Increasing Access to Zero-Emission, Shared Transportation Options in New York’s Underserved Communities
NYSERDA’s Clean Mobility Program (PON 5739)
was launched to improve zero-emission connections to public transportation and showcase innovative shared transportation options through planning and demonstration projects. Funding is prioritized for projects that help overcome persistent transportation challenges, especially in underserved communities, by increasing access to affordable, sustainable modes of transportation.
How It Works
Under PON 5739, the Clean Mobility Program includes Planning and Demonstration Tracks that will offer technical assistance and implementation funding directly to local governments, transit operators, community-based organizations, and local employers or groups of employers with a total of at least 1,000 employees across New York State (collectively referred to as “Eligible Entities”).
Eligible Entities were able to apply for both Planning and Demonstration Tracks in Round 1. Applicants could only submit one (1) proposal per funding track (Planning and Demonstration) per Round. The Round 1 application period closed in August 2024 and awarded Planning Track projects are anticipated to be completed in Summer 2025. Round 2 of funding will be limited to Demonstration Track projects and is anticipated to open for applications in Summer 2025, providing applicants that previously completed a planning project with the opportunity to demonstrate their planning project.
Eligible planning and demonstration projects could include, but are not limited to, the following clean mobility technologies:
View List of Eligible Vehicles View List of Eligible Vehicles
Eligible
- Bicycles
- Scooters
- E-Bikes
- E-Scooters
- EV Rideshare and On-Demand Services
- Charging Hubs for E-Bikes, E-Scooters and Light-Duty Electric Vehicles
Not Eligible
- EV Trucks
- Gas-Powered Vehicles
Planning Track
Planning Track projects will help Eligible Entities conduct needs assessments and identify potential transportation solutions to prepare for future implementation of clean mobility demonstration projects or initiatives. Eligible Entities did not need to have a transportation solution identified to apply for Planning Track project funding.
Applicants received up to $100,000 for Planning Track projects, with no cost-share requirement. Projects that can be completed in roughly six months will have an opportunity to apply for Round 2 Demonstration Track project funding.
To be eligible for future Demonstration Track funding, all Planning Track projects must complete the following:
- Community engagement
- Site identification and operations assessment
- Identification of project partners
- Technical feasibility analysis
- Policy and regulatory feasibility analysis
Planning Track awardees had the option to work with their own planning partners, or to use consultants from NYSERDA’s pre-approved list of planning firms (selected under RFQL 5625). For more information on the planning support provided, see the Mobility Planning Consultants section.
Planning Track Awards
On March 11, 2025, NYSERDA announced $2.9 million has been awarded to 29 community-led projects to enhance planning for shared electric transportation solutions in New York. Each team will receive up to $100,000 to conduct a feasibility study on innovative shared electric transportation solutions that increase access to community transportation connections.
Feasibility studies will explore mobility solutions in the following focus areas:
- Bike share/scooter share and bike libraries
- EV rideshare and on-demand services
- EV carshare
- EV microtransit and shuttles
- Micromobility charging hubs
- Programs to support bike/scooter ownership
- Other
Learn more about these innovative Planning Track projects below:
Bike New York
NYC E-bike Subsidy of Legal Class-1 Pedal Assist Bikes
Bike New York will investigate the feasibility and mechanics of a bike subsidy program to reduce e-bike costs for disadvantaged consumers and promote safe, legal usage of Class 1 pedal-assist e-bikes in New York City. It will establish an implementation pilot framework and serve as a model for a statewide program.
Mobility Types: Programs to support bike/scooter ownership, Other
Project Location: New York City
Award Partner: N/A
Brooklyn College - City University of New York
Planning and Assessment for an EV Micromobility Charging Hub at Brooklyn College
Brooklyn College will undergo a comprehensive planning initiative to establish an EV micromobility charging hub on campus. This project will develop a detailed plan for the necessary infrastructure to support e-bikes, scooters, and light-duty electric vehicles, thereby advancing the college’s commitment to clean mobility and sustainability.
