Press Releases

For Immediate Release

Dozen Bay Area projects selected for special capital grants

MTC Awards $9.5 million for "Livable Community" Projects

CONTACT:

Steve Kinsey
415/499-7331

Ashley Nguyen
510/464-7809

OAKLAND, Calif., June 27, 2002... The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) has approved $9.5 million in capital grants to help finance twelve community-oriented transportation projects in the Bay Area. The capital 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. Pedestrian- and transit-friendly developments and streetscape improvements are hallmarks of the program.

The projects receiving funding have been developed by community groups and local authorities in the cities of Alameda, East Palo Alto, El Cerrito, Oakland, Palo Alto, San Francisco, San Jose, San Leandro, San Rafael, Santa Clara, Suisun City and Vacaville. In all cases, the MTC funds will supplement construction funding provided by the individual project sponsors. [A list of the twelve projects awarded capital grants is attached.]

The successful projects were selected from among a pool of 55 applications totaling $59 million in requests. "The TLC program is smart growth in action. The goal is to create a sense of community while making it easier and more inviting for residents to use public transit, walk or bicycle to get to work or do errands," said MTC Vice Chair Steve Kinsey, who also serves on the Marin County Board of Supervisors. "These projects are going to make an immediate, visible difference to these 12 communities, which are going to blossom with attractive plazas, pedestrian walkways, street beautification efforts, and the like."

Since the TLC program's inception in 1998, over $50 million in planning and capital grants has been awarded to over 100 projects in locations around the Bay Area. In December 2001, MTC substantially increased its commitment to the program by tripling annual TLC allocations from $9 million to $27 million, starting in 2004. MTC will issue a call for projects seeking TLC planning assistance in the fall of this year.

Informational materials explaining the Transportation for Livable Communities program and the project application process are available through the MTC-ABAG Library by e-mail (library@mtc.ca.gov), fax (510/817-5932) or telephone (510/817-5836). 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.

