(a) (1) The commission, in coordination with the State Air Resources Board, Public Utilities Commission, State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission, and Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development, shall develop the Clean Freight Corridor Efficiency Assessment.

(2) The goal of the assessment is to identify freight corridors, or segments of freight corridors, and infrastructure needed to support the deployment of zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty vehicles. The commission shall consider the potential for emission-reductions, infrastructure needed for charging and alternative fueling, including parking facilities, congestion reduction, improved road safety and resiliency, and impacts to neighboring communities.

(3) The commission shall consult with the department, local governments, metropolitan planning organizations, regional transportation planning agencies, and other stakeholders, including, but not limited to, the freight industry, stakeholders from low-income and disadvantaged communities, environmental organizations, public health representatives, and academia, to develop the assessment.

(4) In developing the assessment, the commission shall consult with the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission pertaining to its work assessing deployment of vehicle charging stations pursuant to § 25229 of the Public Resources Code.

(b) In developing the assessment, the commission shall identify all of the following:

(1) Freight corridors, or segments of freight corridors, throughout the state that would be priority candidates for the deployment of zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty vehicles.

(2) The top five freight corridors, or segments of freight corridors, with the heaviest freight volume and near-source exposure to diesel exhaust and other contaminants.

(3) Projects that would achieve the goals of the assessment, including, but not limited to, all of the following projects:

(A) Medium- and heavy-duty vehicle charging and fueling infrastructure.

(B) Highway improvements needed to accommodate charging and fueling infrastructure, including parking facilities.

(C) Highway improvements on the corridor to increase safety and throughput, such as dedicated truck lanes.

(D) Improvements to local or connector streets and roads to support the corridor.

(E) An identification of areas where micro-grids or similar technologies could be deployed for zero-emission vehicle charging or fueling.

(4) Potential sponsors of projects to achieve the goals of the assessment, including, but not limited to, the department, regional transportation agencies, local governments, the freight industry, and nonprofit organizations.

(5) Barriers and potential solutions to achieving the goals of the assessment and the deployment of zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty vehicles.

(6) The impact on roads and bridges due to the increased weight of zero-emission vehicles.

(7) Methods to avoid displacement of residents and businesses on the freight corridor when considering projects that achieve the goals of the assessment.

(8) Potential funding opportunities for project types.

(9) Benefits from the deployment of zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, including, but not limited to, environmental, air quality, public health, and highway safety benefits, and economic competitiveness.

(c) The commission shall submit a report detailing the assessment and its recommendations for the deployment of zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty vehicles to the relevant policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature on or before December 1, 2023.

(d) The commission, State Air Resources Board, and State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission shall incorporate, to the extent feasible and applicable, the Clean Freight Corridor Efficiency Assessment’s findings and recommendations into those entities’ programs and guideline documents related to freight infrastructure and technology. This subdivision shall not limit the ability to award freight infrastructure and technology program funds on a competitive basis.

(Added by Stats. 2021, Ch. 769, Sec. 3. (SB 671) Effective January 1, 2022.)