Mobility Type: Micromobility charging hubs
Project Location: Brooklyn, New York City
Award Partner: N/A
Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus
Transportation Charging Hub
Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus (BNMC) will focus on the deployment of community electric charging hubs near major transit routes and around BNMC and Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority property that provide a safe environment for battery charging for both shared mobility services and personal mobility options.
Mobility Types: Bike share/scooter share and bike libraries, EV carshare, EV microtransit and shuttles, Micromobility charging hubs
Project Location: City of Buffalo
Award Partner: Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority
The Capital District Transportation Authority
Planning for Mobility Hub
The Capital District Transportation Authority aims to address inadequate and inefficient multi-modal transportation options by developing electrified mobility hubs that can aggregate various transit services in one location, improve accessibility, enhance efficient land use, and ensure that transit solutions are responsive to the needs of local communities.
Mobility Types: Bike share/scooter share and bike libraries, EV rideshare and on-demand services, EV carshare, EV microtransit and shuttles, Micromobility charging hubs, public transit services
Project Location: Capital Region
Award Partner: N/A
Center for Community Transportation
CCT Micromobility Hubs
The Center for Community Transportation will identify specific sites for EV micromobility hubs and determine the ideal combination of hub features to support alternative and active transportation in Tompkins County. This project aims to improve first/last mile coverage for commuters and reduce emissions by fostering consumer acceptance of EVs.
Mobility Types: Bike share/scooter share and bike libraries, EV carshare, Programs to support bike/scooter ownership
Project Location: Tompkins County
Award Partner: N/A
Central New York Regional Transportation Authority
CNYRTA Mobility-On-Demand Central New York
Central New York Regional Transportation Authority (CNYRTA) will develop an overall implementation road map for microtransit mobility-on-demand service implementation to improve existing transportation services. The goal is to provide more access, flexibility, and options to riders, all while optimizing the efficiency of CNYRTA’s transit system.
Mobility Types: EV rideshare and on-demand services, EV microtransit and shuttles, Micromobility charging hubs
Project Location: Onondaga County
Award Partner: N/A
Chemung County Planning Department
Elmira-Chemung Bicycle Pedestrian Plan Update
The Chemung County Planning Department will update its bicycle pedestrian safety plan (last updated 2015) to determine bicycle accommodation needs and include recommendations for future bicycle infrastructure projects, such as bike share, bike libraries, bike lanes, or bike racks.
Mobility Types: Bike share/scooter share and bike libraries, programs to support bike/scooter ownership, other
Mobility Types: Bike share/scooter share and bike libraries, programs to support bike/scooter ownership, other
Project Location: Chemung County
Award Partner: N/A
City of Glen Cove
Glen Cove Bicycle Infrastructure Plan
The City of Glen Cove will evaluate the feasibility of implementing bicycle infrastructure. This includes, but is not limited to, introducing a bike-share program, creating bike lanes and other bicycle infrastructure, and utilizing main corridor streets that better connect key areas of the City.
Mobility Types: Bike share/scooter share and bike libraries, Micromobility charging hubs, Programs to support bike/scooter ownership
Project Location: City of Glen Cove
Award Partner: N/A
City of Kingston
City of Kingston Clean Mobility Project
The City of Kingston will explore designing and launching an innovative zero-emission city-wide transportation program for residents and visitors. The City will explore various clean mobility solutions and determine the ideal program(s) with a clear pathway for demonstration based on the communities’ needs.
Mobility Types: Bike share/scooter share and bike libraries, EV rideshare and on-demand services, Micromobility charging hubs, Programs to support bike/scooter ownership
Project Location: City of Kingston
Award Partner: N/A
City of New Rochelle
CircuitNR - Zero Emissions Shared Mobility Plan
The City of New Rochelle will create a comprehensive plan to increase access to zero-emission and shared transportation options within the existing CircuitNR service area. These new modes will complement the existing CircuitNR service and provide residents with more options to improve connections to the existing transit center and other destinations.
