TO: AC Transit Board of Directors
FROM: Kathleen Kelly, Interim General Manager/Chief Executive Officer
SUBJECT: Caltrans Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant Program Application
ACTION ITEM
AGENDA PLANNING REQUEST: ☐
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
Title
Consider authorizing the Interim General Manager or their designee to file and execute an application and funding agreement with the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) for the Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant Program for the Project: Transit Signal Priority (TSP) Strategic Plan.
Staff Contact:
Chris Andrichak, Chief Financial Officer
Body
STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE:
Goal - Convenient and Reliable Service
Initiative - Financial Efficiency and Revenue Maximization
A strategic plan for the District’s TSP program will help maximize the potential of future investments and assist in winning grant funding to implement them.
BUDGETARY/FISCAL IMPACT:
Staff recommends applying for up to $500,000 for the Transit Signal Priority Strategic Plan. Caltrans Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant funds require a concurrent local match of 11.47%; however, staff time can meet this requirement as an in-kind match.
BACKGROUND/RATIONALE:
In October 2024, Caltrans announced the availability of $20 million for the FY 2025-26 Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant Program. The purpose of this program is to advance transportation plans that advance the goals of the program: Safety, Sustainability, Preservation, Accessibility, Innovation, Economy, Health, and Social Equity.
The proposed project would meet Caltrans goals as well as support AC Transit’s goals of maximizing the potential of future investments in TSP infrastructure and enhance transit performance, speed and reliability.
The Project would develop solutions to differing levels of TSP infrastructure and TSP data and analyses across the municipalities within AC Transit’s service area as well as develop a path to upgrade TSP technologies to a cloud-based system where possible. The TSP Strategic Plan would assess existing infrastructure and technology and identify a communication infrastructure strategy that is affordable and can be deployed universally. In addition, the TSP Strategic Plan would develop a path for the acquisition of traffic signal and TSP data for the ongoing management and improvement of the system and a plan for an economical transition to cloud-based TSP. If awarded, the Project has an anticipated start date of November 2025 and a completion deadline of June 30, 2028.
ADVANTAGES/DISADVANTAGES:
Caltrans funding presents an opportunity to fund this planning project, that is intended to enhance transit performance, with grant funding instead of District funds.
The application requires a local match; however, this can be provided as an in-kind match with District staff time. Successful project delivery requires District staff time. In addition, if awarded, the District would enter into a grant agreement and be committed to completing the project on-time and within the awarded budget.
ALTERNATIVES ANALYSIS:
Staff considered potential grant applications to the Caltrans Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant program. The TSP Strategic Plan best fit the goals of the program and is the most ready for implementation. This was determined by evaluating successful and unsuccessful applications in prior cycles, researching the grant program, and communication with Caltrans staff.
PRIOR RELEVANT BOARD ACTION/POLICIES:
Board Policy 324 - Revenue and Grants Policy
ATTACHMENTS:
None
Prepared by:
Jesse Rosemoore, Senior Capital Planning Specialist
In Collaboration with:
Emily Heard, Manager of Capital Planning and Grants
Jim Cunradi, Long Range Planning Manager
Approved/Reviewed by:
Chris Andrichak, Chief Financial Officer
Richard Oslund, Director of Management & Budget
Aimee L. Steele, General Counsel/Chief Legal Officer
Robert del Rosario, Director of Services Development and Planning