christianne Smith
Phone: (424) 413-1104
What you need to know: Caltrans has awarded 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.
ORANGE COUNTY — 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. 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.
In Orange County:
- $250,000 for the City of Anaheim to develop the Anaheim Canyon Microtransit Study (ACMS), assessing microtransit's feasibility for enhancing first/last mile connectivity in Anaheim Canyon, a major employment hub supporting more than 42,000 of the city’s workers. Robust public engagement with surrounding neighborhoods, businesses, workers, transportation agencies and stakeholders, as well as a comprehensive analysis will inform recommendations for implementing microtransit in the area. The study aims to:
- Bridge critical transportation gaps especially those faced by disadvantaged workers with limited access to transportation between the Anaheim Canyon Metrolink Station and key Anaheim Canyon destinations;
- Support sustainable growth of businesses, workers, visitors and residents in the area;
- Ensure equitable access to transit and job centers.
- $200,000 for Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) to advance its Zero-Emission Bus (ZEB) Transition Plan, aligning with California's Clean Transit goals for a fully zero-emission fleet by 2040. This project aims to integrate sustainable transit solutions and improve air quality across Orange County. The plan includes comprehensive analysis of equipment and infrastructure upgrades to support 100% ZEB compliance, addressing operational, technological, and financial considerations. OCTA will engage with communities, transportation agencies and local jurisdictions to ensure a smooth transition from traditional transit fuel technologies to a modern zero-emission fleet of buses.
View the statewide 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.
For more information about transportation and other infrastructure projects funded with state and federal investments, visit RebuildingCA.ca.gov and Build.ca.gov.