Mobility Types: Bike share/scooter share and bike libraries, EV rideshare and on-demand services, EV carshare, EV microtransit and shuttles, Micromobility charging hubs, Programs to support bike/scooter ownership
Project Location: City of New Rochelle
Award Partner: N/A
City of Rensselaer
City Shuttle
The City of Rensselaer will explore an on-demand EV rideshare service to help address several transportation issues in the city. The city aims to connect residents to grocery stores and community locations, such as the Senior Center.
Mobility Types: EV rideshare and on-demand services, EV carshare, Micromobility charging hubs
Project Location: City of Rensselaer
Award Partner: N/A
City of White Plains
City of White Plains Clean Transit Feasibility Study
The City of White Plains will study addressing the inaccessibility and inconsistencies of its existing transportation system. Additionally, it will determine the uses, benefits, and target areas of a zero-emission microtransit shuttle, bikeshare program, and/or rideshare system.
Mobility Types: Bike share/scooter share and bike libraries, EV rideshare and on-demand services, EV microtransit and shuttles
Project Location: City of White Plains
Award Partner: N/A
Clinton County Planning Department
Workforce Microtransit
Clinton County Planning Department will develop a plan for a new workforce microtransit service that can be utilized in the industrial areas of the county to help connect workers to housing.
Mobility Types: EV microtransit and shuttles
Project Location: City of Plattsburgh
Award Partner: N/A
Commuter Link, Inc
Micromobility Deployment in Village of Monticello
Commuter Link, Inc will conduct a micromobility feasibility study to improve transportation access for residents, visitors, and employees in the Village of Monticello. The project will involve community engagement, site identification and operations, technical feasibility, and policy/impact analysis.
Mobility Types: Bike share/scooter share and bike libraries, Micromobility charging hubs, Programs to support bike/scooter ownership
Project Location: Village of Monticello
Award Partner: N/A
County of Suffolk
Suffolk County Microtransit Planning Grant
The County of Suffolk will explore a microtransit on-demand service within two distinct zones: the Centereach and Bohemia Zone. Services would be anchored to time transfer points at the Smith Haven Mall and the Patchogue LIRR station for seamless connections to the fixed route network.
Mobility Types: EV rideshare and on-demand services, EV microtransit and shuttles
Project Location: Suffolk County
Award Partner: N/A
Feed The Fire Global Ministries
FIRE: Future Innovations for Renewable Energy – Clean Mobility
Feed The Fire Global Ministries aims to address transit deserts and other inefficiencies in the transportation system that many DAC residents face. By reducing carbon footprints and promoting sustainable practices, this initiative empowers communities to adopt green mobility solutions, ensuring a healthier and more sustainable future.
Mobility Types: Bike share/scooter share and bike libraries, EV rideshare and on-demand services, EV carshare, EV microtransit and shuttles, Micromobility charging hubs
Project Location: Brooklyn and The Bronx, New York
Award Partner: Beraca Community Development Corporation
Lewis County
Lewis County Clean Mobility Planning
Lewis County will plan for the introduction of microtransit service which will provide a tailored and efficient solution to address existing transportation gaps. Microtransit will improve regional mobility, expand economic opportunities, and enhance overall health and safety by offering a reliable and more accessible transportation option for those in need.
Mobility Types: EV rideshare and on-demand services, EV microtransit and shuttles
Project Location: Lewis County
Award Partner: N/A
Local Initiatives Support Corporation
East Buffalo Community Bus Loop
The Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) will explore solutions to address first and last mile gaps for residents of the East Side of Buffalo. The project will build upon efforts to create a community bus loop while bolstering workforce development and community-based organizing.
