Caltrans Invests $51.4M for Projects to Combat Climate Change

Caltrans awarded $51.4M to 89 projects for sustainable, climate-resilient transportation in California. Majority of funding supports disadvantaged communities. Grants focus on climate adaptation, sustainable planning, and enhancing transit infrastructure to combat climate change impacts.

Tue August 06, 2024 - West Edition #16
Caltrans

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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.

With a majority of funding coming from Gov. Gavin Newsom's clean transportation infrastructure package and the California Climate Commitment, Caltrans awarded planning grants for 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 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 Tony Tavares, Caltrans director. "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 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;

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.

For more information on projects that are building California's climate-friendly future, visit build.ca.gov and RebuildingCA.ca.gov.

To view the complete list of this year's planning grant project awardees, visit https://dot.ca.gov/programs/transportation-planning/division-of-transportation-planning/regional-and-community-planning/sustainable-transportation-planning-grants/2024-2025-sustainable-transportation-planning-grant-winners.