REPORT TO BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN ADVISORY COMMITTEE
SUBJECT
Title
Grant Applications Complete Streets Checklist Review (Garcia)
Report
BACKGROUND
The One Bay Area Grant Cycle 4 (OBAG 4) is a Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) grant program that works with each county to distribute Federal Highway Administration funds to local projects and programs. The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) will submit a project nomination list for consideration by the MTC. The OBAG 4 call for projects was released on May 8, 2026 and applications are due on July 27, 2026.
MTC also administers the Transportation Development Act Article 3 (TDA) program that is funded by a quarter-cent State sales tax. VTA is designated to administer the program in Santa Clara County and allocates TDA funds for projects that comply with the program to jurisdictions based on City population. The deadline to notify VTA about the planned use of the funds was on May 26, 2026.
The California Transportation Commission (CTC) approved the 2027 Active Transportation Program (ATP) statewide and MTC regional components on March 19, 2026. The 2027 ATP (Cycle 8) covers four fiscal years from 2027-28 through 2030-31, with $309 million available in the statewide component and approximately $53 million available in MTC’s regional component. Both the State and MTC released a call for projects with a due date of June 22, 2026.
In March 2022, the MTC updated the Bay Area’s regional Complete Streets Policy by adopting Resolution 4493 (Attachment 1). The Complete Streets Policy requires all projects seeking $250,000 or more of regional discretionary transportation funding, or endorsement from MTC, to submit a Complete Streets Checklist. The Checklist requires project collaboration with affected transit agencies and review by a local (city or county) Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC). All three grant programs are funded by regional discretionary transportation funds and thus, any project that meets the criteria discussed above is required to submit a complete streets checklist.
DISCUSSION
The OBAG 4 program provides funding for the following types of projects:
• Bicycle and Pedestrian infrastructure and programs
• Safe routes to school infrastructure and programs
• Safety projects and planning
• Complete Streets improvements
• Transportation Demand Management (TDM) programs
• Mobility Hub
• Transit capital and station improvement
The scoring criteria for the OBAG 4 program includes the following:
• Needs and Benefits (safety, access, gap closure, multimodal, etc.) - 35 points
• Local Priorities (prior planning efforts, community support) - 10 points
• Equity Impacts (Equity Priority Communities, vulnerable communities, MTC Growth Geographies) - 20 points
• Other Criteria (local match, project readiness) - 10 points
• Regional Alignment (supports Plan Bay Area 2050+ strategies, Regional Safety/Vision Zero Policy, Bay Area Transit Transformation Action Plan, and the regional Transit Priority Policy for Roadways) - 10 points
• Federal Performance Goals (Improvements to safety, infrastructure condition, system reliability, freight movement and economic vitality, congestion reduction, and environmental sustainability) - 5 points
• Deliverability and Risk (Sponsor capacity and expertise, recent delivery of regional funds, and risks to the project schedule or delivery plan) - 10 points
• Air Quality Benefits (The relative cost-effectiveness in reducing criteria air pollutants, for CMAQ-eligible projects for the purpose of assigning CMAQ funding consistent with federal requirements) - 10 points
Staff has reviewed the OBAG 4 criteria and proposes to submit grant applications to seek $250,000 or more of regional funding for four projects. One of the projects also fits the ATP grant program requirements and was submitted to that program for funding consideration. Since the ATP grant application was due on June 22, 2026, the checklist needed to be reviewed in advance and was reviewed at the June 10, 2026 VTA BPAC meeting. All four projects were presented at previous BPAC meetings. The projects include:
• De La Cruz-Coleman Class IV Bike Lane project: The project will design and construct City Council's selected preferred Class IV bikeway concept on De La Cruz Blvd./Coleman Ave. between Central Expressway and Brokaw Road. On October 22, 2024 City Council adopted a Class IV bikeway design concept with a two-way Class IV cycle track on the west side of De La Cruz Boulevard between Central Expressway and Martin Avenue, Class IV cycle track on each side of De La Cruz Boulevard between Martin Avenue and Reed Street, and a two-way Class IV cycle track on the east side of Coleman Avenue between Reed Street and Brokaw Avenue.
• Monroe Street Active Transportation Safety Corridor: The project includes installing Class IIB buffered bike lanes and Class IV separated bike lanes on Monroe Street between Lawrence Expressway and San Tomas Expressway. The project also includes adding high visibility crosswalks, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant curb ramps, rectangular rapid flashing beacon, advance limit lines, raised medians, corner radius improvements, speed feedback signs, and intersection turn management. The project improvements are based on recommendations from the Monroe Street Bikeway Planning Study and the Santa Clara Vision Zero Action Plan.
• Walsh-Martin Bikeway Improvements: The project will design and construct bikeway improvements on Walsh Avenue and Martin Avenue based on the 2024 Council approved Walsh/Martin Avenue Bikeway Planning Study. Improvements include Class IV separated bikeways, vertical barriers, green-backed bicycle pavement markings in high conflict areas, curb ramps and signal modifications. The project will improve bicyclist safety, increase bicycle ridership, and improve connectivity to regional job centers such as NVIDIA, VTA frequent transit line 57, Altamont Corridor Express shuttle, the Lawrence Caltrain Station, and San Tomas Aquino Creek Trail.
• Pruneridge Avenue Complete Streets: The project proposes improvements which include 2.2 miles of buffered bike lanes along Pruneridge Avenue between Pomeroy Avenue and Winchester Boulevard, pedestrian enhancements including quick-build curb extensions, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant curb ramps, and upgraded accessible pedestrian signals.
Staff notified VTA about the intent to use TDA funds for the Bicycle Wayfinding project.
• Bicycle Wayfinding: Develop and install a bicycle wayfinding system along bicycle routes that will facilitate access to various City destinations including schools, commercial centers, libraries, government facilities and parks.
The checklists for each project, except the De La Cruz-Coleman Class IV Bike Lane project, are attached (Attachments 2 through 5) for review and comment.
The BPAC is encouraged to review the draft Complete Streets Checklists and provide comments for projects seeking OBAG 4 and TDA grant funding.
Staff
Written by: Ralph Garcia, Senior Civil Engineer, Public Works
Reviewed by: Carol Shariat, Transportation Manager, Public Works
Approved by: Michael Liw, Assistant Director/City Engineer, Public Works
ATTACHMENTS
1. MTC Resolution No. 4493
2. Complete Streets Checklist - Monroe Street Active Transportation Safety Corridor
3. Complete Streets Checklist - Walsh-Martin Bikeway Improvements
4. Complete Streets Checklist - Pruneridge Avenue Complete Streets
5. Complete Streets Checklist - Bicycle Wayfinding