News

$21 Million Available for SoCal Cities and Counties to Invest in Clean Vehicles, Fuels and Transport

The Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee (MSRC) recently approved $21 million for cities and counties within the South Coast air district to invest in local clean vehicle, fuel and transportation projects through its new Local Go

New Solicitations and Electric Vehicle Infrastructure are Highlighted in the Latest MSRC E-News

The MSRC’s latest e-news is packed full of exciting stories about what is happening in the clean transportation arena and how the MSRC is contributing. The MSRC has two new solicitations available.

The MSRC Re-Elects its Chair, the Next Mayor of Cathedral City

For a fifth consecutive year, Cathedral City Mayor Pro-Tem Greg Pettis has been re-elected to serve as MSRC Chair for 2017-2018. Serving on the MSRC since 2009, Greg represents the Riverside County Transportation Commission on the Committee.

The City of Westminster Charges Ahead to Help EVs Grow in Popularity

In April, the City of Westminster celebrated the opening of 15 new electric vehicle charging stations in the community. The Civic Center parking structure now has 10 spaces for Level 2 charging and 1 space for Level 3 charging – all open to the public. The Level 3 Fast Charger can provide an 80% charge in about 30 minutes. The City also installed 4 Level 2 chargers for use by City fleet vehicles at its Corporate Yard. These are the first EV chargers installed by the City.

CA Utilities Propose Major EV Infrastructure Investments

To help ensure there are sufficient electric vehicle (EV) charging stations for the growing number of zero emission vehicles (ZEVS) being sold in California, three major investor-owned utilities- PG&E, SDG&E and SoCal Edison - have proposed significant investments in new EV infrastructure. The utilities already received approval by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to invest nearly $200 million in EV charging infrastructure for apartments and workplaces, particularly in disadvantaged communities. Earlier this year, the utilities proposed to invest more than $1 billion over the next five years in new EV charging infrastructure. The investment would also help inspire further consumer confidence that there will be ample public charging available for ZEVs.

New MSRC Funding Opportunities Announced

The MSRC has three open funding solicitations and is encouraging eligible stakeholders to apply. The Major Event Center Transportation Program has $5 million in funding for projects that will reduce the number of vehicle trips and mitigate traffic congestion by getting event attendees out of their cars and onto new public transportation options at major event centers not adequately served by public transit. A major event center is defined as a venue with a capacity of at least 7,500 visitors, an average attendance of at least 5,000 guests, and a dedicated parking structure or lot co-located with the venue. Eligible applicants include major event center operators, public transit agencies, private transit operators, paratransit providers, and county transportation commissions. Applications are due by March 30, 2018.

AIR RESOURCES BOARD VOTES TO SUPPORT CLEAN CAR STANDARDS

The California Air Resources Board (ARB) recently approved the findings from the Midterm Review of its Advanced Clean Car Program (ACC) and unanimously agreed to continue with the state’s vehicle greenhouse gas emission standards and zero-emission vehicle program for cars and light trucks sold in the state through 2025.

E-BIKES AND EMPLOYEES – A PERFECT PAIR FOR CLEAN AIR

In January, the City of Moreno Valley launched a new employee Bikeshare program enabling its workers to use free bikes to go to lunch or run errands during the workday and avoid travel that normally would be done by getting into their cars.

NEW MSRC MEMBER BEN BENOIT - PASSIONATE TO PROTECT CLEAN AIR FOR KIDS

When newly appointed MSRC member Ben Benoit was growing up in the Coachella Valley, he remembers riding on dirty diesel school buses that generated dark plumes of smoke. During many hot days in the Valley, Benoit and all of his classmates would have to breathe in the fumes through the open bus windows because there wasn’t any air conditioning. Similarly, when he waited to board the school bus, the exhaust fumes from the idling buses were foul smelling and nearly suffocating. Even as a kid, Benoit knew that breathing that toxic air couldn’t be good.

Southern California Baseball is Back, and so is the MSRC to Get You There

April kicks off the 2017 baseball season for both the Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, which means thousands of baseball fans will be traveling to Dodger Stadium and the Big A and looking for options to avoid the traffic nigh