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 impacting Caltrans District 2 include:
- Bizz Johnson Rail Trail Extension Feasibility Study - $115,089
- Located in Susanville, Lassen County, this project will evaluate the potential to extend the existing Bizz Johnson National Recreation Trail by two miles eastward to connect with the Skyline Path, improving trail connectivity and advancing phase 1 of the planned Susanville-to-Wendel rail trail. (Primary grant applicant: Lassen County Transportation Commission)
- Lassen County Electric Vehicle Charging Master Plan - $170,863
- This project will guide the equitable expansion of EV charging infrastructure at various locations throughout Lassen County by assessing feasibility, analyzing potential sites, and coordinating with local stakeholders to support clean transportation, economic development, and greenhouse gas reduction goals. (Primary grant applicant: Lassen County Transportation Commission)
- GoShasta Regional Active Transportation Plan Update (GoShasta Update) - $317,000
- This project will guide equitable, multimodal transportation improvements across Anderson, Redding, and Shasta Lake in Shasta County by addressing infrastructure gaps, aligning with evolving state and regional priorities, and identifying high-impact projects that enhance safety, connectivity, and climate resilience throughout the Shasta Region. (Primary grant applicant: Shasta Regional Transportation Agency)
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.