05 Attachment 2Rev. 9.4.2020
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2016 Measure B Bicycle & Pedestrian Planning Studies Competitive Grant
Program Criteria
Screening Criteria
-Call for projects will occur every two years. Currently available funds for the first cycle (FY20 to
FY21) will be $1.66 million in total, including the FY18 – FY19 appropriation.
-Minimum grant request amount - $50,000.
-Maximum grant request amount – 50% of the total available funds per cycle. For example,
maximum request amount per sponsoring agency would be $830,000 in the first cycle.
-Eligible projects are planning studies that support capital project development for projects listed
on Attachment A of the 2016 Measure B ballot language: http://vtaorgcontent.s3-us-west-
1.amazonaws.com/Site_Content/ResolutionNo%202016%2006%2017%20(2).pdf. Eligible
projects can have 10% to 25% concept design and engineering.
-General/master planning efforts, such as citywide/neighborhood/regional bicycle & pedestrian
planning studies, are not eligible.
-Projects must submit a map of the planning study area/corridor.
-Projects should provide a scope of work and cost estimate by phase/project task.
-Projects should identify a realistic implementation plan and strategy.
-Project sponsor must draw down 2016 Measure B funds within one year from the execution of
agreement between VTA & implementing agency.
Scoring Criteria
Criterion Description Max
Points
1.Community Engagement
The project identifies a comprehensive community
engagement plan and demonstrates outreach strategies with
specific communities at early planning stages.
20
2.Connections to Schools, Transit
or Employment Centers
The project is located within proximity to schools,
employment centers, and/or transit stops. 20
3.Gap closure
The project will help reduce travel distance for pedestrians or
cyclists, close existing gap(s) or crosses major barrier(s) in the
multi-modal network.
20
4.Safety
The project study area/corridor has high bicycle/pedestrian-
involved crashes and collisions, and the project will address
known safety issues.
20
5.Targets Communities of
Concern
The project directly connects to a Community of Concern, or
50% or more of the study area/corridor are located within ½
mile of a Community of Concern.
15
6.Non-2016 Measure B
Contribution
The project will provide more than 10% non-2016 Measure B
contribution. 5
Tiebreaker:
Geographic Distribution
The project in the geographic area with fewer awarded
projects for the current call for projects will be ranked higher. -
TOTAL 100
ATTACHMENT 2
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Criterion #1 – Community Engagement
(Max. 20 points)
Does the planning process involve a collaboration with the community?
Points awarded if the application provides documentation of past community engagement in the project
and/or identifies a community engagement plan.
Point Distribution:
• Points are additive
• Can receive a maximum of 20 points:
o 0 – 2.5 points for community engagement to date: Provide documentation for any past
collaborative planning process with stakeholders (e.g. documents community
input/outreach including local BPAC). Letters of support will not count.
o 0 – 2.5 points if the project will address a currently known and documented community
concern or need, including but not limited to school access, ADA accessibility, senior
safety issues, or other stated concerns/needs by the community. The project should
provide description of the concern(s) and documentation.
o 0 - 15 points: The project identifies a comprehensive community engagement plan
identifying, at a minimum:
Project timeline
Opportunities for public input
Target groups and stakeholders
Outreach strategies
Engagement methods and activities
The project should describe the demographics of the community and the
engagement with the population in or near a Community of Concern (if any).
Criterion #2 – Connections to Schools, Transit or Employment Centers
(Max. 20 points)
Is the planning study area/corridor within reasonable biking or walking distance to schools,
employment centers and/or transit stops?
Points awarded if:
• Bicycle or bicycle & pedestrian projects: Any point of study area/corridor is within 1 ½ mile
actual biking distance of schools, employment centers or transit
• Pedestrian projects: Any point of study area/corridor is within ½ mile actual walking distance of
schools, employment centers or transit
Point Distribution:
• Can receive a maximum of 20 points
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o Points are not additive. Projects will be scored within the “HIGH,” “MEDIUM,” or “LOW”
point range based on its highest category destination
o Example: If a project scores in the HIGH category for all three elements, it will receive 20
points, whereas the project that scores in one HIGH category and two LOW categories
will receive 15 points.
Points
Schools (K-12)
Combined Enrollment
# of Jobs
(w/n actual bike/ped
distance)
Transit
(Frequency of Service)
High
15 - 20 ≥ 3,000 ≥ 6,000 Connects to >1 Frequent
transit route or regional rail
service
Med
8 – 14
1,501 – 2,999 3,001 – 5,999 Connects to 1 Frequent transit
route or regional rail service
Low
1 - 7 ≤ 1,500 ≤ 3,000 Connects to local transit
service
Other:
• School is K-12; Colleges & universities should be captured in the ‘# of Jobs’ element.
