Safe Routes to Transit Grant Program

Safe Routes to Transit Cycle III Call for Projects Released

The Safe Routes to Transit grant program announced its third Call for Projects in June 2009. $4.196 million are available in this round. Decisions will be announced in November 2009.

The Safe Routes to Transit (SR2T) Program awards $20 million in grants to facilitate walking and bicycling to regional transit. The program is funded by Regional Measure 2, and is administered by TransForm and the East Bay Bicycle Coalition. By improving the safety and convenience of biking and walking to regional transit, SR2T will give commuters the opportunity to leave their cars at home, and reduce congestion on Bay Area bridges.

Bicycling and walking are cost-effective and sustainable ways to reach regional transit stations, yet many commuters cite safety as the main reason they drive instead. Safe Routes to Transit (SR2T) will promote bicycling and walking to transit stations by funding projects and plans that make important feeder trips easier, faster, and safer. Improvements in the safety and convenience of bicycling and walking to regional transit will give commuters the opportunity to leave their cars at home.

To date nearly $8 million has been awarded to over 20 capital and planning projects.

Cycle Two of the SR2T grant program was closed in 2007. Applications for the third cycle of the program will be accepted in 2009. Future funding cycles will occur in 2011, and 2013.

Cycle III Applications were due August 12, 2009.

We received 35 applications totalling over $14 million in requests. Check back in November for a complete list of Cycle III-funded projects.

Key Dates for Cycle III

June 1, 2009-Call for Projects released
June 9, 2009-Optional Regional grant workshop (1pm-3pm: 405 14th St, Suite 205, Oakland). At this workshop, SR2T staff will present the grant program and application, and answer questions.
July 28, 2009-Optional Pre-Application Workshop (10am-12pm: 436 14th St, Suite 600, Oakland). At this workshop, SR2T staff will be available to answer questions about applications.
August, 12, 2009, 3 PM-Deadline for Applications
August-October, 2009-Projects reviewed by SR2T Advisory Committee
November, 2009-Recommended project list presented to relevant MTC committees
November/December 2009-MTC Commission approves Cycle III SR2T grant awards
December 2009/January 2010--Recipients begin coordinating project initiation and receipt of funds with MTC and TransForm

Background

The $22.5 million Safe Routes to Transit (SR2T) Program received Bay Area voter approval in March 2004 through Regional Measure 2, the $1 bridge toll increase for transit. Of the SR2T funds, $2.5 million are allocated directly to City CarShare projects (with $750,000 already encumbered) and the remaining $20 million will be allocated on a competitive grant basis.

To be eligible, projects must have a "bridge nexus," that is, reduce congestion on one or more state toll bridges by facilitating walking or bicycling to regional transit services or City CarShare pods. "Regional transit service" is essentially transit that serves trips between counties. To satisfy the nexus, the transit service associated with a proposed project must connect with, cross, or provide the same geographic connection as a state-owned Bay Area bridge, or provide direct access to regional transit.

Regional Measure 2 named the East Bay Bicycle Coalition (EBBC) and TransForm as joint project sponsors, with the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) serving as the lead public agency co-sponsor for fund allocation purposes.

SR2T funds can be used for:

Secure bicycle storage at transit stations/stops/pods
Safety enhancements for ped/bike station access to transit stations/stops/pods
Removal of ped/bike barriers near transit stations
System-wide transit enhancements to accommodate bicyclists or pedestrians

Information for Grantees

MTC is the fiscal agent for the Safe Routes to Transit program. Please see www.mtc.ca.gov/funding/RM2/rm2capital.htm for guidance on allocation, reimbursements, and progress report requirements. Note that all recipients of Safe Routes to Transit funds are considered capital projects (even if they fund the creation of plans), so MTC's instructions for capital projects are applicable. Some of the specific funding requirements associated with RM2 include:

All funds will be distributed on a reimbursement basis after submittal of invoices.
Project Sponsors may begin incurring project costs as of the date the MTC Board approves the allocation of funds. No reimbursements will be made prior to the execution of a Funding Agreement.
Overhead (direct staff costs associated with the project) for the implementing agency may be reimbursed up to 50%. Consultant overhead costs are not subject to the 50% reimbursement limit.
Failure to meet the timely use of fund requirements, meet the project schedule without compelling reason, file required reports, or comply with applicable regulations could result in loss or withholding of funding.
Funded projects shall agree to use RM2 and SR2T logos on all signage, newsletters, and marketing materials associated with the project.

Joint-Project Rules Clarified

MTC has clarified their policy on project administration for jointly sponsored projects. They will be able to work separately with project sponsors to administer the project as long as each project sponsor's allocation will be greater than $100,000. For example, if Transit Operator A and City B submit an application for a project with a request for $250,000, they will be able to work separately with MTC to administer the project if the funding is split such that Transit Operator A requests $100,000 and City B requests $150,000. However, the project sponsors will not be eligible for separate administration if Transit Operator A requests $75,000 and City B requests $175,000 even if the total request for the project exceeds $200,000.