Caltrans seeks applicants for $35M in Sustainable Transportation Planning Grants

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has released the Fiscal Year (FY) 2027-28 Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant Application Guide and Call for Applications. These projects will aim to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, enhance multimodal transportation and help underserved communities become more resilient to natural disasters and extreme weather.

The deadline for transit agencies, local governments, regional and metropolitan transportation planning organizations, and Native American tribal governments to apply is at 5 p.m. on Friday, October 9, 2026. The awards will be announced in spring 2027.

The Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant program awards approximately $35 million in annual funding to eligible applicants through Senate Bill 1, the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017, the State Highway Account, the Federal Transit Administration, and the Federal Highway Administration.

The funding supports sustainable strategies in regions and communities throughout California, helps the state achieve GHG reduction targets, and enhances safety and mobility across the state’s transportation network. Caltrans will host application workshops and provide technical assistance to applicants up until the application deadline.

The Grant Management Branch administers the program within the Headquarters Division of Transportation Planning. The Sustainable Transportation Planning Grants comprise the following four grant categories:

• Sustainable Communities Grants ($30.4 million: $17.9 million/competitive & $12.5 million/formula) to encourage local and regional planning that supports state goals, implements Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) Sustainable Communities Strategies (SCS), and to ultimately achieve GHG reduction target of 40 and 85 percent below 1990 levels by 2030 and 2045, respectively.
• Strategic Partnerships Grants ($4.5 million) to identify and address statewide, interregional, or regional transportation deficiencies on the State Highway System in partnership with Caltrans. A sub-category funds transit-focused planning projects that address multimodal transportation deficiencies.

Source: Caltrans