Loading...
05 Attachment 1Fiscal Year 2021-22 GRANT APPLICATION GUIDE Sustainable Communities and Strategic Partnerships California Department of Transportation Division of Transportation Planning Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant Program Grant Application Deadline Friday, February 12, 2021 at 5:00 P.M. Submit Applications to: Regional.Planning.Grants@dot.ca.gov ATTACHMENT 1 Caltrans Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant Program FY 2021-22 Grant Application Guide 1 1. GRANT PROGRAM OVERVIEW The Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant Program was created to support the California Department of Transportation’s (Caltrans) Mission: Provide a safe, sustainable, integrated and efficient transportation system to enhance California’s economy and livability. The California Legislature passed, and Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. signed into law, Senate Bill 1 (SB 1, Beall, Chapter 5, Statutes of 2017), the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017, a transportation funding bill that will provide a reliable source of funds to maintain and integrate the State’s multi-modal transportation system. In addition to the $9.5 million in traditional State and federal grants, approximately $25 million in SB 1 funds for Sustainable Communities Grants is available for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2021-22 grant cycle. The period of grant fund availability spans over three FYs and approximately 27 months for grant project activities after the grant agreement is executed and Caltrans issues a Notice to Proceed. Refer to Chapter 8.2 for details regarding the anticipated grant project start and expiration dates. The SB 1 grant funding is intended to support and implement Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) Sustainable Communities Strategies (SCS) (where applicable) and to ultimately achieve the State’s greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction target of 40 and 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2030 and 2050, respectively. Eligible planning projects must have a transportation nexus per Article XIX Sections 2 and 3 of the California Constitution. Therefore, successful planning projects are expected to directly benefit the multi-modal transportation system. These grants will also improve public health, social equity, environmental justice, the environment, and provide other important community benefits. Caltrans Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant Program FY 2021-22 Grant Application Guide 2 Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant Summary Chart Grant Fund Source Purpose Who May Apply Local Match Sustainable Communities Competitive Budget RMRA and SHA State funds Approx. $17 million Approx. $3 million will be set-aside for technical projects such as data acquisition or travel model updates Goal: 50% of grants should benefit Disadvantaged Communities*** Grant Minimum $50,000 for Disadvantaged Communities, including Native American Tribal Governments and rural communities; $100,000 for all others Grant Maximum $700,000 Funds local and regional multimodal transportation and land use planning projects that further the region’s RTP SCS (where applicable), contribute to the State’s GHG reduction targets, and assist in achieving the Caltrans Mission and Grant Program Objectives (See Chapter 1.2). The following are eligible to apply as a primary applicant: • MPOs with sub-applicants • RTPAs • Transit Agencies; • Cities and Counties with compliant Housing Elements and completed Annual Progress Reports; • Native American Tribal Governments • Other Public Transportation Planning Entities The following are eligible to apply as a sub-applicant: • MPOs/RTPAs • Transit Agencies • Universities and Community Colleges • Native American Tribal Governments • Cities and Counties with compliant Housing Elements and completed Annual Progress Reports • Community-Based Organizations • Non-Profit Organizations (501.C.3) • Other Public Entities** 11.47% minimum (in cash or an in- kind* contribution). The entire minimum 11.47 % local match may be in the form of an eligible in-kind contribution. Staff time from the primary applicant counts as cash match. Sustainable Communities Formula Budget RMRA State funds $12.5 million Funds local and regional multimodal transportation and land use planning projects that further the region’s RTP SCS (where applicable), contribute to the State’s GHG reduction targets, and assist in achieving the Caltrans Mission and Grant Program Objectives (See Chapter 1.2). The following are eligible to apply as a primary applicant: • MPOs 11.47% minimum (in cash or an in- kind* contribution). The entire minimum 11.47% local match may be in the form of an eligible in- kind contribution. Staff time from the primary applicant counts as cash match. * For third party in-kind contribution requirements, refer to Chapter 5.4 of this Guide. ** Public entities include state agencies, the Regents of the University of California, district, public authority, public agency, and any other political subdivision or public corporation in the State (Government Code Section 811.2). *** For purposes of this grant program, disadvantaged communities are the most vulnerable places that are facing disproportionate rates of economic, environmental, and health burdens, and are defined according to the tools in Appendix A. Caltrans Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant Program FY 2021-22 Grant Application Guide 3 Grant Fund Source Purpose Who May Apply Local Match Strategic Partnerships Budget FHWA SPR, Part I Federal funds $1.5 million Grant Minimum $100,000 Grant Maximum $500,000 Funds transportation planning studies in partnership with Caltrans that address the regional, interregional and statewide needs of the State highway system, and also assist in achieving the Caltrans Mission and Grant Program Objectives (See Chapter 1.2). The following are eligible to apply as a primary applicant: • MPOs • RTPAs The following are eligible to apply as a sub-applicant: • MPOs/RTPAs • Transit Agencies • Universities and Community Colleges • Native American Tribal Governments • Cities and Counties • Community-Based Organizations • Non-Profit Organizations (501.C.3) • Other Public Entities** 20% minimum (in non-federal funds or an in- kind* contribution). The entire minimum 20% local match may be in the form of an eligible in-kind contribution. Staff time from the primary applicant counts as cash match. Strategic Partnerships – Transit Budget FTA Section 5304 Federal funds $3 million Grant Minimum $75,000 for rural RTPAs; $100,000 for MPOs Grant Maximum $500,000 Funds multi-modal planning studies, with a focus on transit, in partnership with Caltrans, of regional, interregional and statewide significance, and also assist in achieving the Caltrans Mission and Grant Program Objectives (See Chapter 1.2) The following are eligible to apply as a primary applicant: • MPOs • RTPAs The following are eligible to apply as a sub-applicant: • MPOs/RTPAs • Transit Agencies • Universities and Community Colleges • Native American Tribal Governments • Cities and Counties • Community-Based Organizations • Non-Profit Organizations (501.C.3) • Other Public Entities** 11.47% minimum (in non-federal funds or an in- kind* contribution). The entire minimum 11.47% local match may be in the form of an