TRANSPORTATION, WATER & INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE
Meeting Date: April 8, 2024
Subject: 2024 Priority Conservation Area Grant Application
Submitted For: Warren Lai | PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
Department: PUBLIC WORKS and DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION & DEVELOPMENT
Referral No: 2
Referral Name: Review applications for TWIC grants to be prepared by the PUBLIC WORKS and CONSERVATION & DEVELOPMENT Departments
Presenter: Carl Roner | PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
Contact: Carl Roner (925)313-2213
Referral History:
The County is seeking funding from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) and the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) in coordination with the State Coastal Conservancy (SCC) to augment local funds for the Iron Horse Corridor (IHC). This will stretch local dollars to build improvements that would not be possible otherwise. The current opportunity is through the MTC and ABAG Priority Conservation Area (PCA) Grant Program. This program provides funding to cities, counties, park districts, utility districts, county transportation agencies, non-profits and other agencies to acquire, restore or improve places designated as Priority Conservation Areas within the nine-county Bay Area. This program was initiated in 2013.
Referral Update:
On March 11, 2024, the MTC and ABAG issued the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the 2024 PCA Grant Program. In this notice, MTC and ABAG solicited applications for planning and design, project implementation, and acquisitions associated with the following program goals:
• Natural resource protection, restoration, or enhancement;
• Public access to open space and parklands;
• Support for the region’s agricultural economy; and
• Provision or enhancement of urban parks and green spaces.
Among the eligible project types are pedestrian and bicycle facilities. Specifically pedestrian and bicycle trails, on-road bicycle facilities, sidewalks, bicycle infrastructure, pedestrian and bicycle signals, pedestrian and bicycle bridges, traffic calming, lighting and other safety-related infrastructure, staging areas, improvements to trails to improve accessibility for people with disabilities, and conversion and use of abandoned rail corridors for pedestrians and bicyclists.
Recommended Candidate Project:
Public Works and Conservation and Development staff recommend submitting the Iron Horse Corridor User Separated Trails Planning Study as a candidate project. This project will constitute the initial planning phase for developing a master plan for the implementing user separated paths and other improvements in the IHC. Separation of pedestrian and wheeled transportation modes (bicycles, e-bikes, scooters, e-scooters) has been identified as the most pressing need from a safety and user experience standpoint in the IHC. Other improvements to be considered in the study are shade, drinking water, and rest areas.
Next Steps:
The application process follows a two-step process. If authorized to proceed, staff will prepare the first step, a Letter of Interest Application Form for the candidate project, which is due on May 8, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. The second step consists of preparing a full proposal, which is due August 28, 2024. If during project research staff discovers a critical constraint that would result in the project being cost prohibitive or will not meet the eligibility requirements of the funding program, staff will hold the application for further study to increase project readiness for the following grant cycle.
Recommendation(s)/Next Step(s):
RECEIVE staff report and RECOMMEND that the Board of Supervisors approve the submission of a Letter of Interest Application Form and grant application to the MTC and ABAG for the 2024 PCA Grant Program.
Fiscal Impact (if any):
The application for the 2024 PCA Grant Program does not require a local match. However, according to grant guidelines, project applicants should demonstrate the programmatic capability to deliver the project and how the project will leverage other resources, including other local/state/federal funding. Cost effectiveness and leveraging of staff and funding resources will be considered. If the project is eligible and well-suited to receive federal transportation funding, a federal match requirement of 11.47% will apply.
A local match of $500,000 from the unincorporated San Ramon area park dedication funds is available.