Victor Valley Transit will share some of the grant funding from California

Victor Valley Transit and the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority will share a $206 million funding pie to expand bus and rail service in underserved communities.

Governor Gavin Newsom recently announced that Caltrans will provide funding for 149 local clean transportation projects aimed at reducing pollution, especially in disadvantaged communities across the state.

Funding announced that the state’s total investment in these projects over the past decade has exceeded $1 billion.

“Thanks to California’s cap-and-trade program, cleaner transit is coming to the communities most affected by pollution,” Newsom said. “By investing more than $1 billion in clean transportation in our communities, we are improving the health and daily lives of countless Californians.”

That funding is made possible through the California Climate Investment Funds under the Low Carbon Transit Program (LCTOP), funded by the state’s cap-and-trade program, state officials said.

Over the past decade, LCTOP has awarded more than $1 billion to more than 1,400 projects that have expanded bus or rail service, helped transit agencies purchase zero-emission vehicles, funded zero-emission infrastructure projects, and supported free or reduced-fare programs.

About 96% of this funding went to poor and disadvantaged communities.

“Caltrans is investing in transportation services and infrastructure improvements to improve and increase travel options in local disadvantaged communities and help combat climate change,” said Caltrans Director Tony Tavares. “This program exemplifies our commitment to providing a transportation network that respects the environment and serves all Californians.”

LCTOP is funded by the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund and is part of California Climate Investments, a statewide program that allocates billions of cap-and-trade dollars to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, strengthen the economy, and improve health and the environment, particularly in disadvantaged communities.

Some of the projects that will receive funding from LCTOP this year include:

Victor Valley Transit Authority (Hesperia): Purchase of three replacement zero-emission fuel cell electric buses for just over $1.1 million. See state listings for additional funded projects.
San Bernardino County Transportation Authority: Continue to provide free Metrolink passes for commuters in San Bernardino County. The program will focus on stations in San Bernardino along the Arrow and the San Bernardino Line. Cost $600,000.
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority: $51.3 million in work benefiting E Line subway service.

A complete list of projects can be found here.

To learn more about transportation investment in California, visit the website RebuildingCA.ca.gov and build.ca.gov.