eligible in- kind contribution. Staff time from the primary applicant counts as cash match * For third party in-kind contribution requirements, refer to Chapter 5.4 of this Guide. ** Public entities include state agencies, the Regents of the University of California, district, public authority, public agency, and any other political subdivision or public corporation in the State (Government Code Section 811.2). Caltrans Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant Program FY 2021-22 Grant Application Guide 4 Grant Program Objectives and Considerations Successful grant applications address and articulate how the project relates to the Caltrans Mission, Grant Program Objectives, and Grant Program Considerations. The Grant Specific Objectives identified in Chapters 2.1, 3.1, and 4.1 indicate the specific purpose of the Sustainable Communities Grants and Strategic Partnership Grants, respectively, and must also be considered when preparing an application. Grant Program Objectives The following Grant Program Objectives are focused on achieving the Caltrans Mission and are intended to inform application development, including: Objective Description Sustainability Promote reliable and efficient mobility for people, goods, and services, while meeting the State’s GHG emission reduction goals, preserving the State’s natural and working lands, and preserving the unique character and livability of California’s communities. Preservation Preserve the transportation system through protecting and/or enhancing the environment, promoting energy conservation, improving the quality of life, and/or promoting consistency between transportation improvements and State and local planning growth and economic development patterns. Accessibility Increase the accessibility of the system and mobility of people, inclusive of those with disabilities, and freight. Safety Increase the safety and/or security of the transportation system for motorized and active transportation users. Innovation Promote the use of technology and innovative designs to improve the performance and social equity of our transportation system and provide sustainable transportation options. Economy Support the economic vitality of the area (i.e. enables global competitiveness, enables increased productivity, improves efficiency, increases economic equity by enabling robust economic opportunities for individuals with barriers to employment and for Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE), etc.). Health Decrease exposure to local pollution sources, reduce serious injuries and fatalities on the transportation system, and promote physical activity across the lifespan, inclusive of those with disabilities, especially through transportation means. Social Equity All of these objectives should promote transportation solutions that focus on and prioritize the needs of disadvantaged communities most affected by poverty, air pollution and climate change, and promote solutions that integrate community values with transportation safety and performance while encouraging greater than average public involvement in the transportation decision making process. Caltrans Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant Program FY 2021-22 Grant Application Guide 5 Grant Program Considerations The Grant Program supports related State and federal mandated initiatives. The Plans and Programs listed below should be considered in grant application development. Definitions and links to these resources can be found in Appendix A. Caltrans Strategic Management Plan The purpose of the Strategic Management Plan is to be a roadmap of Caltrans’ role, expectations, and operations as we meet the challenges of modernizing Caltrans into a world-class Department of Transportation. The tools we use to implement this Plan are performance management, transparency, accountability, sustainability, and innovation. The Plan serves a number of functions: Provides clear direction for meeting statewide objectives; Creates and deepens strategic partnerships; and Provides performance measures that monitor success This roadmap is used to guide and inform the development of the Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant Program. California Transportation Plan 2040 The California Transportation Plan (CTP) 2040 vision is focused on sustain ability: California’s transportation system is safe, sustainable, universally accessible, and globally competitive. It provides reliable and efficient mobility and accessibility for people, goods, and services while meeting the State’s GHG emission reduction goals and preserving the unique character of California’s communities. This integrated, connected, and resilient multimodal system supports a thriving economy, human and environmental health, and social equity. The next iteration of the CTP, the CTP 2050, is in the process of being finalized, with adoption expected at the end of 2020. The next Grant Application Guide will be updated to reflect the CTP 2050. The CTP 2040 also aims to achieve the strategic goal to triple cycling and double walking and transit use statewide. Competitive grant applications will discuss how proposed projects will assist in reaching this goal established in the Caltrans Strategic Management Plan. Competitive Sustainable Communities grant applications will integrate the appropriate CTP 2040 Transportation Greenhouse Gas Reduction Strategies outlined in the CTP 2040, Table 13 and Appendix 7 Technical Analysis. There are four categories of transportation GHG reduction strategies – demand management, mode shift, travel cost, and operational efficiency – that were developed based on input from the CTP 2040 advisory committees, and with input gathered from all of the State’s 18 MPOs and 26 RTPAs. Modal Plans that Support the California Transportation Plan 2040 CTP 2040 is the umbrella plan that informs and pulls together the State’s long-range modal plans, described below, to envision the future system: Interregional Transportation Strategic Plan California Freight Mobility Plan California State Rail Plan Caltrans Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant Program FY 2021-22 Grant Application Guide 6  California State Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan  California High-Speed Rail Business Plan  Statewide Transit Strategic Plan  California Aviation System Plan Title VI and Environmental Justice Title VI of the U.S. Civil Rights Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin in programs or activities receiving federal financial assistance. A similar prohibition applies to recipients of state funds under California Government Code section 11135, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color or national origin, as well as ethnic group identification, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, genetic information, or disability. Caltrans integrates Title VI as well as environmental justice in all activities. In the past, low-income and minority communities disproportionately bore many of the negative impacts of transportation projects. It is the goal of environmental justice to ensure that when transportation decisions are made, low-income and minority communities have a full opportunity to participate in the decision- making process, and they receive an equitable distribution of benefits and not a disproportionate share of burdens, which contribute to poor health outcomes.