About the Program

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 the Transportation and Land Use Coalition (TALC) as joint project sponsors, with the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) serving as the lead public agency co-sponsor for fund allocation purposes.

What can SR2T funds be used for?
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

SR2T Timeline for Round Three

To be announced.

Future funding cycles will occur in 2009, 2011, and 2013.

Cycle Two SR2T Grant Program Fund Recipients

This list was approved by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission on July 25, 2007.

Cycle One SR2T Grant Program Fund Recipients

This list was approved by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission on December 21, 2005.

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.

SR2T Advisory Committee

Call for Projects -- Cycle Three

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.

SR2T Contact Info

Update: 7/9/2007