Transportation Commission staff propose expanded ZEV criteria, readiness tests and resources for TEP applications

Transportation Commission staff presented proposed revisions to the Trade Corridor Enhancement Program (TEP) guidelines to improve how medium- and heavy-duty zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) infrastructure projects are evaluated and supported.

Beverly Newman Burkhard, manager of the TEP, told the workshop that staff want to add new subcriteria grouped into: project ZEV infrastructure (technical data on charger/stall counts, maximum port power, simultaneous charging capacity, on-site energy storage and generation; for hydrogen: fueling bays, nozzle flow rate, storage capacity, and daily fueling capacity), alignment with program goals (throughput, proximity to priority freight corridors and key freight locations, proximity to disadvantaged or historically impacted communities), project site features and amenities, project site readiness (site agreements and grid or hydrogen delivery readiness), and project team experience to assess deliverability.

Staff highlighted three statutory "freight system factor" criteria — throughput, velocity and reliability — and proposed including example narrative topics and optional performance-measure methodologies in a new ZEV resources appendix to help applicants quantify benefits. Ken Lopez, a program specialist and data lead, offered sample formulas for estimating trucks served per day and for comparing ZEV dwell time to diesel refueling to estimate velocity gains or losses.

Staff also reiterated program context and schedule: TEP receives roughly $400 million per year; cycle 5 will cover two fiscal years of funding and staff said that implies roughly $800 million of available TEP funding across the two years. Staff said draft guidelines will be presented to the commission in June, final guidelines will be before the commission in August for adoption, and a call for projects will follow; staff listed a late-November application window and noted Nov. 20 as a possible target date but did not confirm a final deadline.

Several attendees asked clarifying questions. Shoozo Yoshiawa of the Port of LA asked whether language that prioritizes projects that "mitigate passenger VMT" might disadvantage projects that already reduce or do not induce passenger VMT; staff replied that the intent is to address projects that induce passenger VMT and that projects that do not induce VMT would not be penalized. Staff also clarified that TEP funds cannot be used to purchase vehicles and recommended applicants use office hours to parse scope and eligible components of mixed projects.

Staff invited input on the proposed ZEV resources appendix and said they will hold office hours for project-level technical assistance through the end of May; they will return remaining policy questions at future workshops.