Public Transit & Shared Mobility

A Locality, public housing authority, redevelopment successor agency, transit agency or transit operator, Regional Transportation Planning
Agency (RTPA), local Transportation Commission, Congestion Management Agency, Joint Powers Authority (JPA), school district,
facilities district, University or Community College District, A Developer or Program Operator, or a Tribal Entity.

Funding for affordable housing developments (new construction or renovation) and transportation infrastructure. Examples include new transit vehicles, sidewalks, and bikeways, bus shelters, benches, or shade trees; and programs that encourage residents to walk, bike, and use public transit.

The NOFA for Round 8 is expected to be released in January 2024, with applications due in March 2024.

Approximately $650 Million is expected to be released for Round 8.

Round 7 of this program received 49 applications and awarded 21 of them, with a 43% award rate.

Public agencies, transit agencies, and federally recognized tribal governments. Non-profits may be subapplicants and are encouraged to partner with eligible applicants.

Projects that beautify and improve local streets and roads, tribal lands, parks, pathways, and transit centers to clean and enhance public spaces.

The call for projects for Cycle 2 was released on February 14, 2023. The application deadline was May 31, 2023, by 5:00 p.m. PDT.

Approximately $296 million was available in Cycle 1, with a maximum award amount of $5 million. The local match component will range from 0% to 50% of the project costs and will be based on the capacity of the community to leverage local capital.

Approximately $100 million is available for Cycle 2.

105 out of 329 projects were awarded in 2022.

Government entities, nonprofits, and Tribal Governments. Other organizations may partner as sub-applicants.

Funding to support under-resourced communities in evaluating transportation gaps and identifying mobility challenges and needs, preferences, and priorities of local residents.

It is anticipated that funding for Window 2 will open on November 2, 2022.

$1 million is available for Window (2022). The maximum funding amount for Community Transportation Needs Assessments is $100,000. There’s a set aside of $200,000 for Tribal governments.

24 out of 41 eligible proposals were funded (2020).

Planning grants: non-profit organizations, district organizations of an EDA-designated Economic Development District (EDD), institutions of higher education or a consortium of institutions of higher education, and Native American Tribes or a consortium of Native American Tribes.

The planning phase will establish regional, inclusive planning tables to develop blueprints and align resources for each region’s economic future.

The implementation phase will fund regional projects that advance globally competitive and sustainable industries with high-quality jobs that have clear pathways for employment for workers that are underserved and/or face industry disruption after COVID-19.

The application window for the Planning Phase closed in July 2022.

The implementation grants solicitation and the Tribal funding opportunity solicitation will be announced in Winter 2023.

Approximately $5M per regional collaborative (approx. 13 collaboratives) in the planning phase. $500M in rolling, competitive grants (Fall 2022 to June 2024) is available for the implementation phase.

State and local government entities, counties, Native American tribal governments, transit agencies, port authorities, and MPOs.

Roads, bridges, transit, rail, ports, and multi-modal, multi-jurisdictional projects.

Applications will be accepted from December 14, 2022 to February 28, 2023

A total of $1.5 billion is available for the FY 2023. The minimum grant award is $5 million, except that for projects located in rural areas, the minimum award size is $1 million. Grants may not be greater than $25 million.

90 projects were funded in 2021, 4 of which are in California.

CBOs, local governments, nonprofits (including coalitions of associations), philanthropic organizations and foundations, faith-based organizations, community development finance institutions, community development corporations, JPAs, and Native American tribal governments. There must be a minimum of one lead applicant, in addition to co-applicants.

Applicants must implement at least three projects associated with the following strategies: equitable housing and neighborhood development, affordable housing land acquisition, transit access, and mobility, solar installation and energy efficiency, water efficiency, recycling and waste management, urban greening and green infrastructure, land conservation, health and well-being. The list of eligible activities and fundable elements are defined in Appendix B of the Round 3 Program Guidelines.

Funding is typically available on an annual basis. The application window for Round 4 closed on July 1, 2022.

Approximately $106 million is available for Round 4.

3 out of 4 proposals funded in Round 3 (2019/2020).

Construction authorities, transportation authorities, and JPAs.

Rail, bus, and ferry transit systems that reduce vehicle miles traveled and greenhouse gas emissions.

Applications are accepted on an annual basis, with a call for applications typically announced in the Fall.

Cycle 6 Guidelines and Call for Projects will be announced on November 15, 2022, with applications due on February 10, 2023.

AB 180 amended the Budget Act of 2021 to appropriate $3.63 billion of General Fund for the Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program and $350 million of General Fund for High Priority Grade Crossing Improvement and Separation projects. This funding will be included in TIRCP Cycle 6.

17 out of 45 proposals funded (2020)

Federally recognized Native American tribes and Alaska Native villages. Non-federally recognized tribes are eligible to apply as a sub-recipient for funding under the State’s apportionment.

Planning, capital improvement projects, and, in limited circumstances, operating assistance for tribal public transit services.

The most recent application window closed on May 25, 2022.

$8.75 million available in competitive grants; no local match is required. Formula grant allocations are listed on the program’s website.