MTC Transportation for Livable Communities Capital Grants Approved June 26, 2002

Project: W. Estudillo Street Streetscape and BART-Downtown Connections
Sponsor: City of San Leandro
Scope: Provides pedestrian connection between the San Leandro BART Station and downtown through streetscape and pedestrian improvements along W. Estudillo Street. The project will link to the Washington Plaza Shopping Center and the AC Transit Bus Rapid Transit stop located on East 14th Street, and highlights historic buildings along W. Estudillo Street. Project supports new senior housing, recent rezoning to allow greater mixed-use and higher-density residential uses in the Plaza Redevelopment Area, and BART's future plans to build a 200-unit housing complex on an existing surface parking lot adjacent to the BART station (approximately 80+ units per acre). Project elements include pedestrian-scale street lights, bulb-outs, diagonal parking, architectural gateway into the Plaza, murals, improved pedestrian crossings through the downtown area, and redesign of the transit/historic plaza on East 14th Street.
Amount: $1,000,000 (MTC Contribution); $129,561 local match
Contact: Matt Tomas, City of San Leandro, 510.577.3350
Hanson Hom, City of San Leandro, 510.577.3371
Project: Coliseum Transit Hub Streetscape Improvements
Sponsor: City of Oakland
Scope: Provides pedestrian and streetscape improvements along San Leandro Street between 73rd and 66th Avenues and along 66th and 69th Avenues between San Leandro and Snell Streets to address pedestrian safety and access from the residential neighborhoods to the Coliseum BART station, AC Transit buses and local businesses. Project supports the city's and BART's future redevelopment of the Coliseum BART station area, which includes a transit village (50 housing units per acre) on the current BART parking lot, a high-density employment center on the west side of San Leandro Street, and revitalization of the Coliseum Gardens housing development on the northeast side of the BART station. Project elements include a 15-foot wide crosswalk with bulb-outs, lighted bollards, and pedestrian signal across San Leandro Street to the BART station entrance, surveillance cameras, new sidewalks, pedestrian-scaled lights and banners, new street trees, and new median on San Leandro Street.
Amount: $1,000,000 (MTC Contribution); $129,561 local match
Contact: Kelley Kahn, City of Oakland, 510.238.4977
Marian Lee-Skowronek, BART, 510.287.4705
Project: Park Street Streetscape and Santa Clara Avenue Transit Hub
Sponsor: City of Alameda and Park Street Business Association
Scope: Improves the pedestrian environment on Park Street from Central Ave. to Lincoln Ave. through corner, mid-block and transit sidewalk extensions, and reinforces the transit hub on Santa Clara Ave. from Park Street to Oak Street through curb extensions and streetscape improvements (pedestrian-scale lighting, street trees and planters, bike racks and lockers, and street furnishings). Project is located within the Business and Waterfront Improvement Project redevelopment area and supports the recent rezoning of the business district to "Community Commercial" classification which permits residential uses above ground floor retail.
Amount: $921,000 (MTC Contribution); $119,325 local match
Contact: Sue G. Russell, City of Alameda, 510.749.5834
Robb Ratto, Executive Director, Park Street Business Association, 510.513.1392
Project: Fairmont Street Pedestrian and Streetscape Improvements
Sponsor: City of El Cerrito; El Cerrito Economic Development Board; El Cerrito Redevelopment Agency; and Chamber of Commerce
Scope: Provides traffic calming and pedestrian safety improvements along the portion of Fairmont Avenue in front of the El Cerrito Plaza BART station and by the Ohlone Greenway crossing. Project eliminates one traffic lane, constructs diagonal parking, bulbouts at the Fairmont Avenue/Liberty intersection, widens sidewalks, plants new trees, and installs pedestrian-scaled lighting along Fairmont Avenue. Also, extends sidewalks and widens median to shorten crosswalk at BART station where BART pillar obstructs motorists view of pedestrian and bike traffic crossing Fairmont Avenue. Project supports the recently redeveloped El Cerrito Plaza and other City redevelopment activities, including the renovation of the El Cerrito Theatre on San Pablo Avenue.
Amount: $500,000 (MTC Contribution); $64,780 local match
Contact: Jill Keimach, City of El Cerrito, 510.215.4380
Project: Medway/Canal Enhancements
Sponsor: City of San Rafael
Scope: Constructs wider sidewalks, improved lighting, landscaping, bus stop and crosswalk improvements at the Medway/Canal/Belvedere intersection to improve pedestrian circulation and transit access. The low-income Canal area is densely populated and therefore has extensive foot traffic between residences and nearby commercial areas. Project supports the city's redevelopment efforts in the Canal Neighborhood Improvement Area, including housing improvement programs, rehabilitation loans, code enforcement, and zoning changes to support community serving commercial and mixed-used projects (under study).
Amount: $900,000 (MTC Contribution); $116,605 local match
Contact: Richard Landis, City of San Rafael, 415.485.3354
Project: Northeast 16th/Mission Streets BART Plaza Redesign
Sponsor: BART and San Francisco County Transportation Authority
