Funds empower under-resourced communities across the state to make decisions, plan projects and access additional grant funding.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Twelve California nonprofits, local governments, transit agencies, and Native American tribes in under-resourced communities were awarded up to $100,000 each by the Clean Mobility Options Voucher Pilot Program (CMO) to conduct “Community Transportation Needs Assessments” (Needs Assessment Voucher) that will help them to identify – and eventually address – transportation challenges faced by residents in their communities. Nearly $200,000 of the total $1.2 million was set aside and awarded specifically to eligible tribal governments. See the full list of awardees and project locations below.
“Low-income neighborhoods and communities of color shoulder the burden of having an overconcentration of pollution while also dealing with historic disinvestment that limits their mobility options,” said CARB Executive Officer Dr. Steven Cliff. “The goal of this effort is to tackle the lack of transportation options with tools that empower residents to advocate for change, while also building the clean mobility infrastructure that will make sure no one is left behind in a zero-emissions future.”
The Needs Assessment Voucher is intended to support under-resourced communities in evaluating transportation gaps and identifying mobility challenges, needs, preferences, and priorities of the residents. Awardees of these funds submitted applications for projects to help them identify and understand the unmet mobility needs of their community members and develop solutions in collaboration with residents. Key elements of Community Transportation Needs Assessments include analysis and engagement of the community through tools like surveys and virtual community events.
“We want to increase access to safe, reliable clean transportation,” said Cesar Hernandez, Deputy Director driving growth in innovative zero-emission transportation programs at CALSTART, where the CMO program is administered. “Billions of public dollars from the state of California, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Inflation Reduction Act are available for clean transportation program grants that can solve the issues that these needs assessments identify. A Needs Assessment Voucher can help ensure that these funds will have an impact in the areas and for the people that need it most.”
The Needs Assessment Voucher value was increased from $50,000 in the first funding window to $100,000 for this funding window. This change was made based on a thorough public engagement process and a survey of previous recipients. The increase in the value of the voucher will allow recipients to gather higher-quality data from more community members.
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
CMO is a statewide initiative that provides funding for zero-emission shared mobility options to under-resourced communities in California. CMO is available throughout California to all disadvantaged and low-income communities, with a guaranteed set-aside for tribal governments to increase access to safe, reliable, convenient, and affordable transportation options. The program is administered by CALSTART, the Shared Use Mobility Center and CivicWell. For eligibility requirements, application information and to contact the technical assistance team, please visit www.cleanmobilityoptions.org.
CMO also supports the implementation of shared clean mobility projects through Mobility Project Vouchers worth up to $1.5 million each. The announcement of Mobility Project Awardees for the program’s second funding window is coming in early 2024. Mobility Project Vouchers will fund bikesharing and scooter-sharing, zero-emission carsharing, carpooling and vanpooling, innovative transit, and ride-on-demand services.
COMMUNITY TRANSPORTATION NEEDS ASSESSMENT WINDOW 2 AWARDEES
(Listed in alphabetical order by lead applicant)
City of Escondido
Fernandeño Tataviam Band of Mission Indians
Gold Coast District
Greater Sacramento Urban League
LA County Bicycle Coalition
Living Better Lives
Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., Committee Inc.
Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians
San Joaquin Valley Community Shared Mobility
South Modesto Businesses United
UC Santa Cruz
Valley Improvement Project
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