36 tribal governments were awarded in 2022, 2 of which are from California. Under the formula component, 132 project proposals were awarded funding in 2022, 9 of which are from California.

Government entities, nonprofits, and California Native American Tribes. Other organizations may partner as sub-applicants.

Zero-emission car-sharing, carpooling and vanpooling, ride-sharing, bike-sharing, and innovative transit services like ike on-demand shuttles, vans, and buses in California’s historically under-served communities.

Applications for Window 2 will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis starting March 1, 2023, at 9:00 AM. 

$33 million of available funding for the Mobility Project Voucher Window 2. Each voucher is eligible for up to $1.5 million. This includes $3 million set-aside funding for eligible Tribal Governments, $7.5 set-aside for previously awarded Community Transportation Needs Assessments, $10 million set-aside for previously awarded MPV projects, and $12.5 million for new applicants.

This is the first round of the Voucher Pilot Program. 24 out of 41 eligible proposals for the Community Transportation needs Assessment Vouchers (CTNA) were funded (2020).

A nonprofit or for-profit Developer of a Qualifying Infill Project; a city, county, city and county, public housing authority, or redevelopment agency and/or successor agencies that have jurisdiction over a Qualifying Infill Area applying jointly with an “owners’ association,”; the governing body of an Indian reservation or rancheria that has jurisdiction over a Qualifying Infill Area or a Tribally Designated Housing Entity that is the Developer of a Qualifying Infill Project.

Construction of new infill development and rehabilitation of infrastructure that supports higher-density affordable and mixed-income housing including but not limited to active transportation, parks and open space, stormwater, street repair, transit, and water-related improvements.

The application deadline for Small jurisdictions (QIAs and QIPs) has been extended from September 22, 2022, to October 20, 2022, by 4:00 pm. Awards announcements will be made on an ongoing basis.

$200 million are available for Round 8 (2022).

For Qualifying Infill Projects, the minimum grant award is $1 million ($500,000 for rural areas) with a maximum of $7.5 million. For Qualifying Infill Areas with over 200 units, the minimum grant award is $2 million ($1 million for rural areas) with a maximum of $30 million.

35 out of 99 proposals funded in Round 7 (FY 2020/2021).

Public transit agencies including cities, counties, MPOs, and regional transportation planning authorities that operate transit service, that are designated Transportation Development Act (TDA) recipients, and that have been included in the State Controllers Office list of approved agencies.

Transit agency operating and capital expenditures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve mobility, with a priority of serving disadvantaged communities.

The final FY21/22 Allocation Request applications are due Friday, March 24, 2023.

$146 million available (FY 2019/2020). Eligible agencies receive 50% of funding as a proportion of population size and 50% based on fare revenue.

Funding is provided on a non-competitive basis through formula grants. 181 projects were funded (FY 2018/2019).

Applicants must be eligible FTA grantees as of April 21, 2021. Applicants must either be the project sponsor of an eligible transit capital project or an entity with land use planning authority in an eligible transit capital project corridor. Only one application per transit capital project corridor may be submitted to FTA.

Plans which integrate new fixed guideway or core capacity transit capital investments into land use and transportation plans, examine economic development and ridership, foster multimodal connectivity and accessibility, improve transit access for pedestrian and bicycle traffic, enable mixed-use development near transit stations, engage the private sector, identify infrastructure needs, and enable mixed-use development near transit stations.

The most recent application window closed in July 2022.

$13.16 million was available in the most recent funding round (2022). Award amounts range from $250,000 to $2,000,000.

19 projects awarded in 2022, for a total of $13.13 million. 20 projects awarded in 2021, for approximately $11 million.

Local, state, and federal governmental agencies and nonprofit organizations.

Projects to mitigate environmental impacts caused by new or modified public transportation facilities.

Applications are currently closed. This round of the program had a deadline of June 30, 2023.

Approximately $8.3 million is available in the FY23 funding cycle.

Designated recipients that allocate funds to fixed-route bus operators, states, or local governmental authorities that operate fixed-route bus service, and Native American tribes.

Buses and bus facilities capital projects, including replacing, rehabilitating, purchasing or leasing buses or related equipment, and rehabilitating, purchasing, constructing or leasing bus-related facilities.

Applications are typically accepted on an annual basis. Applications for the FY23/24 funding cycle have a deadline of April 13, 2023

Approximately $469.45 is available in competitive grants for FY23/24.

96 projects were funded in 49 states and territories. 5 projects were funded in California (2020).

States, local government entities, Native American tribes, and designated recipients.

Purchase or lease of low or no emission buses and related equipment, facilities, workforce development and training.

Applications for the current funding cycle have a deadline of April 13, 2023.

Approximately $1.22 billion in competitive grants is available for the current funding cycle.

49 proposals funded nationwide. 3 out of the 49 selected proposals were from the State of California (2021).

Local public entities, California Native American tribes, and community-based organizations.

Staff training related to climate resiliency, community education, and workforce development; updating, integrating, aligning, or preparing planning documents to address climate risk; conducting climate vulnerability or risk assessments.

Round 1 applications were due August 29, 2023.

