Sustainable Transportation Planning Grants - Sustainable Communities Competitive

The Sustainable Transportation Planning Grants support local and regional planning efforts aimed at enhancing active transportation, safe routes to schools, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and 2050. With a total funding of $29.5 million, these competitive grants also include subcategories for climate adaptation planning and strategic partnerships. Eligible projects must align with state goals and contribute to comprehensive transportation strategies, with grant amounts ranging from $50,000 to $700,000.

Sustainable Communities Competitive Grants are available on an annual basis and through a competitive application process.  Grants are for transportation planning activities such as planning for active transportation, safe routes to schools, transit services, vision zero, complete streets, freight corridors, social equity, integrated land use and transportation planning. The annual call-for-applications is posted on the grants website, which is advertised by Caltrans through various grant workshops for interested applicants. Grant applicants receive an award or non-award email notification in late spring/early summer. A list of award and non-awarded grants is posted to the Caltrans Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant Program website.
The Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant Program includes:
Sustainable Communities ($29.5 million) to encourage local and regional planning that supports state goals, implements Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) Sustainable Communities Strategies (SCS) (where applicable), and to ultimately achieve the State’s greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction target of 40 and 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2030 and 2050, respectivelyClimate Adaption Planning Grant($3 million) support local and regional identification of transportation-related climate vulnerabilities through the development of climate adaptation plans, as well as project-level adaptation planning to identify adaptation projects and strategies for transportation infrastructureStrategic Partnerships($4.5 million) to identify and address statewide, interregional, or regional transportation deficiencies on the State highway system in partnership with Caltrans. A sub-category funds transit-focused planning projects that address multimodal transportation deficiencies
Funding
Grant Minimum:$50,000 - Grant Maximum:$700,000.