Press Releases

For Immediate Release

MTC Awards $17 Million in New Grants
To Promote Livable Communities

11 Bay Area Projects Selected

Contacts: 
Doug Johnson 510.817.5846
John Goodwin 510.817.5862

OAKLAND, Calif., Sept. 27, 2006 . . . The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) today approved 11 new capital grants totaling nearly $17 million through its Transportation for Livable Communities (TLC) program to finance pedestrian, bicycle and streetscape improvements in cities around the Bay Area. To promote smart growth in the nine-county region, MTC established the TLC program in 1998 to provide incentives for cities and counties to support projects that strengthen the link between transportation and land use. Pedestrian- and transit-friendly developments are hallmarks of the program.

“The TLC program puts smart growth principles into action,” explained Suisun City Mayor and MTC Commissioner Jim Spering, who chairs MTC’s Planning Committee. “Whether in downtown areas or in other neighborhoods, TLC projects promote a sense of community by making it easier and more inviting for residents to use public transit, walk or bicycle. The streetscape enhancements and pedestrian/bicycle access improvements built with this money will pay immediate dividends for these communities.”

The 11 projects approved for funding Wednesday are being developed by community groups and local authorities in the cities of San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley, Concord, Daly City, El Cerrito, Fremont, Livermore, Morgan Hill, Santa Rosa and South San Francisco. In all cases, the MTC funds will supplement construction funding provided by the individual project sponsors. [A list of the 11 projects awarded capital grants is below.] These projects were selected from among a pool of 60 applications totaling nearly $113 million in requests.

Since the TLC program's inception in 1998, MTC has awarded more than $84 million in capital grants for some 81 projects in locations around the Bay Area. The program’s goal is to help Bay Area municipalities plan and construct community-oriented transportation projects that will improve a range of transportation choices, support a community’s infill or transit-oriented development activities, and enhance a community’s quality of life. In addition to capital grants, the TLC program funds planning grants and Housing Incentive Program (HIP) grants for cities and/or counties that develop new housing adjacent to transit service.

Informational materials explaining the TLC and HIP initiatives ― and their respective project application procedures ― are available through the MTC-ABAG Libraryby e-mail library@mtc.ca.gov, fax (510.817.5852) or telephone (510.817.5836). Information about the program also may be found on the MTC Web site at www.mtc.ca.gov/planning/smart_growth/.

MTC is the transportation planning, coordinating and financing agency for the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area.

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Note to editors: Below is a complete of list of projects approved for funding in the current TLC capital grant cycle.

Third Cycle - Transportation for Livable Communities Capital Program

Recommend Project List

Sponsor	County	Project Title	Description	Recommended TLC Funding (millions)
City of Berkeley	Alameda	Transportation Enhancements at Ashby BART Station/Ed Roberts Campus	Pedestrian access improvements associated with construction of Ed Roberts Campus, a transit-oriented community center for seniors and the disabled at Ashby BART station.	$2.0
City of Fremont	Alameda	Bay Street Streetscape Project	Streetscape and pedestrian access improvements adjacent to proposed Irvington BART station.	$1.57
City of Livermore	Alameda	Downtown Livermore Pedestrian Transit Connections Program	Construction of pedestrian pathway from new, high density housing to downtown activity centers and ACE transit center.	$1.2
City of Oakland	Alameda	West Oakland Seventh St. Transit Village Streetscape	Pedestrian, bicycle, and streetscape improvements adjacent to West Oakland BART and new development.	$1.9
City of Concord	Contra Costa	Monument Blvd. and Meadow Lane Pedestrian Upgrades	Pedestrian infrastructure, streetscape and lighting improvements throughout one-mile project area.	$1.2
City of El Cerrito	Contra Costa	San Pablo Avenue Streetscape, Pedestrian Access and Corridor Revitalization Project – Segment A	Development of pedestrian and streetscape improvements along San Pablo Avenue (SR 123). Improvements to AC Transit bus stops throughout the project area.	$1.8
City of Morgan Hill	Santa Clara	Morgan Hill - Third Street Promenade	Pedestrian and bicycle access improvements connecting to Morgan Hill Caltrain station. Streetscape improvements along project area.	$1.7
City of San Francisco	San Francisco	A Renewed Valencia Streetscape Phase 1	Streetscape, traffic calming, and bicycle access improvements including wider sidewalks and bike lanes. Project one block from 16 th Street BART.	$2.6
City of Daly City	San Mateo	Mission Street: Pedestrian and Transit Improvements	Pedestrian improvements at John Daly Blvd and Mission Street near new development. Construction of new bus shelter with real time transit info.	$0.9
City of South San Francisco	San Mateo	BART Linear Park Phase 3	Construction of pedestrian/bicycle path connecting to South SF BART station.	$0.97
City of Santa Rosa	Sonoma	Downtown Mixed- Use Housing/ Transit Mall Connectivity Improvements	Pedestrian access improvements to downtown transit center and transit center improvements (real time bus info, benches, trees and lighting).	$0.85
		TOTAL PROGRAMMED		$16.69

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