Mobility Types: EV microtransit and shuttles
Project Location: City of Buffalo
Award Partner: N/A
Otsego County Planning & Solid Waste
Otsego County Microtransit
Otsego County Planning & Solid Waste will explore a microtransit service that will supplement its current public transit system. This would enable the County to address the first and last-mile needs of its disadvantaged residents when traveling to key destinations in Cooperstown and Oneonta, while furthering GHG reduction initiatives.
Mobility Types: EV microtransit and shuttles
Project Location: Otsego County
Award Partner: N/A
Rockaway South Queens Transportation Alliance
Clean Mobility Solutions for South Queens Communities
The Rockaway South Queens Transportation Alliance (RSQTA) will use stakeholder input to design solutions to pressing mobility challenges in the community. The community is a transportation desert with increasing traffic congestion, limited access to zero-emission transportations, and pollution from nearby JFK Airport.
Mobility Types: Bike share/scooter share and bike libraries, EV rideshare and on-demand services, EV carshare, EV microtransit and shuttles, Micromobility charging hubs, Programs to support bike/scooter ownership, Other
Project Location: Queens, New York City
Award Partners: Empire Clean Cities, Redfern Houses Resident Council, Rockaway Initiative for Sustainability & Equity (RISE), QueensLink, Queens Community Justice Center - the Rockaways, Community Boathouse, Laru Bay Collective, Friends of Beach 59th Street Park, Batswater Civic, Volunteers for Springfield Park, Donna’s H.O.P.E, Rockaway Neighbors Helping Neighbors
SUNY New Paltz
SUNY New Paltz Clean Mobility Study
SUNY New Paltz will evaluate clean mobility solutions that meet community needs while advancing affordable, accessible, healthy, safe, and low-carbon options that can benefit SUNY New Paltz students, employees, and NYS residents across the region.
Mobility Types: Bike share/scooter share and bike libraries, EV rideshare and on-demand services, EV carshare, EV microtransit solutions, Micromobility charging hubs, Programs to support bike/scooter ownership
Project Location: Town of New Paltz
Award Partner: N/A
Sustainable Hudson Valley, Inc
Business Models for E-Micromobility
Sustainable Hudson Valley, Inc. will develop a business model for a suite of e-micromobility solutions, including a shared bike and scooter program and pedicabs. The project will identify optimal conditions for e-micromobility hubs and identify key project partners for a potential demonstration.
Mobility Types: Bike share/scooter share and bike libraries, Micromobility charging hubs, Programs to support bike/scooter ownership
Project Location: City of Poughkeepsie
Award Partner: Empire Clean Cities, Dutchess Outreach
Sustainable Westchester
Microtransit Planning in Westchester County
Sustainable Westchester will explore developing eMobility solutions in the City of Mount Vernon. The non-profit will collaborate with the City Planning and Westchester County’s Public Transit teams on microtransit solutions for areas of the County that were identified in its Mobility Study and Transit Plan.
Mobility Types: EV rideshare and on-demand services, EV microtransit and shuttles
Project Location: Westchester County
Award Partner: Westchester County
The Fullerton
Regional Connector Bike Share Program
The Fullerton will explore developing a cross-jurisdictional bike share program in New York’s Hudson River Valley between Newburgh and Beacon. The planning will determine project design, assess technical specifications (e.g., typology, scale, station locations), review policy and regulatory analysis, and explore partnerships (e.g., for maintenance, operations, and funding).
Mobility Type: Bike share/scooter share and bike libraries
Project Location: Cities of Newburgh, Beacon, and surrounding communities
Award Partner: N/A
THE POINT CDC
Hunts Point Electric Shuttle
THE POINT seeks to plan an electric shuttle service in Hunts Point, building upon a pilot service they are currently running with seed funds from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. THE POINT will generate community input that will guide an expanded shuttle route, operating hours, and marketing efforts.