Scope: Renovates the Northeast BART plaza at 16th and Mission streets to enhance access to BART and MUNI and improve the overall appearance and function of the BART plaza. Project complements recent improvements such as in-station bicycle parking and new automatic fare equipment as well as supports BART's discussion with adjacent property owners to promote redevelopment. Project elements include removal of the solid wall around the station to improve visibility, expanded plaza area through elimination of perimeter fencing and raised planters, pedestrian-scaled lighting, new landscaping and seating areas.
Amount: $1,298,000 (MTC Contribution); $168,170 local match
Contact: Priya Mathur, BART, 510.464.6147 Maria Lombardo, San Francisco County Transportation Authority, 415.522.4802
Project: Bay Road Streetscape and Traffic Calming Improvements
Sponsor: City of East Palo Alto and city of East Palo Alto Redevelopment Agency
Scope: Constructs streetscape and traffic calming improvements on Bay Road between University Avenue and Clarke Avenue--the gateway to the Ravenswood Business District. Project elements include bicycle lanes, bulb-outs with planters, improvements to sidewalks and bus stops, medians along Bay Road and a landscaped roundabout and raised crosswalks at Bay Road/Clarke Avenue. Project supports the City's recent and long-term redevelopment efforts including the planned Civic Center that includes public plaza, neighborhood-oriented retail uses and office development (under plan review), Nugent Square housing development (to break ground fall 2002), and new housing opportunity at Illinois Street/Purdue Avenue (community workshops underway).
Amount: $700,000 (MTC Contribution); $90,692 local match
Contact: Lily Lee, City of East Palo Alto, 650.853.3122
Ricardo Noguera, City of East Palo Alto Redevelopment Agency, 650.853.3195
Project: River Oaks Bike/Pedestrian Bridge
Sponsor: City of San Jose; City of Santa Clara; and Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority
Scope: Constructs a pedestrian and bicycle bridge over the Guadalupe River to connect existing housing and employment centers in the cities of Santa Clara and San Jose (west side of the Guadalupe River) to the River Oaks light-rail transit station (east side of Guadalupe River). Project supports the high density housing across from the River Oaks light-rail transit station in San Jose, employment centers at North First Street/River Oaks in San Jose, and new housing construction along Lick Mill Road in Santa Clara.
Amount: $1,000,000 (MTC Contribution); $129,561 local match
Contact: John Brazil, City of San Jose, 408.277.4983
Geof Goodfellow, City of Santa Clara, 408.615.2451
Julie Render, Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority, 408.321.5779
Project: San Fernando Light-Rail Station Plaza
Sponsor: Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority
Scope: Constructs a multi-use neighborhood plaza at the Vasona San Fernando Light-Rail Transit Station that would also connect to the Los Gatos Creek Trail. Project elements include landscaping, water feature, information kiosk, pedestrian-scaled lighting and other amenities. Directly north of the station, the city of San Jose proposes a large transit-oriented development that includes high-density housing, offices and retail uses, and a trail segment through the development site that will connect the station to the Los Gatos Creek Trail.
Amount: $885,000 (MTC Contribution); $114,661 local match
Contact: Julie Render, Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority, 408.321.5779
Project: Caltrain/Homer Avenue Pedestrian/Bicycle Undercrossing
Sponsor: City of Palo Alto; Caltrain Joint Powers Board
Scope: Constructs a pedestrian/bicycle undercrossing of the Caltrain railroad right-of-way between the Palo Alto Medical Foundation campus and the Homer Street/Alma Street intersection, which is approximately 800 feet south of the Palo Alto Caltrain station. Project will link the Palo Alto Medical Foundation campus and Caltrain station to the mixed residential and commercial South of Forest Area neighborhood to the east.
Amount: $464,000 (MTC Contribution); $60,116 local match
Contact: Gayle Likens, City of Palo Alto, 650.329.2136
Darryl Maxey, Caltrain Joint Powers Board, 650.508.7922
Project: Driftwood Drive Pedestrian Way
Sponsor: City of Suisun City; Suisun City Redevelopment Agency
Scope: Constructs a pedestrian walkway between Main Street and Driftwood Drive linking to existing pedestrian walkways from the residential neighborhoods east of the Suisun Slough and connecting to downtown businesses and the Suisun/Fairfield train depot that is used by Amtrak's Capitol Corridor service. Project elements include construction of walkways on both sides of the Suisun Marina and associated landscaping. This project is one phase of a larger project to create a public plaza at the waterfront. Project is within the City Redevelopment Area and supports the City's redevelopment efforts to revitalize the Old Town/Downtown area.
Amount: $350,000 (MTC Contribution); $45,346 local match
Contact: Michael Allen, Suisun City Redevelopment Agency, 707.421.7337
Project: Davis Street Pedestrian and Gateway Improvements
Sponsor: Vacaville Redevelopment Agency; City of Vacaville
Scope: Provides wider sidewalks, landscaped bulb-outs, sidewalk improvements, and pedestrian-scaled lighting to improve pedestrian circulation on Davis Street and draw people toward historic Main Street, the Ulatis Creek Walk, and a new commercial center at the redeveloped Basic American Foods Industrial site.
Amount: $482,000 (MTC Contribution); $62,448 local match
Contact: Kevin M. Smith, Vacaville Redevelopment Agency, 707.449.5685
Gian Aggarwal, City of Vacaville, 707.449.5170

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