California Awards $25 Million Grant to Aid Clean Transportation Options in Low Income Communities

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) bestowed three grants worth $25 million to deliver pioneering clean transportation solutions for underprivileged and low-income areas in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Oakland, according to a Feb.9 press release. The awardees of these grants are the Los Angeles Department of Transportation, San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency and Oakland Department of Transportation. The financial grants are contingent on final results of fiscal year 2021-22 auctions held under the cap and trade program, which sets a cap on emissions and requires regulated entities to buy carbon allowances if their emissions exceed the cap.

The grants are issued by Sustainable Transportation Equity Project, or STEP, a pilot program launched in 2020 to improve transportation equity. The projects have been selected from various ambitious proposals under the fiscal year 2019-2020 STEP solicitation.  The funding is expected to provide opportunities for clean mobility and transportation in disadvantaged communities by assisting drivers get rid of old vehicles and replace them with clean cars, delivering financial aid to purchase electric cars and making electric vehicle sharing a possibility.

STEP intends to enhance transportation equity in deprived and low income communities by subsidizing clean transportation solutions that are determined by community residents and that work most efficiently for each specific community. Projects sponsored by STEP include a new shuttle service, electric carshare and bikeshare facilities, public transport and shared mobility subsidies, urban forestry, pedestrian improvements, active transportation education and outreach events.

STEP is part of the California Climate Investments, who are specifically charged with investing revenues from the carbon auctions held under the cap and trade program, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions This pioneering initiative is increasing transportation fairness in communities that historically have faced higher levels of pollution.