Oceanside CA— The SANDAG Board of Directors recently voted to award 29 grants totaling $15 million to jurisdictions throughout San Diego County to support a variety of projects that promote smart growth, as well as walking, biking, and transit ridership. As part of the grant applications, the recipients have committed to provide $12.7 million as matching funds to complete the projects, resulting in more than $27 million in combined regional investments.
Twelve million dollars in grants are being distributed under the TransNet Smart Growth Incentive Grant Program, and $3 million under the Active Transportation Grant Program. These grant programs are funded by the TransNet regional half-cent sales tax for transportation approved by San Diego County voters.
The grants will pay for both capital and planning projects. Projects funded range from a bus/bike safety outreach program in Oceanside to wayfinding and gateway signs in National City, from a Sixth Avenue bridge promenade in Downtown San Diego to a bike project in Santee. Click [Here] to view a complete list of awards.
SANDAG is awarding more than $400,000 in grants to the City of Oceanside to support projects that promote smart growth, as well as walking, biking, and transit ridership. As part of the grant application, the City of Oceanside has committed to provide $73,000 in matching funds to complete the projects.
Bike/Bus Safety Public Outreach Project: The City of Oceanside will create and install public service messages (aka bus wraps) on 15 buses to educate the public on the meaning of “sharrows” and alert cyclists to the danger of attempting to pass buses on the right side.
Seagaze Drive Downtown Mobility Project: The city will enhance the quality of Seagaze Drive and provide much needed continuity with Mission Avenue through innovative smart growth-supporting infrastructure including: pedestrian bulb-outs, ADA ramps with truncated domes, rectangular rapid flashing beacons, enhanced crosswalks, and a raised median.
With a grant of $192,100, local funds of $726,000 and a total cost of $996,000, the City of Carlsbad will provide enhanced facilities for pedestrians, transit users and bicyclists. The sidewalk on the west side of Carlsbad Boulevard will be widened from less than 4 feet to about 8 feet from the intersection to the south side of the bridge. The proposed project will establish a new standard for a pedestrian scramble, provide traffic signage, modify traffic detection to count cyclists and provide unique clearance times. The southbound bus stop will be relocated to the near side of the intersection to be closer to the controlled pedestrian crossings,and the path/stairs to Carlsbad State Beach and the bathrooms. Bicyclists will be provided with northbound and southbound bike boxes.
Evaluation panels for each program reviewed the grant applications in each category and ranked them according to criteria approved by the SANDAG Board last winter. The top-ranking projects were recommended for funding. The grants were approved July 24 by the SANDAG Board.
Both grant programs aim to fund projects with the potential to serve as catalysts for change in local communities. The Smart Growth Incentive Grant Program focuses on facilitating compact, mixed-use development around transit, thereby increasing housing and transportation choices. The Active Transportation Grant Program focuses on adding and improving bike and pedestrian facilities, as well as supporting the Regional Bike Plan.
For details about the grant programs, visit www.sandag.org/cycle3grants.