Resources
Applications Due
Total Funding
Funding Source
Maximum Award
Award Details
Sustainable Communities (Competitive):
- Minimum $50,000 for Under-Resourced Communities, including Native American Tribal Governments and rural communities
- Minimum $100,000 for all others
- Maximum $700,000
Eligibility
Sustainable Communities (Competitive): The following are eligible to apply as a primary applicant: MPOs with sub-applicants; RTPAs; Transit Agencies; Cities and Counties with compliant Housing Elements and completed Annual Progress Reports; Native American Tribal Governments; and Other Public Transportation Planning Entities.
The following are eligible to apply as a sub-applicant: MPOs/RTPAs, Transit Agencies, Universities and Community Colleges; Native American Tribal Governments; Cities and Counties with compliant Housing Elements and completed Annual Progress Reports; Community-Based Organizations; Non-Profit Organizations (501.C.3); and Other Public Entities.
Note: Native American Tribal Governments are also eligible to apply as sub-applicants for Strategic Partnerships and Strategic Partnerships Transit grants.
Eligible Activities
Example project types include: Studies, plans or planning methods that advance a community’s effort to address the impacts of climate change, such as sea level rise, flooding, wildfires, and mudslides, which may include the use of natural infrastructure to reduce the impacts of climate change; Climate adaptation plans for transportation facilities; Planning to remove or reduce barriers created by transportation infrastructure such as highways, overpasses and underpasses, that create disconnected communities; Studies to improve access to social services and other community destinations for under-resourced communities; and Native American Tribal Government transportation planning training and capacity building.
Duration
Notable Requirements
Although the Sustainable Communities (Competitive) Grants require a 11.47% minimum local match (in cash or an in-kind contribution), this is not required for Native American Tribal Governments.
Preferences
Grant applications that address every aspect of the grant specific objectives will score higher overall. Caltrans has diverse applicants and project types, which makes it difficult to use a one-size fits all scoring rubric that would not unintentionally put some applicant/project types at a disadvantage. Therefore, applications will be scored based on how well they are able to describe the project, justify need, incorporate the grant specific objectives, and develop a Scope of Work and Cost & Schedule, all in accordance with the STPG application guide, samples and checklists provided, as applicable and appropriate for the applicant and project type. Once the grant review committees evaluate, rank, and select the best applications for grant funding, final recommendations are presented to Caltrans management and California State Transportation Agency for approval.
Previous Caltrans transportation planning grantee performance will be considered during the evaluation process. Applicants with a history of inadequate performance and/or unresolved past grant performance issues may be at a competitive disadvantage in the application review process.
How to Apply
How to Apply: All grant application packages are required to be submitted via Smartsheet form. Smartsheet features work better with Google Chrome browser. Note: Smartsheet progress cannot be saved.