Caltrans is now accepting applications for climate-resilient transportation project planning grants.
The Sustainable Transportation Planning Grants (STPG) will fund projects that reduce pollution, facilitate transit use and help underserved communities withstand the effects of climate change, officials said.
Totaling an estimated $34 million, the grants will support regional sustainable communities’ strategies with the goal of helping the state meet its greenhouse gas reduction targets, while enhancing safety and transit across the state’s transportation network, officials said.
The funding includes some $3.7 million from a one-time augmentation for Climate Adaptation Planning that will be available for local, regional and tribal governments identifying transportation-related climate vulnerabilities through planning, as well as project-level planning for adaptation through projects and transportation infrastructure planning.
Caltrans said a set-aside of $3 million will go to the Native American Tribal Government, and includes up to $2 million for Sustainable Communities and up to $1 million for Climate Adaptation Planning. The set-aside is up from $800,000 for the Native American Tribal Government set aside last year.
Applications are due by Jan. 22, 2025, and Caltrans will host workshops to provide application assistance. Guides and application materials can be found on the Sustainable Transportation Planning Grants website.
Caltrans also recently announced it had awarded $51 million in STPG grants for 89 projects to increase the state’s resilience to climate change. Of that total, $48.3 million will benefit disadvantaged communities throughout the state, officials said.