Calculate Costs

Managing project budgets is critical to ensure financial sustainability and scalability of your mobility project.

This guide contains sequential steps, outlined below, that will help to build out your mobility project budget. We suggest that you read each section and complete worksheets in sequence.

The guide includes information about budgeting throughout the Planning & Construction Phase and the Operation Phase of your mobility project. Special considerations and notes are included for bikeshare, carshare, carpool/vanpool, innovative transit services, and ride on demand. 

Please note that the content, activities, and worksheets below are offered as a reference. Each mobility project will have its own set of unique cost considerations.

If you are an awardee, please contact your cohort facilitator for additional support. 

CONTENTS

Step 1 – Consider Your Costs

Step 2 – Adjust Your Cost Plan

Step 3 – Compare Costs and Note Reimbursements

Step 4 – Develop Your Budget

Step 5 – Move to the Next Guide in the Toolkit – Hire Locally

Considerations

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Step 1

Consider Your Costs

Estimated Time and Resources
Reading Time: 10 Minutes
Resources Required For the Worksheet: Mobility Project Team, Project Budget, Laptop
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About This Step

The budget should consider the two primary phases of the project: planning and construction and project operations. The main costs stem from initial start-up requirements, permitting costs, capital equipment, and outreach and marketing during the planning and construction phase. 

This section summarizes the important components of these two primary phases.

TIP: Download the worksheet to to help make note of the type of line items to include in your budget/cost plan.

Download The Worksheet

Step 2

Adjust Your Cost Plan

Estimated Time and Resources
Reading Time: 5 Minutes
Resources Required For the Worksheet: Mobility Project Team, Project Budget, Laptop
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About This Step

During the course of your mobility project, there will be opportunities and reasons to revise your budget or cost plan. Budgets may change due to changes in user needs, the market, line items, and the project’s financial sustainability. 

TIP: Download the worksheet for a checklist of considerations for line items to include in your budget/cost plan. See if there are any line items that you need to add to your budget or discuss with your Mobility Project Team. 

Download The Worksheet

Step 3

Compare Costs and Note Reimbursements

Estimated Time and Resources
Reading Time: 35 Minutes
Resources Required For the Worksheet: Mobility Project Team, Project Budget, Laptop, Excel / Google Sheets
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About This Step

We have provided general cost estimates in the market to implement a mobility project. These cost estimates include staffing & direct costs, capital equipment costs, and operations & maintenance costs. 

TIP: Download the worksheet to compare the actual cost of your line items with typical ranges in the industry for bikeshare, scooter share, carshare, carpool/vanpool, innovative transit services, and ride on-demand services. There is also a list of items that can be fully or partially reimbursed for CMO MPV Awardees.

Download The Worksheet

Step 4

Develop Your Budget

Estimated Time and Resources
Reading Time: 5 minutes
Resources Required For the Worksheet: Mobility Project Team, Project Budget, Laptop, Excel / Google Sheets
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About This Step

Work closely with your mobility provider and Mobility Project Team to develop a budget. 

TIP: Download the worksheet that has directions, explanations, and a template to help build out your budget over the course of your mobility project and beyond.

Download The Worksheet

Step 5

Move to the Next Guide in the Toolkit

Estimated Time and Resources
Reading Time: 1 minute
Resources Required For the Worksheet: N/A

About This Step

Congratulations on building out the budget for your mobility project! The next guide in the Toolkit is the Hire Locally guide. Use this guide to get ideas on how to build your dream team.

Considerations

Reference in this document to any specific manufacture, trade, company name, or service is for informational purposes only, and does not constitute endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the California Air Resources Board (CARB). 

The sample budget figures are offered as reference points but are not meant to be the definitive costs your pilot project will experience.  Nor is this guide intended to provide all of the details associated with running a shared mobility pilot program, but rather highlight some of the main considerations.

Any planning costs incurred prior to voucher execution post-award, are not eligible for reimbursement. Eligible costs are reimbursable only if the expense is incurred after voucher agreement execution. For specific help with budgeting questions before application submittal, please contact the CMO Administrator Team to receive one-on-one technical assistance. 

Various models, infrastructure, and enhancements are eligible to receive Mobility Project Voucher funds (see Section D for Project Eligibility and Section D.4 for Eligible Infrastructure Improvements of the Implementation Manual)

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