The Californer - All aboard! More clean buses and trains coming to California's communities most affected by pollution

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~ Sacramento, California - Governor Gavin Newsom announced today that the state will be awarding $206 million in new funding to expand bus and rail services in disadvantaged communities across California. These communities have been disproportionately affected by pollution and this funding aims to reduce their exposure to harmful emissions.

The funding, which comes from the California Climate Investment funds in the Low Carbon Transit Operation Program (LCTOP), is made possible by the state's cap-and-trade program. This brings the total investment in clean transit projects in these communities to over $1 billion in the last decade.

Governor Newsom expressed his gratitude for the cap-and-trade program, stating, "Thanks to California's cap-and-trade program, more clean transit is coming to communities impacted most by pollution. With more than $1 billion invested in clean transit in our communities, we're bettering the health and day-to-day lives of countless Californians."

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The LCTOP has provided over $1 billion for 1,400 projects in the last decade, including expanding bus and rail services, purchasing zero emission vehicles, and funding infrastructure projects. This year's funding will benefit 149 local projects and about 96% of it will go towards disadvantaged and low-income communities.

Caltrans Director Tony Tavares also emphasized their commitment to a transportation network that respects the environment and serves all Californians. "Caltrans is investing in transit services and infrastructure improvements to enhance and increase travel options in local, disadvantaged communities and help combat climate change," he said.

The LCTOP is funded by the Greenhouse Gas Reduction fund as part of California Climate Investments. This statewide program allocates billions of cap-and-trade dollars towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening the economy, and improving public health and the environment - particularly in disadvantaged communities.

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Some of the projects that will benefit from this year's LCTOP funding include Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority's Metro E-Line Operations which will receive $51.3 million for operations, San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency's Free Muni program which will receive $18 million to reduce or eliminate fares for seniors, people with disabilities, and youth, and Orange County Transportation Authority's 40 Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Bus Project which will receive $10.3 million to purchase 40 buses in support of their transition to a zero-emission fleet.

A full list of projects can be found on the California Climate Investments website.

For more information about California's transportation investments, visit RebuildingCA.ca.gov and build.ca.gov.

In other recent news, California has deployed 284 highly specialized personnel to support hurricane response efforts ahead of Hurricane Milton's expected landfall in Florida this week. The state is also taking steps to revolutionize youth sports with the 25x25 Coaches Challenge, aiming to train 25,000 youth coaches in California by 2025 and setting a new standard for positive youth development and equity in sports. Governor Newsom also marked the one year anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel with a statement honoring the victims of the massacre.

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