Caltrans has allocated $26.5 million in planning grants to 65 local projects across California, aiming to bolster climate resilience, reduce pollution, enhance bicycle and pedestrian safety, and improve preparedness for natural disasters. This funding is part of the Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant program, which has distributed over $292 million to 750 projects since its inception in 2015.
A portion of these funds—nearly $3 million—originates from one-time state and federal sources under Governor Gavin Newsom’s $15 billion clean transportation initiative within the 2022-23 budget. Additionally, $12.4 million comes from Senate Bill (SB) 1, known as the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017. These awards will support project planning and conceptual design efforts.
Dina El-Tawansy, Caltrans Director 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,” El-Tawansy stated. “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 are expected to 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,” El-Tawansy continued. These grants aim “to identify transportation-related climate vulnerabilities through the development of climate adaptation plans” with seventy-five percent intended to benefit under-resourced communities.
Furthermore, “$2.2 million in federally funded Strategic Partnerships Grants” is designated for six projects focusing on equitable regional tolling programs, comprehensive multimodal corridors, regional freight resilience planning, rural corridor studies near tribal lands, transit mobility hubs, and Bus Rapid Transit.
Highlighted projects include a $700,000 grant for San Diego’s Balboa Park Multimodal Mobility Study aimed at enhancing pedestrian and bike access; a $612,000 grant supporting Fresno County Rural Transit Agency’s Microgrid Phase 2 Study; a $611,000 Nighttime Safety Enhancement Plan in Hayward addressing traffic safety; a $422,650 climate adaptation vulnerability analysis in Mendocino County; a $422,650 grant for Pasadena’s Rose Bowl Area & Brookside Park Multimodal Connectivity Project; and a $309,855 plan for a multi-use trail along Otis Avenue in Corcoran.
Caltrans awards these grants annually through a competitive process supporting local multimodal transportation planning initiatives aligned with state goals. SB 1 contributes approximately $5 billion annually towards state and local agency transportation funding.
For further details on current infrastructure investments at both state and federal levels visit build.ca.gov.