Mobility Types: EV microtransit and shuttles
Project Location: Hunts Point, Bronx, New York City
Award Partner: N/A
The Village at Ithaca
The Village Transit
The Village at Ithaca seeks to increase access to social and educational opportunities for students and their families for whom transportation poses a challenge or barrier to participation. The project will explore developing a zero-emission shuttle service that will bring students and their families to and from extracurricular and educational events.
Mobility Types: EV rideshare and on-demand services, EV microtransit and shuttles, Micromobility charging hubs
Project Location: Tompkins County
Award Partner: N/A
Town of Pelham
All-Electric Microtransit Program
The Town of Pelham seeks to implement an all-electric, on-demand microtransit program. This project will explore potential solutions to significantly reduce reliance on single occupancy vehicles, combat the town’s parking problems, and enable its senior population to travel around town.
Mobility Types: EV rideshare and on-demand services, EV microtransit and shuttles
Project Location: Town of Pelham
Award Partner: Circuit Transit
Village of Angola
Mobility Hub Planning Project
The Village of Angola will explore a mobility hub in Angola/Evans which aims to reduce reliance on personal vehicles, especially for short trips and leisure activities. The project seeks to encourage residents and visitors to shift toward alternative modes of transportation, such as bicycles and electric scooters.
Mobility Types: Bike share/scooter share and bike libraries, Micromobility charging hubs
Project Location:Village of Angola
Award Partner: Town of Evans
Village of Sleepy Hollow
Sleepy Hollow Clean Mobility
The Village of Sleepy Hollow will explore developing a sustainable complete streets network and the necessary design guidelines to ensure that streets are safe and accessible for all users. The project seeks to develop an on-demand electric shuttle service to improve connectivity within the village.
Mobility Types: Bike share/scooter share and bike libraries, EV rideshare and on-demand services, EV carshare, EV microtransit and shuttles, micromobility charging hubs, Autonomous shuttles
Project Location:Village of Sleepy Hollow
Award Partner: N/A
Demonstration Track
Demonstration Track projects include efforts that will demonstrate zero-emission transportation solutions that are technologically mature and commercially available. Funding may be used for hardware, software, policies, and market development initiatives. Round 1 of the Demonstration Track took place in parallel to Round 1 of the Planning Track. Round 2 of Demonstration Track applications is expected to open in Summer of 2025. Round 2 applicants should have completed their planning efforts outside of the Program or through work completed under Round 1 of Planning Track funding.
To be considered for Demonstration Track funding, Eligible Entities should provide documentation of completion of the following planning tasks: 1) community engagement, 2) site identification and operations, 3) project partner identification, 4) technical feasibility assessment, and 5) policy and regulatory feasibility assessment.
Eligible Entities may apply for Demonstration Track project funding of $500,000 to $3,000,000. Applicants are required to provide at least 20% of project costs in matching funds, or cost share. The Demonstration Track projects will have a duration of up to three years.
Mobility Planning Consultants
Planning Track awardees may work with pre-approved Mobility Planning Consultants (RFQL 5625) or leverage existing partners to support their planning project.
Planning Track awardees that would like to leverage NYSERDA’s pre-approved Mobility Planning Consultants will have the option to view short descriptions of the Consultants and their areas of expertise. From there, awardees will have the option to indicate their top preferences before starting planning work. Pairings between Planning Track awardees and Consultants will consider the awardee's preferences but will ultimately be subject to NYSERDA’s discretion and based on, but not limited to, location, expertise, needs, and bandwidth. For awardees working with the pre-approved Mobility Planning Consultants, NYSERDA will pay the consultant directly.
Note: NYSERDA has not reviewed the claims made by these firms.
Additional Program Details
Round 2 Demonstration Track funding is anticipated to open in Summer 2025. To receive a notification of when Round 2 Demonstration Track funding opens, along with other Clean Transportation-related funding opportunities and updates, fill out the form on the following page: https://www.nyserda.ny.gov/All-Programs/Clean-Transportation-Program/Connect-with-Us.
Connect With Us
Have questions about program clean mobility works or want any assistance? Get in touch at [email protected].