Press Releases

MTC Awards $280,000 for "Livable Community" Plans

10 Bay Area Projects Selected for Special Planning Grants

CONTACT:

Karen Frick
510/464-7704

Joe Curley
510.817.5847

OAKLAND, Calif., July 14, 1999. . . The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) has approved $280,000 in special grants to support planning efforts for 10 community-oriented transportation projects in the Bay Area. The planning grants are being awarded as part of MTC's Transportation for Livable Communities (TLC) program, which aims to support plans and projects that strengthen the link between transportation, community goals and land use, including pedestrian- and transit-friendly developments and streetscape improvements.

The plans receiving funding will be developed by community groups and local jurisdictions — in some cases in partnership with transportation providers — and will involve public outreach and participation as part of the planning process. In each case, the MTC funds will supplement project sponsor funding for the individual planning efforts. [A list of the ten projects awarded planning grants follows.]

The $280,000 in funding announced today represents the first cycle of $375,000 in TLC planning grants to be awarded in the 1999-2000 fiscal year (July 1, 1999 to June 30, 2000). The successful projects were selected from among a pool of 41 applications totaling $1.6 million in requests. "The fact that we awarded well over half of this year's available funding in the first round is a testament to the high caliber of the project applications we received," said MTC Executive Director Lawrence D. Dahms. "We are very pleased that the TLC program is helping to spur interest and innovation in local-level efforts to blend transportation and land-use planning."

The remaining $95,000 in 1999-2000 planning funds will be awarded in a second cycle of grants. The application deadline for the second cycle is Sept. 1, 1999. MTC will also award $9 million in TLC capital grants in fiscal year 1999-2000. Applications for the capital grants, which will fund actual construction and/or implementation of TLC-approved projects in the Bay Area, will be accepted toward the end of 1999. In all, MTC has designated more than $50 million to fund the Transportation for Livable Communities program through the year 2004.

A brochure explaining the Transportation for Livable Communities program and the project application process is available through the MTC-ABAG Library by telephone (510/817-5836) or e-mail (<library@mtc.ca.gov>). Information about the program may also be obtained from MTC's 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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Attachment A

MTC Transportation for Livable Communities Program
Planning Grants Approved July 14, 1999


Project: San Pablo Avenue Streetscape Master Plan (Albany)

Sponsor: City of Albany

Scope: To develop a streetscape design for San Pablo Avenue in the City of Albany. This project will be coordinated with the Alameda Congestion Management Agency's San Pablo Avenue corridor planning effort.

Amount: $10,000 (MTC contribution); $10,000 local match

Contact: Ann E. Ritzma, City of Albany, 510/528-5710


Project: Ed Roberts Campus/Ashby BART Station Area Plan (Berkeley)

Sponsors: City of Berkeley, Ed Roberts Campus (and Center for Independent Living)

Scope: To develop design and circulation recommendations for the Ed Roberts Campus as well as explore additional uses at the station. The Ed Roberts Campus will house nine organizations that serve persons with disabilities.

Amount: $50,000 (MTC contribution); $25,000 local match

Contact: Joan Leon, Ed Roberts Campus Project, 510/652-6583


Project: Central San Leandro Community-Based Revitalization Strategy (San Leandro)

Sponsor: City of San Leandro

Scope: To develop a pedestrian-oriented design to revitalize downtown San Leandro and improve connections to the San Leandro BART station.

Amount: $20,000 (MTC contribution); $35,000 local match

Contact: Debbie Potter, City of San Leandro, 510/577-6003


Project: Central Richmond Greenway (Richmond)

Sponsors: Community Youth Council for Leadership and Education (CYCLE), City of Richmond, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, Urban Ecology

Scope: To conduct a community-based planning and design process for the Central Richmond Greenway, which will be located on an abandoned railroad corridor through seven Richmond neighborhoods.

Amount: $50,000 (MTC contribution); $100,000 local match

Contact: Judith Henderson, CYCLE, 510/233-1415


Project: North Richmond Transportation and Urban Design (Richmond)

Sponsors: City of Richmond, Community Housing and Development Corporation of North Richmond

Scope: To develop street design and pedestrian plaza recommendations for North Richmond.

Amount: $25,000 (MTC contribution); $25,000 local match

Contact: Harriette Langston, City of Richmond, 510/307-8147


Project: Shoreline Corridor Tam Junction Community Plan (Marin County)

Sponsors: Marin County Community Development Agency, Shoreline Corridor Coalition

Scope: To develop a community-based conceptual design for Tam Junction, which will include examining overall land use/transportation issues and creating a village core and gateway concept.

Amount: $20,000 (MTC contribution); $20,000 local match

Contact: Dean R. Powell, Marin County Community Development Agency, 415/499-6269


Project: Medway/Canal Community Planning (San Rafael)

Sponsor: City of San Rafael

Scope: To develop pedestrian-oriented design and circulation recommendations for the Medway/Canal neighborhood in San Rafael.

Amount: $10,000 (MTC contribution); $10,000 local match

Contact: Richard Landis, City of San Rafael, 415/485-3354


Project: San Mateo Land Use/Transportation Plan (San Mateo)

Sponsors: City of San Mateo, Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board (Caltrain)

Scope: To develop a comprehensive transportation/land use strategy for El Camino Real and the Caltrain stations within the city of San Mateo.

Amount: $25,000 (MTC contribution); $50,000 local match

Contact: Stephen Scott, City of San Mateo, 650/522-7207


Project: Harvey Milk Plaza Community Design (San Francisco)

Sponsors: San Francisco Art Commission, City and County of San Francisco

Scope: To conduct a community-based planning process for the design of the Harvey Milk Plaza in the Castro District; the plaza will serve lightrail/streetcar and bus passengers, pedestrians and bicyclists.

Amount: $35,000 (MTC contribution); $50,000 local match

Contact: Jill Manton, San Francisco Art Commission, 415/252-2585


Project: Downtown Cotati/La Plaza Community Use Plan (Cotati)

Sponsor: City of Cotati

Scope: To develop pedestrian-oriented circulation recommendations for downtown Cotati through a community-based process.

Amount: $35,000 (MTC contribution); $5,750 local match

Contact: Marsha Sue Lustig, City of Cotati, 707/792-4600, ext. 638

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