• Employment center is defined by the number of jobs.
• Transit is defined by FTA as: ‘Transportation by a conveyance that provides regular and
continuing general or special transportation to the public, but does not include school bus,
charter, or sightseeing transportation.’
• VTA’s service system map will be served as the basis of transit network:
https://www.vta.org/sites/default/files/2019-11/VTA%20Transit%20Map.pdf and
https://www.vta.org/sites/default/files/2019-11/SouthCountyMap.pdf
• Frequent transit route as defined by VTA: 15 minute or better frequency from 6:30am to
6:30pm on weekdays
• Local transit route are all non-frequent routes as defined by VTA.
• Regional rail service includes Caltrain, ACE, Capitol Corridor and BART.
Criterion #3 – Gap Closure (Max. 20 points)
Will the project result in a travel distance change, or close existing gaps in bicycle and/or pedestrian
network?
Point Distribution:
• Points are additive.
• 0 – 12 points: Describe and quantify how the project closes the existing bicycle or pedestrian
infrastructure gap, or how much the project can reduce travel distance of bicycle or pedestrian
route in comparison to existing conditions.
• 5 points: Project builds a new bicycle or pedestrian connection across a major barrier
(waterway, railway, freeway, expressway).
• 3 points: Project is identified as an ABC in Appendix 6.1 of the 2018 Countywide Bicycle Plan or
see https://gis.vta.org/bikeplan/
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Criterion #4 – Safety (Max. 20 points)
Does the project identify and address safety issues within proximity of the study area?
This criterion assesses the relative safety benefits of the planning study, based on reported/counted
pedestrian/cyclist-involved collision data and safety incidents/documented concerns in the most recent
five years.
Point Distribution:
• Can receive a maximum of 20 points
o High (15-20 points): Within 1 ½ mile actual biking distance or ½ mile actual walking distance
of the study area/corridor, the project has known frequent cycling/pedestrian collisions. The
project demonstrates an awareness of the existing critical safety issues and it will
recommend proven/demonstrated mitigation measures.
o Medium (8-14 points): Within 1 ½ mile actual biking distance or ½ mile actual walking
distance of the study area/corridor, the project has known moderate cycling/pedestrian
collisions. The project presents preliminary field review and/or public comment indicates a
safety problem that would be addressed by the project.
o Low (1-7 points): Within 1 ½ mile actual biking distance or ½ mile actual walking distance of
the study area/corridor, the project has known low cycling/pedestrian collisions. Project will
generally improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists in the study area in general.
Criterion #5 - Targets Communities of Concern (Max. 15 points)
Does the project serve a Community of Concern?
Points awarded if:
• 50% or more of the study area/corridor are located within ½ mile of a Community of Concern (as
defined by MTC at the time of the call for projects), or if the project connects directly to a
Community of Concern.
• MTC definition/map of Communities of Concern:
https://mtc.maps.arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=1501fe1552414d569ca747e0e23628ff
Point Distribution:
• Can receive a maximum of 15 points
• Points will be given based on geographic relationship and the project benefits to the COC.
Other:
• A map identifying the project and relationship to the COC is required
• The project sponsor must indicate or describe demographics of the COC, outreach strategies to
the COC and articulate the benefit of the project to the COC.
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Criterion #6 – Non-2016 Measure B Contribution (Max. 5 points)
How much non-2016 Measure B contribution is the project sponsor providing?
Points awarded if:
• The project sponsor pledges/provides more than the required 10% non-2016 Measure B
contribution
Point Distribution:
• 5pts: Provides ≥ 30% non-2016 Measure B contribution
• 4pts: Provides 25% - 29% non-2016 Measure B contribution
• 3pts: Provides 20% - 24% non-2016 Measure B contribution
• 2pts: Provides 15% - 19% non-2016 Measure B contribution
• 1pts: Provides 11% - 14% non-2016 Measure B contribution
• 0pts: Provides the minimum 10% non-2016 Measure B contribution
Other:
• If the project sponsor states that they will provide a higher percentage of matching funds, they
will be required to provide the matching percentage.
• If project costs increase and are anticipated to be over budget, 2016 Measure B funds will not
be increased. The project sponsor is responsible for cost overruns.
• If the project is anticipated to be delivered under budget, 2016 Measure B funds will be reduced
in proportion to the project sponsor’s contribution
Tiebreaker – Geographic Distribution
If two projects have the same score, the project in the geographic area with fewer awarded 2016
Measure B bicycle/pedestrian planning studies – for the current call for projects – will be ranked higher.