TRANSPORTATION, WATER & INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE
Meeting Date: November 14, 2024
Subject: CONSIDER proposed Caltrans Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant application
Submitted For: TRANSPORTATION, WATER, AND INFRASTRUCTURE
Department: DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION & DEVELOPMENT
Referral No: 2
Referral Name: Review applications for transportation, water, and infrastructure grants to be prepared by the Public Works and Conservation & Development Departments.
Presenter: Robert Sarmiento || DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION & DEVELOPMENT
Contact: Robert Sarmiento (925) 655-2918
Referral History:
TWIC review of grant applications is an ongoing activity of the Committee.
Referral Update:
In October 2024, Caltrans released final grant guidelines and a call for projects for the 2025-26 Caltrans Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant Program. The grant program annually provides funding to encourage local and regional planning activities that furthers state goals, including, but not limited to, the goals and best practices cited in the Regional Transportation Plan Guidelines adopted by the California Transportation Commission.
This cycle includes approximately $17 million in Senate Bill (“SB”) 1 statewide competitive funding. The maximum grant award is $700,000, and a minimum 11.47% match is required (cash or in-kind contribution). Applications are due January 22, 2025.
Staff from both the Department of Conservation and Development and Public Works Department collaborated and determined that it will re-submit the Bay Point Enhanced Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvements Study proposal. This application was previously submitted for the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 cycles of the grant program but was not funded, both times just missing the award threshold according to Caltrans staff. Given how close the application was to being funded, County staff integrated Caltrans feedback on an improved application.
The study will evaluate potential enhanced bicycle and pedestrian improvements, including Class IV separated bicycle facilities and green infrastructure in Bay Point, specifically along Willow Pass Road, Port Chicago Highway, and a short segment of McAvoy Road to McAvoy Harbor and the Bay Point Regional Shoreline. The improvements to be evaluated will provide multiple benefits to the Bay Point community, including enhancing multimodal safety for all users, including children and elderly and disabled people, enhancing the pedestrian and bicycling experience, inducing mode shift towards more active transportation modes, reducing GHG emissions, and expanding the low-stress bicycle network.
Recommendation(s)/Next Step(s):
CONSIDER the proposed Caltrans Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant candidate project, REVISE as appropriate, FORWARD to the full Board of Supervisors for approval, and/or DIRECT staff as appropriate.
Fiscal Impact (if any):
None to the General Fund. Staff time for recommended activities is covered under existing budgets (50% Road Fund and 50% Measure J Fund).