The California Air Resources Board (CARB) approved a $533 million plan to improve access to clean transportation in the state, with a portion of the funding directed at an enhanced fleet modernization program.

The plan will also specifically fund clean car rebates, zero-emission transit and school buses, clean trucks, and other innovative, clean transportation and mobility pilot projects, according to CARB.

The Fiscal Year 2019-20 Funding Plan for Clean Transportation Incentives, which was first proposed on Oct. 18, is part of California’s comprehensive strategy for improving air quality and reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation sector.

Of the $533 million total, which is largely funded with cap-and-trade proceeds, $485 million comes from the cap-and-trade program; the remainder – $48 million – is from the Air Quality Improvement Program. Roughly $65 million will be directed to Clean Transportation Equity Projects to increase access to clean transportation in low-income communities, and another $182 million will be used for clean trucks, buses and off-road freight equipment.

CARB uses this funding to accelerate development and early commercial deployment of the cleanest vehicle technologies and to improve access to clean transportation for all Californians, according to a release from organization.

The plan serves as a blueprint for expending funds appropriated to CARB in budget bills passed this year by the Legislature and signed by the Governor. It also establishes priorities for the funding, describes the projects CARB intends to fund, and sets funding targets for each project.

Investments made in previous years’ Funding Plans have previously helped fund two programs, the statewide Clean Vehicle Rebate (CVRP) and Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Projects (HVIP). The plan includes changes to each to ensure these popular programs more effectively address the need to accelerate the cleanup and transformation of California’s vehicle fleet.

The FY 2019-20 plan also continues investments in heavy-duty zero-emission demonstration and pilot projects in the freight sector, helping to spur innovation that is needed to meet California’s clean air and climate goals.