Environmental Enhancement and Mitigation Grant Program

About the Environmental Enhancement and Mitigation Grant Program

The Environmental Enhancement and Mitigation Grant Program was created by California Streets and Highways Code Section 164.56, which authorizes the legislature to allocate up to $6.7 million each fiscal year from the Environmental Enhancement and Mitigation (EEM) Program Fund for projects that are directly or indirectly related to the environmental impacts of modifying existing transportation facilities, or for the design, construction, or expansion of new transportation facilities. Examples of transportation facilities include, but are not limited to, city streets, highways, trains, ports, airports, light rail lines, mass transit stations, park and ride facilities, and high-occupancy vehicle lanes.

The California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) develops procedures and criteria to evaluate grant project proposals and recommends projects for funding to the California Transportation Commission (CTC). The CTC annually awards grants to projects from CNRA's list.

EEM projects must mitigate, either directly or indirectly, the environmental impacts caused by construction of a new transportation facility or the modification of an existing transportation facility. Examples of transportation facilities include, but are not limited to, city streets, highways, trains, ports, airports, light rail lines, mass transit stations, park and ride facilities, and high-occupancy vehicle lanes. In the EEM Grant Program, a transportation project used as the basis for the EEM project is referred to as a “Related Transportation Facility” or “RTF”.

Current Solicitation Status

The 2025 Environmental Enhancement & Mitigation Grant Solicitation is now closed. Submitted proposals are currently in review and awards are anticipated to be made in March 2026.

Submitted Project Proposals may be accessed through the Resources Agency Project Tracking and Reporting (RAPTR) system, found at: https://raptr.resources.ca.gov/

CLICK HERE TO ACCESS FINAL 2025 GRANT GUIDELINES.

For Projects Advancing to Step 2

Applicants submitting the most competitive project proposals will be further evaluated during a field visit. During field visits, Applicants should be prepared to respond to project-specific questions including, but not limited to, the cost estimate, funding, site plan, site control, operations and maintenance, partnerships, community involvement, and any possible barriers to successful completion.

Applicants may be required to provide additional documentation about the project before being granted a field visit. An invitation to Step 2 does not guarantee a project will compete successfully for funding.

Applicants with the most competitive projects after field visits will be notified by staff to submit supporting documentation. Once notified, applicants must submit Step 3 required documents to their existing project proposals in RAPTR. Some required Step 3 documents are linked below.

Step 3 – Supporting Documentation (Qualifying Projects Only)

Step 3 Submittal Checklist

Authorizing Resolution

Certification Letter (if applicant does not have governing board)

Eligibility for Nonprofit Applicants:

Payee Data Record Form

Government Agency Taxpayer ID Form