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Agenda Item # 12

BOARD MEMORANDUM

RECOMMENDATION:

Review and recommend that the VTA Board of Directors approve the evaluation criteria and procedures for selecting projects and awarding Community Design and Transportation Program Capital Grants.   Attachment A presents the proposed Application Procedures and Project Evaluation Criteria.

BACKGROUND:

In Fall 2002, the VTA Board of Directors adopted the Community Design and Transportation (CDT) Program as its primary program for integrating transportation and land use. It is designed to proactively influence the planning and development process by providing information and resources including planning, technical, and design assistance to VTA Member Agencies. During the development of the CDT Program, Member Agencies suggested VTA provide financial assistance to encourage the implementation of the CDT Program concepts.

Accordingly, VTA established two new Grant Fund Programs: CDT Planning Grants and CDT Capital Grants.

• The CDT Planning Grants provide funding for preparation of projects for implementation by Member Agencies, and to compete for VTA CDT Capital Grants, as well as MTC Transportation for Livable Communities (TLC) capital grants. In August 2004, VTA issued the first CDT Planning Grants call-for-projects. The VTA Board awarded planning grants totaling $475,000 in February 2005. Two additional cycles of $475,000 each are currently funded. VTA anticipates issuing another CDT Planning Grants call-for-projects during 2006.
• The CDT Capital Grants program is intended to help Member Agencies design and build      transit-and pedestrian-friendly projects and to include transit-and pedestrian-friendly elements in capital projects related to transit facilities, streets, and core areas such as downtowns. Funding for the CDT Capital Grant Program is identified in the 25-year long-range countywide transportation plan, Valley Transportation Plan (VTP) 2030, adopted by the VTA Board in February 2005.

To be eligible to apply for the CDT Grant Programs, Member Agencies must formally endorse the CDT Program. All Member Agencies have accomplished this action. These programs award grants to Member Agencies to assist them with planning, design, and construction of projects that embrace the concepts, principles, practices, and actions outlined in VTA’s Community Design and Transportation Manual of Best Practices for Integrating Transportation and Land Use.

DISCUSSION:

With approval, this is will be the first cycle of CDT Capital Grants. It will cover a three-year funding period ending in fiscal year 2009, providing a total of $8.8 million. Thereafter, depending on availability of funding, VTA currently anticipates awarding grants approximately every two-years through 2030. A maximum of $1.5 million will be awarded per project. A 20% local match of the requested grant amount is required.  The requested grant funds may be awarded in full or in part.  All eligible projects must include a pedestrian and transit component, and must be located in a core, corridor or station area as defined in VTA’s CDT program (see map in Attachment B).

Eligible capital projects include, but are not limited to, pedestrian projects, streetscape/corridor enhancement projects, and pedestrian-oriented streets improvements. Projects would include elements such as well-designed streetscapes connecting pedestrian routes to transit facilities, active public spaces, improvements to the overall pedestrian environment, and innovative high-quality design. See attachment A for a further description of eligible projects.

VTA’s Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Committee, a subcommittee of VTA’s Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), has conducted two reviews of the CDT Capital Grants procedures and project evaluation criteria. Their contributions have been incorporated in the Capital Grant Program Evaluation Criteria and Procedures, which are presented in Attachment A. 

With the adoption of these procedures and criteria, it is anticipated that VTA will issue a CDT Capital Grant Program call-for-projects in July 2006. Prior to the application deadline, VTA will sponsor a workshop to assist Member Agencies with their applications. Grants awards will occur in August or September 2006. Funding agreements are required with grant awards.

ALTERNATIVES:

There are no practical alternatives to this action.

FISCAL IMPACT:

There is no impact to the VTA Enterprise fund.

(Contact Board Secretary's Office for Attachments.)

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