Project Background for Clean Mobility in Schools

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Project Goals 

CARB’s clean mobility programs fund projects that facilitate community-led transportation planning and increase access to clean transportation choices beyond personal vehicles. These programs ultimately focus on planning and mobility strategies that shift the nature of the state’s transportation systems toward clean, active, and shared modes of transportation – especially in lower-income communities that have lacked transportation choices.

Clean Mobility in Schools is a multi-faceted grant that provides funding to reduce GHG emissions in kindergarten through twelfth grade schools located in a disadvantaged community. The goal is to deploy synergistic GHG emission reduction techniques that can be emulated on school campuses statewide. This funding provides for the electrification of the transportation fleets, including vehicles, infrastructure, and education and awareness, and other efforts to encourage clean mobility in and around schools. Partnerships with other state and local agencies are encouraged to implement and fund other “green” technologies and practices along with additional outreach about these efforts. Projects also aim to gain a better understanding of “mode-shifting” and what the school districts can do to further serve the school and the community in promoting and incentivizing the shift to cleaner and active modes of travel.

Guiding Legislation/Policy Drivers 

The following key legislation guides the priorities and implementation of CMIS:

  • SB 150 (Allen, Chapter 646, Statues of 2017): Directed CARB to assess each region’s progress on achieving regional GHG emissions reduction targets per SB 375.
  • 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. In addition to advancing the priority recommendations, there is specific mention for a “Green Mobility in Schools” project.

Project Funding

  • During Funding Plan development for FY 2015-16, CARB held nearly 20 initial project development and public work group meetings regarding a new funding concept originally called “Green Mobility in Schools”. CMIS as a dedicated funding category began with the FY 2018-19 Funding Plan.
  • FY 2018-19 funding
    • In August 2019, CARB released a competitive solicitation for $10 million. The solicitation was oversubscribed by five times the available funding.
  • FY 2019-20 funding
    • CARB authorized an additional $14.6 million to fund applications from the FY 2018-19 solicitation.
    • In December 2019, CARB awarded $24.6 million to 3 Clean Mobility in Schools Pilot Projects. This included 2 fully funded projects and 1 partially-funded project.
  • FY 2020-21: no allocations were recommended.
  • FY 2021-22 funding
    • In 2022, CARB awarded $9.8 million to 1 new CMIS grant, and the remaining budget to fully fund the previously partially-awarded project.
  • FY 2022-23 funding
    • In 2023, CARB released a joint competitive Request for Applications for Planning, CMIS, and STEP applications. The Concept Phase was oversubscribed by over six times the available funding. CARB awarded $14 million to 2 CMIS grants.
  • FY 2023-24 funding
    • In 2024, CARB awarded $14 million to 2 CMIS grants from the 2023 Request for Applications. This included 2 new grants and the remaining budget from a previously partially-awarded grant.

Recent Project/Policy Changes 

CARB held three public workgroups and a public comment period in spring 2023 to discuss changes to CMIS and STEP prior to releasing the Request for Applications in summer 2023. The main updates CARB made based on this public process were to align requirements between Planning, CMIS, and STEP and to develop a streamlined, two-phased application process and simplified application materials to facilitate access to funding.

Policy changes to CMIS also included removal of custodial equipment as eligible project types to align with STEP and PCB goals and requirements. Clean Mobility in Schools grantees selected from the Fiscal Year 2018-19 solicitation are not eligible to be Lead Applicants.

Past Project Info/Reports 

  • The FY 2022-23 joint Request for Applications opened July 24, 2023 and closed November 3, 2024. Materials are posted on the Request for Applications webpage.
  • The FY 2018-19 Solicitation closed October 2019. Materials are available by request.