California Air Resources Board

Goals/Overview

The SB 350 Barriers Study’s final priority recommendation is to identify and expand funding and financing for clean transportation and mobility projects, including infrastructure, to meet the accessibility needs of low-income and disadvantaged communities. The goals of this recommendation are to ensure:

• State and local funding continues to be dedicated to the clean transportation and mobility access needs of priority populations;
• Participation from priority populations in the State’s clean transportation and mobility incentive programs is maximized; and
• CARB and partner agencies continue to work with the Governor’s Office and Legislature to identify potential new funding mechanisms to support clean transportation and mobility for priority populations.

Status

Since 2013, the California State Legislature has appropriated several billion dollars to CARB to invest in a portfolio of clean mobility and clean transportation incentive projects under its Low Carbon Transportation Incentives Program. These allocations are being used to fund the following: zero-emission and plug-in hybrid passenger vehicles through traditional and innovative car ownership projects such as CVRP, Clean Cars 4 All, and Statewide Financing Assistance; electric bicycles through the California E-Bike Incentive Project; clean mobility investments to support sustainable communities by decreasing vehicle miles traveled (VMT) while increasing access to alternative modes of transportation, such as Sustainable Transportation Equity Project (STEP), Clean Mobility in Schools, and the Statewide Clean Mobility Options (CMO) Voucher Project; deployment of incentives for clean trucks, buses, and off-road equipment utilizing zero-emission technologies; advanced technology demonstration and pilot projects; and other efforts such as outreach to communities and zero-emission vehicle and infrastructure workforce training and development. As reported in the California Climate Investments 2022 Mid-Year Data Update, 58 percent of CARB’s Low Carbon Transportation investments from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund has been allocated to projects benefiting priority populations.

Next Steps

Each year, in coordination the California State Legislature’s annual budget process, CARB develops its Low Carbon Transportation Incentives Funding Plan. The Funding Plan serves as the blueprint for CARB to expend the funds appropriated in the State budget, establishing CARB’s priorities for the funding cycle, describing the projects CARB intends to fund, and setting funding targets for each project. CARB staff begin developing the Funding Plan with the release of the Governor’s proposed budget, seeking input from stakeholders through a series of public meetings on proposed funding levels and policy for each incentive project, including the suite of clean transportation equity projects. Once the Legislature finalizes the budget, typically toward the end of summer, CARB submits the proposed Funding Plan to its Board for approval at the November Board hearing. More information on the Funding Plan process, including schedule for public meetings and other important dates, please click here.