Low Carbon Transit Operations Program (LCTOP)

Program Overview

The Low Carbon Transit Operations Program (LCTOP) is one of several programs that are part of the Transit, Affordable Housing, and Sustainable Communities Program established by the California Legislature in 2014 by Senate Bill 862. For more information on the Transit, Affordable Housing, and Sustainable Communities Program (and associated programs) please visit California Climate Investments.

This site serves as a central hub for information about California Climate Investments.

The LCTOP was created to provide operating and capital assistance for transit agencies to reduce greenhouse gas emission and improve mobility, with a priority on serving disadvantaged communities. Approved projects in LCTOP will support new or expanded bus or rail services, expand intermodal transit facilities, and may include equipment acquisition, fueling, maintenance and other costs to operate those services or facilities, with each project reducing greenhouse gas emissions. For agencies whose service area includes disadvantaged communities, at least 50 percent of the total moneys received shall be expended on projects that will benefit disadvantaged communities. Senate Bill 862 continuously appropriates five percent of the annual auction proceeds in the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (Fund) for LCTOP, beginning in 2015-16.

This program will be administered by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) in coordination with Air Resource Board (ARB) and the State Controller's Office (SCO). Caltrans is responsible to ensure that the statutory requirements of the program are met in terms of project eligibility, greenhouse reduction, disadvantaged community benefit, and other requirements of the law.

Submit questions or comments regarding LCTOP

LCTOP Announcements

Final FY 2022-23 LCTOP Allocation Request submittals are due Monday, May 1, 2023.

FY 2022-23 LCTOP Allocation Request Workshops

• The allocation request workshops this year will be presented via WebEx with the next workshop schedule for Wednesday, February 22, 2023, from 9:00 am to11:00 am.

FY 2022-23 LCTOP Guidelines

• FY 2022-23 LCTOP Program Guidelines
• FY 2022-23 LCTOP Legislation Addendum

LCTOP 2023 Schedule

Allocation Request Schedule

• Caltrans releases the FY 22-23 LCTOP Guidelines January 2023
• LCTOP Staff releases the FY 22-23 Allocation Request template January 2023
• LCTOP Draft Allocation Request Period begins January 16, 2023
• Caltrans hosts LCTOP Allocation Request Workshop #1, January 24, 2023
• SCO releases Apportionment Announcement for FY 22-23, March 2023*
• Caltrans hosts LCTOP Allocation Request Workshop #2, February 22, 2023
• Transit agencies submit Final Allocation Request package to Caltrans May 1, 2023
• Caltrans and CARB approve the list of approved projects and submit to SCO July 2023*
• SCO releases approved LCTOP FY 22-23 Award Announcement July 2023*

• *Subject to Change

Reporting Schedule

LCTOP is now requiring project activity reporting on an annual basis instead of the previously required semi-annual reporting. The new Project Activity Report will be due October 27, 2023. This report covers project activity from October 1st through September 30th.

LCTOP Program Information