California Air Resources Board

Project Goals

Planning and Capacity Building is intended to deliver direct and meaningful community benefits by facilitating intentional engagement inclusive of marginalized populations in all planning stages and by empowering community leaders and residents to meaningfully shape the transportation decisions that impact their lives. This includes considering specific guidance or requirements for applicants to support the zero-emission economy through training programs and local hiring where feasible, as part of clean mobility projects. These projects are intended to improve local understanding of residents’ transportation needs, channel communities to the right incentive funding opportunities, and prepare communities to implement clean transportation and land use projects.

Guiding Legislation/Policy Drivers

The following key legislation guides the priorities and implementation of Planning and Capacity Building:

• SB 150 (Allen, Chapter 646, Statues of 2017):Directed the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to assess each region’s progress on achieving regional GHG emissions reduction targets per SB 375. The Planning and Capacity Building Project addresses some of the challenges to achieving the State’s climate goals that CARB identified in the Draft 2022 Progress Report for California’s Sustainable Communities and Climate Protection Act.
• SB 350 (De León, Chapter 547, Statues of 2015):Directed CARB to conduct a study
   to better understand the barriers low-income residents must overcome to increase
   access to zero-emission and near zero-emission transportation and mobility options,
   and develop recommendations to increase access. The Planning and Capacity Building Project specifically addresses many of these barriers and follows the recommendations outlined by CARB in the Low-income Barriers Study, Part B: Overcoming Barriers to Clean Transportation Access for Low-income Residents.

Project Funding/Allocations/History

Planning and Capacity Building as a dedicated funding category began FY 2022-23 with an initial $5 million. $3.9 Million was previously allocated through different programs which have all taken a unique approach to funding Planning and Capacity Building efforts, including Access Clean California, Clean Mobility Options Voucher Pilot Program (CMO), and STEP.  

• Access Clean California
  • In 2021 (using FY 2021-22 funds), $1 million was awarded to 6 community-based and grassroots level organizations to conduct clean transportation outreach and become formal outreach partners.
• CMO
  • In 2020 (using FY 2019-20 funds), $1.15 million in Community Transportation Needs Assessment vouchers were awarded to 24 California nonprofits, local governments, transit agencies, and Native American tribes. Voucher were worth up to $50,000 each.
• STEP  
  • In 2020 (using FY 2019-20 funds), $1.7 million in Planning and Capacity Building grants were awarded to 8 California nonprofits, local governments, and transit agencies.

Recent Project/Policy Changes

FY 2022-23: CARB expands Planning Capacity Building into a dedicated category specifically for community-led planning and capacity building projects.