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SACRAMENTO – The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has awarded over $42 million in a second round of grants to fund community-led clean mobility planning, education and implementation projects in disadvantaged and low-income communities.
Clean Mobility in Schools (CMIS) and the Sustainable Transportation Equity Project (STEP) support innovative projects that increase zero-emission transportation options - such as zero-emission car-sharing, bike and pedestrian infrastructure, traffic-calming measures, and educational and outreach efforts - in communities that face air quality challenges and lack access to mobility resources. These projects also reduce greenhouse gas emissions and vehicle-miles traveled, and address inequities by making it easier for residents to get to key destinations such as schools, medical facilities, grocery stores and jobs without the need for personal vehicles.
The second round of awarded grants will fund five new transportation projects, provide additional resources to already launched efforts and support technical assistance for grant recipients.
“In places across California, it is too common for communities to be both on the frontline of pollution and face historic disinvestment that limits the ability to freely travel to meet daily needs and access economic opportunities,” said CARB Executive Officer Dr. Steven Cliff. “CARB is proud to support these community-led efforts that accomplish multiple, essential goals by reducing exposure to transportation emissions and also giving residents the mobility resources they need to thrive.”
The following five new projects were awarded:
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Porterville Unified School District: Porterville and the Tule River Tribe of California have been awarded $9.1 million for projects the community identified through a needs assessment that was previously funded by CARB. The projects include automated and optimized school bus routing, zero-emission micro-transit service, and community outreach and engagement.
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Omnitrans (San Bernardino Valley): Omnitrans has been awarded $4.5 million for transportation investments identified through a prior STEP planning grant, including the purchase of electric buses and chargers to expand service. The funding will also support a bilingual transit ambassador program, a transit rider advisory council, a zero-emission mechanic apprenticeship and distribution of transit passes.
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City of Fresno: Fresno received $5.1 million for projects the community identified through a needs assessment that was previously funded by CARB. The projects include sidewalk rehabilitation, pedestrian crossing beacons, bike racks and urban greening.
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City of San José: The East San José Mobility Equity Project received $5.2 million for several efforts, including an Earn-a-Bike Program, bike repair clinics, a bike mechanic apprenticeship, public transit and bikeshare subsidies, and a Universal Mobility Wallet.
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City of West Hollywood: West Hollywood received $8.2 million for pedestrian and bike safety infrastructure, removal of a car lane and on-street parking to install a protected bike lane and widen sidewalks, and zero-emission transit vehicles and charging infrastructure to expand and improve fixed-route commuter shuttle and paratransit services.
In addition to the support for transportation solutions, $10 million will go toward funding the Planning and Capacity Building program to fund technical assistance for CMIS and STEP grantees. Some of this funding will also be awarded through another grant solicitation later this year, which will select up to 15 projects to develop needs-assessments and planning tools to pursue needed transportation improvements and further funding opportunities.
STEP funds projects that address local transportation needs identified by community residents with the goal of improving access to key destinations and services, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions and vehicle-miles traveled. STEP also shifts decision-making power to communities by funding community-identified transportation solutions that improve the quality of life for low-income people, people of color, and residents of communities disproportionately impacted by air pollution or who lack access to housing, jobs and services. CMIS focuses on clean transportation and associated projects in and around school communities. Designed and implemented with school officials, students, teachers and community members, the projects address school-related transportation needs with solutions that also reduce air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions and vehicle miles traveled.
The funding comes from California Climate Investments, a statewide initiative that puts billions of Cap-and-Trade dollars to work by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening the economy, and improving public health and the environment – particularly in disadvantaged and low-income communities.
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