Open competitive freight infrastructure grant nominations
The 2026 Trade Corridor Enhancement Program (TCEP), administered by the California Transportation Commission, invites project nominations for financial assistance to improve California freight corridors. Projects may improve port and border access, freight rail and intermodal efficiency, safety, congestion, air quality, and zero-emission freight infrastructure. This is a competitive public infrastructure grant program rather than a government procurement solicitation for commercial services. The 2026 cycle covers fiscal years 2027-28 and 2028-29.
Funding and award amounts
The Commission estimates $1,287,958,000 in total two-year program funding, including estimated state and federal freight funds and prior-program adjustments. The individual project or applicant award maximum is not separately published in the adopted 2026 guidelines; the total program amount and regional targets must not be read as guaranteed awards. Forty percent of the program is targeted to Caltrans-nominated projects; 60 percent to regional and other public agency nominations.
Eligible organizations, match and restrictions
Eligible applicants are California public agencies, including cities, counties, metropolitan planning organizations, regional transportation agencies, port authorities, public construction authorities, and Caltrans. Private companies cannot apply directly; an eligible public agency must sponsor their proposals and include required public-private partnership documentation. Projects must be identified in a currently adopted regional transportation plan, demonstrate meaningful public freight benefits, satisfy relevant environmental and delivery readiness rules, and coordinate as required with Caltrans. For the 60% regional funding share, a match of at least 30% of total eligible project-phase costs is required. The 40% Caltrans-nominated share requires no match. Funding is reimbursement-based after approval and agreement; costs incurred before allocation generally are ineligible. The program prohibits supplanting other committed funds, funding fully funded projects, paying for mandatory private-development mitigation, and using funds for the project-approval/environmental-document phase.
Application deadline and official submission
Project nomination packages are due Friday, November 20, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Standard Time (PST). Submit an electronic copy to TCEP@catc.ca.gov following adopted Appendix A. Submit accessible remediated PDFs, project and funding information, an electronic Project Programming Request, required performance and environmental data, and a hyperlinked table of contents. Nominations ordinarily should be at most 35 pages excluding appendices. Metropolitan planning organizations must also provide a signed cover letter listing and confirming relevant regional projects; required proposal coordination and sponsor agreements should be completed before the deadline.
Official controlling instructions
Review the adopted 2026 TCEP Guidelines (95-page PDF), particularly the eligibility, match, restrictions and Appendix A submission requirements, and the Commission’s 2026 Trade Corridor Enhancement program page. The Commission’s current program-deadline announcement specifies 11:59 p.m. PST. Research verified October 31, 2026.