California Transportation Commission Can Leverage $2 Billion in Transportation Projects to Meet the Moment on Climate
On June 26 and 27, 2025, the CTC will vote to allocate more than $1.4 billion in state and federal transportation funding through competitive grants.
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When the California Transportation Commission (CTC) meets this month, it will have a chance to meet this moment and invest in clean, affordable mobility.
With Congress and the Trump administration taking unprecedented steps to block California’s authority to clean up transportation pollution, the state's transportation leaders must leverage its transportation investments to stay on track to curb tailpipe pollution.
Advocates call for investments in clean air
Thirty-six organizations representing climate, transportation, and environmental justice have called on the CTCto leverage the Trade Corridor Enhancement Program (TCEP) to prioritize zero-emission freight projects like electric truck charging investments and to invest in safety projects that reduce the impacts of freight on communities.
The CTC staff has published its recommendations, which includes a proposed investment of $94 million in electric truck charging that would increase the number of heavy-duty truck chargers in the state by 25 percent. These investments will help take some of the most polluting diesel trucks off our state’s roads and highways.
Also included among the three funding programs are beneficial investments in regional rail projects, public transit, highway safety, and active transportation. However, the CTC staff is also recommending more than half a billion dollars for a series of highway expansions that will put more cars and trucks on the road in communities that already breathe unhealthy air.
A coalition of 29 organizations asked the CTC not to fund some of the most concerning major highway expansions that would undermine our state’s climate goals while exacerbating traffic congestion.
State leadership supports local and regional investments
The CTC received 102 applications from local and regional agencies totaling $3.1 billion in requests, requiring commissioners to pare those down by more than half to meet the $1.4 billion available to award as grants.
The funding comes from three programs that were created by Senate Bill 1 (2017; Jim Beall): Solutions for Congested Corridors Program, the Local Partnership Program, and the Trade Corridor Enhancement Program.
Mixed track record on climate
In the 2023 report Closing the Climate Investment Gap, NRDC analyzed a dozen state transportation programs and graded them based on whether the projects they funded would help Californians get around more easily and curb tailpipe pollution.
While many programs scored well for delivering climate-friendly mobility, the three SB 1 programs up for a vote this month fell short:
- Solutions for Congested Corridors: C+
- Local Partnership Program: C-
- Trade Corridor Enhancement Program: F
California’s Climate Action Plan for Transportation Infrastructure has helped make the state’s transportation investments more climate-friendly while preserving job quality. But more work remains to close the remaining gap, and the CTC vote in June is an important chance to finish the work.
Other resources
Local Partnership Program Staff Recommendation
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