State Active Transportation Program Grant Applications

1. AUTHORIZE staff to submit two State Active Transportation grant applications;
2. APPROVE the local grant match of $2,272,000 from Measure X; and
3. AUTHORIZE the Executive Director to accept grant funds, if awarded

A total of $440 million of funding is available statewide for the current cycle of the State Active Transportation Program grants. This cycle covers a four-year period from fiscal year 2020/21 to fiscal year 2023/24. The Fort Ord Regional Trail and Greenway application requests $8,028,000 from the Active Transportation program matched with $2,007,000 from the Fort Ord Regional Trail and Greenway regional project allocation in Measure X. The Active Transportation Program does not require a local match; however, up to four points in the scoring process are awarded for leveraging 20% or more of the total project cost for project applications over $7,000,000. The application for the traffic gardens grant requests $750,000 Active Transportation funds matched with $265,000 from the Safe Route to School program in Measure X.

The State’s Active Transportation Program (ATP) encourages increased use of active modes of transportation, such as bicycling and walking. Eligible projects for the Active Transportation Program include infrastructure improvements, non-infrastructure education and encouragement programs and active transportation plans (in disadvantaged communities only). Twenty-five percent (25%) of funding must serve disadvantaged communities. Funding for the State’s Active Transportation Program is available on a statewide, competitive basis. Grant applications must be submitted to Caltrans by 5 p.m. on July 31, 2018.

The Fort Ord Regional Trail and Greenway infrastructure grant application requests $8,028,000 to fund design, right-of-way and construction of the Canyon Del Rey Boulevard trail segment between North Fremont Street in Monterey and Carlton Drive in Del Rey Oaks, with a local match commitment of $2,007,000 from the Fort Ord Regional Trail and Greeway regional project allocation in Measure X. This segment of FORTAG provides a safer connection for residents, students, and visitors to Del Rey Woods Elementary, Frog Pond Regional Park, Del Rey Park, Work Memorial Park, Del Rey Oaks City Hall & Police Department, Fremont Boulevard Business District, Safeway Shopping Center, and Laguna Grande Regional Park. The segment also connects to bicycle and pedestrian improvements soon to be constructed on North Fremont Street funded by an Active Transportation Program grant awarded to the City of Monterey in an earlier grant cycle. This Project is really the foundation of our low-stress active transportation network, eliminating conflicts with high-speed vehicles and providing a direct connection to access area services in the cities of Seaside, Del Rey Oaks, and Monterey. By focusing on prioritizing separation of bicyclists and pedestrians away from the current route on Canyon Del Rey Boulevard, a bikeway network can be more inviting to a wider spectrum of our residents and increase bicycle use and safety. Location maps for the Canyon Del Rey Boulevard segment proposed for funding in this grant application and the whole Fort Ord Regional Trail and Greenway project are online as a web attachment.

The traffic garden grant application requests $750,000 to fund a traffic garden public education program throughout Monterey County, with a local match commitment of $265,000 from the Safe Route to School program in Measure X. Traffic gardens are permanent spaces where children and members of the community can learn and practice traffic safety skills without having to interact with motorized vehicles. Online as a web attachment are two photos of an existing traffic garden in King County, Washington. Grant funds will be used to construct several traffic gardens around Monterey County and to assist with developing and delivering a year-round youth development bicycling and walking program focused on introducing youth from diverse communities to bicycling, healthy living, bicycle maintenance, local road safety awareness and the importance of working toward individual goals. The Program is a multi-agency partnership including the Monterey County Health Department, Central Coast YMCA, and Ecology Action.

• Fort Ord Regional Trail and Greenway Location Maps
• Traffic Garden Example Photos