To: Board of Supervisors
From: John Kopchik, Director, Conservation and Development
Report Title: Metropolitan Transportation Commission Transit-Oriented Communities Planning and Implementation Grants Program
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Conservation and Development Director, or designee, to apply for and accept an amount not to exceed $400,000 from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission Transit-Oriented Communities (TOC) Planning and Implementation Grants Program to conduct the Pleasant Hill BART TOC Station Access and Circulation Planning effort.
FISCAL IMPACT:
None to the General Fund. Staff time for recommended activities is covered under existing budgets (50% Road Fund and 50% Measure J Fund). The expected duration of the grant period is 18 months from the date of an award.
BACKGROUND:
In October 2024, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission released final grant guidelines and a call for projects for a new grant program called the Transit-Oriented Communities (TOC) Planning and Implementation Grants Program. The grant program will provide funding for activities that support TOCs, which are locations within one half mile from transit stops and stations that are designed to enable people to access and use transit and allow for residents of all abilities, income levels, and racial and ethnic background to live, work, and access services. One focus of this grant program is to fund activities that enhance multimodal access to and within TOC station areas. The minimum and maximum grant award for TOC station area access enhancement activities is $100,000 and $400,000, respectively. No local match is required.
Department of Conservation and Development staff has identified one candidate project to submit to the TOC Planning and Implementation Grants Program for funding: TOC Station Access and Circulation enhancements at the Pleasant Hill/Contra Costa Centre BART Station. The effort will entail:
1. the conduct of an access gap analysis and accompanying capital and/or service improvement program to improve access to the BART station within a 10-15-minute trip,
2. the planning, design, and implementation of mobility hubs, and
3. other activities related to the planning and implementation of station access improvements.
The total estimated cost to undertake this effort is $400,000.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
County staff will not submit a grant application for the Metropolitan Transportation Commission Transit-Oriented Communities Planning and Implementation Grants Program and forgo potential grant funding.