Title
Report Regarding a Resolution Authorizing the Submittal of a Grant Application for Caltrans Sustainable Communities Grant - Multimodal Transportation Action Plan (John Wilson, Senior Engineer)
label
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Adopt a resolution authorizing staff to submit a grant application to the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) for the FY 2026-27 Sustainable Communities Competitive Grant to fund the development of a Multimodal Transportation Action Plan.
Body
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION
Executive Summary
The City seeks to apply for a Caltrans Sustainable Communities Grant to prepare a Multimodal Transportation Action Plan (MTAP) that integrates the City’s active transportation, transit, parking, and transportation demand management (TDM) policies into a unified framework.
The Plan will build upon the Active South City Plan (2019) by addressing key gaps - particularly parking management, transit coordination, and mobility for aging adults - to help the City achieve its Vision Zero and Climate Action Plan goals.
The total project cost is estimated at $450,000-$700,000, with up to $700,000 in available grant funding. To strengthen competitiveness, staff recommends providing up to a $100,000 local overmatch (beyond the required 11.47% minimum), split evenly between the Citywide and East of 101 Traffic Impact Fee funds.
Need for the Plan
While the Active South City Plan identifies infrastructure priorities for walking and biking, it does not fully address parking strategy, TDM programs, or the travel needs of aging adults. A comprehensive MTAP will ensure that transportation investments are data-driven, equitable, and coordinated - especially in East of 101 neighborhoods with higher concentrations of low-income, transit-dependent, and senior residents. Without this plan, future improvements risk being piecemeal or inconsistent with regional and state sustainability goals.
Project Description and Objectives
The MTAP will:
• Evaluate existing multimodal and parking conditions citywide.
• Conduct inclusive, multilingual community engagement, focusing on under-resourced areas.
• Develop coordinated strategies for parking management, transit and microtransit access, TDM programs, and mobility for older adults.
• Prioritize near-, mid-, and long-term actions for implementation through the Capital Improvement Program (CIP).
• Establish performance metrics and mapping tools to guide decision-making and track progress.
FISCAL IMPACT
The City’s matching commitment of up to $100,000 will be split between the East of 101 Traffic Impact Fees and the Citywide Traffic Impact Fees.
RELATIONSHIP TO STRATEGIC PLAN
The MTAP will:
• Advance the City’s Vision Zero, Climate Action Plan, and Shape SSF 2040 goals.
• Support Caltrans CAPTI and the California Transportation Plan 2050 objectives for GHG reduction and multimodal connectivity.
• Improve coordination among City departments and partner agencies, including C/CAG and SamTrans.
• Position the City for future implementation funding (e.g., SMCTA, ATP, or SS4A).
CONCLUSION
The proposed Multimodal Transportation Action Plan will integrate all modes of travel into a single, actionable framework that promotes safety, equity, and sustainability. Staff recommends that the City Council authorize submission of the Caltrans Sustainable Communities Grant application and commit $100,000 in local overmatch funding to strengthen the City’s competitiveness.