A total of $12.5 million was available for Round 1, with awards ranging between $150,000 and $650,000.

Local public entities, California Native American tribes, and community-based organizations.

Capacity-building, implementation of state, regional, or local adaptation strategies or planning documents that address climate risk, and other implementing projects that address various climate risks (e.g., drought, extreme heat events, flood, increasing temperatures, sea level rise, and wildfire).

Round 1 applications were due on August 29. 2023 by 5:00pm PST.

A total of $8.8 million was available in Round 1, with awards ranging between $800,000 and $3 million.

Local, Regional, or State Transportation Agencies, Joint Powers Authority, and Tribal Governments

Conversion of key underutilized highways in the State into multi-modal corridors to reconnect communities divided by transportation infrastructure.

The last call for applications had a deadline of September 20, 2023.

$149 million was available in FY23.

Non-profits, community-based or Faith-based Organizations, Coalition or Associations of Non-profits, Local Agencies, Regional Agencies, Joint Powers Authority, Tribal Governments, and Transit Agencies.

Plan for the conversion of key underutilized highways in the State into multi-modal corridors to reconnect communities divided by transportation infrastructure, through community engagement, planning studies, needs assessments, project plans, and cesign cocuments, environmental review, early action implementation plans, the establishment of a community land trust.

FY 23 applications were due on September 20, 2023.

$37.25 million is available in FY 22/23.

Non-profits and government agencies.

Design and planning of equitable transportation projects.

The most recent application cycle closed on July 15, 2022. Award announcements are expected in September 2022.

The maximum grant amount is $25,000 per award.

Four communities will be selected for the most recent funding round.

Current recipients and subrecipients of the Federal Transit Administration (FTA)’s Formula Grants for Rural Areas (Section 5311)

Projects that develop or strengthen transportation partnerships that improve social determinants of health in rural and tribal communities.

The most recent application period closed on May 10, 2021.

Maximum grant award of $100,000.

19 out of 76 projects were funded in 2021.

Public agencies and nonprofits.

Transportation services planned, designed, and carried out to meet the special transportation needs of seniors and individuals with disabilities.

The most recent application period closed in March 2022. The next call for proposals is anticipated to be announced in mid-2023.

$18 million was available in the last funding round.

Public transportation systems, operators of transportation, state or local government entities, consultants, research consortia, nonprofits, and institutions of higher education.

Projects that will improve transit services or facilities in areas of persistent poverty through planning, engineering, or development of technical, or financing plans for projects.

The most recent application period closed in June 2020.

A total of $8,460,386 million was awarded in 2020, with a minimum award of $75,000 and a maximum award of $850,000.

25 projects were funded in 2020, 3 of the projects are from California.

Local transportation agencies.

Assitance to develop local roadway safety plans.

As of October 20, 2021, all LRSP funding has been awarded to local agencies. Caltrans does not accept new LRSP applications.

The most recent application window for the implementation of the funded LRSP applications closed on April 30, 2022.

$18 million is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

273 proposals have been awarded as of October 20, 2021.

Lead applicants include community-based organizations, federally recognized Native American tribes, and local governments. There must be at least a lead applicant and one sub applicant, either of which must include at least one local government and one community-based organization.

Active transportation, fixed-route transit, and shared mobility projects that increase transportation equity in disadvantaged communities.

The most recent application period closed in August 2020. CARB is currently working with stakeholders through the FY 2022-23 Funding Plan and Three-Year Plan for Clean Transportation Incentives to determine the future of STEP.

$17.75 million is available for up to 3 implementation grants that benefit disadvantaged communities in the current funding round (2019/2020).

3 out of 14 proposals were funded (2020).

Lead applicants include community-based organizations, federally recognized Native American tribes, and local governments. There must be at least a lead applicant and one sub applicant, either of which must include at least one local government and one community-based organization.

Community and stakeholder engagement for new or existing clean transportation planning, operations, or infrastructure projects, land use or transportation-focused plan development, capacity building to implement new or enhance existing clean transportation planning, operations, or infrastructure projects that increase transportation equity in disadvangated communities.

The most recent application period closed in August 2020.

CARB is currently working with stakeholders through the FY 2022-23 Funding Plan and Three-Year Plan for Clean Transportation Incentives to determine the future of STEP.

$1.75 million is available for planning and capacity building grants in the current funding round (2019/2020).

8 out of 20 proposals were funded (2020).

MPOs.

Local and regional multimodal transportation and land use planning projects that further the region’s RTP SCS (where applicable), contribute to the State’s GHG reduction targets, and assist in achieving the Caltrans Mission and Grant Program Objectives. Formula funding may also be used to administer a regional competitive grant program.

Applications are typically accepted on an annual basis, with a call for proposals announced in late summer followed by an application deadline in fall. The 22/23 application period closed in October 2021. Awards are anticipated to be announced in Spring 2022.

$12.5 million is available on a non-competitive basis (formula funding) to certain MPOs for the current funding cycle (2022/23). Formula grant allocations are listed in section 3.5 of the program guidelines.

This program provides formula funding. Formula grant allocations are listed in section 3.5 of the guidelines.