California Air Resources Board

The Federal Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI)

The Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program funds projects that improve the safety, efficiency, and reliability of intercity passenger and freight rail.

Funding Available for Award Under Fiscal Year 2022:  $1,427,462,902

Applications are due no later than 5:00 p.m. ET, December 1, 2022. See the FY 2022 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for more information.

CARB is offering incentives to help upgrade or replace older, dirtier locomotives with cleaner Tier 4 or zero-emission locomotives. CARB incentives awards are often tied to cost-effectiveness, which are the emissions reduced throughout project life.  

Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP)

The California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA) is releasing a call for projects for Award Cycle 6 of the Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP).  

The final guidelines and the call for projects are available on the CalSTA website.

Funding Available for Award Under Fiscal Year 2022:  A minimum of $1.8 billion

Applications for new projects and high-priority grade separations are due February 10, 2023.

CalSTA expects to announce awards by April 24, 2023.

Carl Moyer Memorial Air Quality Standards Attainment Program

For more information, visit the Carl Moyer Program webpage: Carl Moyer Memorial Air Quality Standards Attainment Program | California Air Resources Board.

Funding information:

• To be eligible for the fullest funding possible, applicants must execute a locomotive project grant contract with their Air District prior to CARB Board final approval of the Proposed In-Use Locomotive Regulation
  • Carl Moyer grants executed after CARB Board approval would be subject to a reduced grant life, resulting in a substantially lower grant amount.
• Applicants: Class 3, Industrial, and Passenger
• Up to 85% of eligible costs on locomotive replacement or repower to Tier 4
• Up to 85% of eligible costs on locomotive replacement or repower to zero emission
• Maximum grant life 15 years
• Infrastructure grants such as grants for ZE fueling/charging or for wayside power are currently being evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Table 1: Air Districts Accepting Locomotive Incentives Applications in the

Carl Moyer Program

Prop. 1B Goods Movement Emission Reduction Program

Locomotive grants are available through the Bay Area Air Quality Management District: Other Equipment (baaqmd.gov), solicitation closes March 31, 2022. For more information on the program, visit the Proposition 1B: Goods Movement Emission Reduction Program webpage at: Proposition 1B: Goods Movement Emission Reduction Program | California Air Resources Board. 

Funding information:

• Up to 75% of eligible costs on replacement or retrofit of a freight switch  locomotive with at least 75% usage within the state, for upgrades to Tier 4
• Up to 75% of eligible costs on replacement or retrofit of a freight line haul locomotive, adjusted for usage within the state, for upgrades to Tier 4

AB 617 Community Air Protection Grants

Locomotive Incentives granted through the Community Air Projection Program are selected by AB 617 Communities, and are evaluated pursuant to the Carl Moyer Program Guidance, see Carl Moyer Program (above), and visit the Community Air protection webpage at: Community Air Protection Incentives Guidelines | California Air Resources Board

Low Carbon Transportation (LCT) and Air Quality Improvement Program (AQIP) Grants

•    CARB is seeking a Third-Party Administrator for Advanced Technology Demonstration and Pilot Projects. 
•    Applications will be accepted through December 16, 2022.
•    The 2021-2022 budget appropriation allocates $40 million for the Advanced Technology Demonstration and Pilot Project program. 
•    Five project categories are eligible for the technical solicitation, including Zero-Emission Intrastate Line Haul Locomotives 
•    Projects must demonstrate a zero-emission locomotive that can operate in intrastate line haul operations such as a port-railyard route without requiring additional diesel locomotives in the consist.

Visit the LCT/AQIP webpage for periodic updates: Low Carbon Transportation Investments and AQIP Funding Plans | California Air Resources Board

VW Mitigation Trust

Deployed through the SCAQMD.  For more information visit the VW Mitigation Trust webpage: Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Trust for California | California Air Resources Board (aqmd.gov).

Funding information:

• Applicants: Operators able to demonstrate at least 75% usage within the State
• Up to 25% of eligible costs on locomotive replacement to Tier 4
• Up to 40% of eligible costs on locomotive repower to Tier 4

Clean Off-Road Equipment Voucher Incentive Project (CORE)

This program is  currently updating guidance (potential for new grant offerings soon): Clean Off-Road Equipment Voucher Incentive Project | California Air Resources Board

Advanced Technology Demonstration and Pilot Projects

Funding is available from fiscal year 21/22 for demonstration and pilot projects for many off-road technologies including locomotives.  This years funding opportunity will be focused on zero-emission locomotive that can operate in intrastate line haul operations such as a port-railyard route without requiring additional diesel locomotives in the consist.  Funding for this opportunity will be competitive and require an application to be submitted by an air district or eligible non-profit. Additionally, CARB is considering including zero-emission locomotives as a category for demonstration and pilot projects in FY 22/23 with a proposed for additional funding for this category.