Project Background for Clean Mobility Options
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Project Goals
CMO’s intent is to both expand clean transportation access and meet California’s climate goals. Since FY 2014-15, CMO has worked to tackle both objectives: funding clean and shared transportation services, such as public transit, electric carshare, bikeshare, and electric shuttles, that increase access to key destinations while reducing GHG emissions and VMT. Consistent with the AB 32 Scoping Plan and related complementary measures, CMO has supported the state’s move toward a comprehensive ecosystem of more equitable, integrated, clean transportation services offering high-quality, affordable, and accessible solutions that meet priority population needs.
CARB’s CMO program has piloted various funding approaches and shared mobility project types to meet the needs of priority populations across the state. The pilot phase has been critical and has proven that there is an immense need for clean mobility and planning and capacity building projects to serve the state’s priority populations. As CMO continues, there will be a focus on transitioning from the pilot phase to the program phase. This includes accelerating investments, expanding mobility services to communities where there are funding gaps, and incorporating lessons learned from CARB’s pilots. The goal is to expand and replicate proven funding approaches intended to maximize benefits for, and participation from, the state’s priority populations.
CMO often introduce new and innovative project types in communities that have faced historical underinvestment. With each new challenge comes an opportunity to learn and share information for more efficient and effective project implementation. CARB will support current and future funding recipients by documenting and sharing lessons learned and providing opportunities for funding recipients to do the same such as through the Clean Mobility Equity Alliance network created through the CMO Voucher Pilot Program.
Guiding Legislation/Policy Drivers
Several key pieces of legislation provide the overall policy framework and funding to support CMO. AB 118 created the Air Quality Improvement Program (AQIP), a voluntary incentive program administered by CARB to fund clean vehicle and equipment projects, air quality research, and workforce training. AB 118 also created the Clean Transportation Program and authorizes the California Energy Commission (CEC) to develop and deploy alternative and renewable fuels and advanced transportation technologies to help attain the state’s climate change policies. AB 8 (Perea, Chapter 401, Statutes of 2013) re-authorized the Clean Transportation Program through January 1, 2024. CARB is partnering with the CEC to maximize investments in priority communities. The CEC has allocated $8,000,000 from the Clean Transportation Program to CMO to fund additional mobility project vouchers.
Several key pieces of legislation provide the overall policy framework and funding to support CMO. AB 118 created the Air Quality Improvement Program (AQIP), a voluntary incentive program administered by CARB to fund clean vehicle and equipment projects, air quality research, and workforce training. AB 118 also created the Clean Transportation Program and authorizes the California Energy Commission (CEC) to develop and deploy alternative and renewable fuels and advanced transportation technologies to help attain the state’s climate change policies. AB 8 (Perea, Chapter 401, Statutes of 2013) re-authorized the Clean Transportation Program through January 1, 2024. CARB is partnering with the CEC to maximize investments in priority communities. The CEC has allocated $8,000,000 from the Clean Transportation Program to CMO to fund additional mobility project vouchers.
Project Funding/Allocations/History
FY 2014-15 marked the first year of funding for CARB’s clean mobility programs with two carsharing and mobility option solicitations that funded the Regional Clean Mobility Pilots. In 2018, the concept for CMO was developed based on learnings from the Regional Clean Mobility Pilots. In response to stakeholder and community feedback, CARB is piloting a first-come, first-served approach meant to streamline the application process and reduce barriers for communities to receive funding for clean, shared transportation options.
| Fiscal Year | LCTI Funds Awarded (millions) | Other Funds Awarded (millions) | Projects Awarded |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2014-15 | $3 | -- | 2 Regional Car Sharing Pilots |
| FY 2015-16 | -- | -- | -- |
| FY 2016-17 | $9.5 | -- | 3 Regional Car Sharing Pilots, 1 Regional Car Sharing Pilot expansion, 1 EV Shuttle Service Project, and Ag Worker Vanpool |
| FY 2017-18 | $25 | -- | 2 Regional Car Sharing Pilot expansion, CMO Voucher Pilot Project, and Ag Worker Vanpool expansion |
| FY 2018-19 | $15 | -- | CMO Voucher Pilot Project expansion |
| FY 2019-20 | $8.6 | $8* | 3 Regional Car Sharing Pilot expansions, 1 EV Shuttle Service expansion, CMO Voucher Pilot Project expansion |
| FY 2020-21 | -- | -- | 24 Community Transportation Needs Assessment Vouchers awarded through the CMO Voucher Pilot Program |
| FY 2021-22 | $10 | -- | CMO Voucher Pilot Project expansion and 20 Mobility Project Vouchers awarded through the CMO Voucher Pilot Program |
| FY 2022-23 | -- | $19.8** | CMO Voucher Pilot Project expansion |
| Totals | $71.1 | $27.8 |
*These funds are from the California Energy Commission.
**These are general state budget funds.
Funding Breakdown
The following table has CMO project funding and budget categories. Outreach and Administration can largely be funded by a grantee's resource or match contributions. Implementation may contain a project's costs of operating a car sharing program, ebike purchases and/or transit subsidies. For the Statewide Clean Mobility Options Voucher Pilot Program, CARB is only displaying the associated costs of running the voucher program and not individual voucher projects costs.
| Project | Implemented State Funds | Resources/Match | Total Project Funds | Outreach | Administration | Implementation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Car Sharing and Mobility Hubs at Affordable Housing Pilot Project | $3,015,000 | $755,000 | $3,770,000 | $768,000 | $492,000 | $2,510,000 |
| LA City Carsharing Pilot Project | $4,669,343 | $26,614,394 | $31,283,737 | $478,667 | $4,970,720 | $25,834,350 |
| Lift Line Paratransit Dial-a-Ride Electric Vehicle Transition Program | $515,819 | $154,284 | $670,103 | -- | $6,844 | $508,975 |
| Valley Air ZEV Mobility Pilot Project | $749,800 | $1,160,300 | $1,190,100 | $147,540 | $136,700 | $1,894,849 |
| Ecosystem of Shared Mobility in the San Joaquin Valley | $3,119,00 | $1,311,084 | $4,430,084 | $221,105 | $354,232 | $3,657,718 |
| Our Community CarShare Sacramento Pilot Project | $5,863,847 | $1,841,760 | $7,705,607 | $1,186,100 | $866,525 | $5,632,982 |
| Agricultural Worker Vanpools Pilot Project | $6,000,000 | $1,500,000 | $7,500,000 | $433,970 | -- | $7,066,030 |
Statewide Clean Mobility Options Voucher Pilot Program (CMO) | $74,996,900*** | $820,000 | $75,816,900 | $2,628,030 | $6,085,660 | $67,103,210 |
***This includes $8,000,000 in funding from the California Energy Commission.
Recent Project/Policy Changes
CARB held a couple of public work groups to discuss changes to the project prior to opening Window 2 for applications. The main comment that was received from voucher recipients from Window 1 and prospective applicants (which included community members, community-based organizations, and other interested stakeholders) was that the costs for these projects had increased substantially as a result of various factors including inflation. Based on this feedback, CARB approved increasing voucher caps to the amounts below. These amounts were not as high as stakeholders would have expected, CARB balanced the needs of Window 1 recipients and the limited budget from the previous two fiscal years for this project category.
- Increased the mobility project voucher amount from $1 million to $1.5 million
- Increased the community transportation needs assessment voucher amount from $50,000 to $100,000.