East Bay Regional Park District Wins $10.2 Million Green Transportation Initiative Grant from U.S. Department of Transportation

Big congratulations to East Bay Regional Park District for winning a grant for a whopping 10.2 million bucks to make it easier for Bay Area residents to hike the trails and just get out in nature through its Green Transportation Initiative.

I’ve had some minor involvement with grants for nonprofits I’ve volunteered for, and believe me, they are a lot of work with no guarantee you’ll get the funding.

East Bay Regional Park District’s Green Transportation Initiative Funded

Here’s the EBPRD press release with all the details:

On Tuesday, October 19, 2010, the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) announced that the East Bay Regional Park District’s Green Transportation Initiative has been awarded $10.2 million as part of its Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER II) grant program. TIGER II grants were awarded nationwide with over 1000 applications totaling $20 billion competing for $600 million in available funding. DOT officials congratulated the Park District for being one of the agencies – one of three in Northern California — to receive TIGER II funds. The Park District’s application focused on completing critical gaps in its expansive nearly 200-mile paved regional trail system that connects communities schools, employment centers and transportation nodes.

“We’re very pleased with this important award,” states Park District General Manager Pat O’Brien.“The Park District began developing this integrated network of paved trails in the 1970s, and we’ve seen the use of these trails just explode with the population growth over the past several decades for both commuting and recreational purposes. With this grant, we will be able to expedite closing critical gaps in the Green Transportation network, providing a real boon to those who live and work in the East Bay.”

O’Brien applauded the local Congressional delegation’s enthusiastic support and regional stakeholders and other organizations. “We had significant support because our elected officials and regional organizations understand the value of the Green Transportation Initiative. Work on the trail system will create hundreds of jobs and, once finished, the regional trail network will enhance East Bay communities by relieving traffic congestion, and creating opportunities for a healthier lifestyle.” DOT received over 80 letters of support from regional stakeholders in favor of this project.

In August, the Park District submitted an extensive application outlining seven projects throughout the District where gap closures would provide a tremendous impact for connecting to local and regional transit. O’Brien states that the Park District is focusing on what are called “last-mile connections” or the final segment that provides a safe convenient transit connection.

“Filling these gaps will have a multiplier effect with much greater usage of the new trail segments and the corresponding transit options,” says O’Brien. “A safe convenient connection means commuters are much more likely to take public transit, walk or bike as a commute alternative to driving, and that benefits everyone including commuters, transit agencies, and our environment.” Studies have shown that the most cost effective way to reduce congestion, greenhouse gasses, and dependence on fossil fuels is by getting people out of their cars. The seven projects parallel congested roads and provide commute alternatives for communities, including economically disadvantaged neighborhoods in both counties, to transportation centers, employment areas, schools, shops, parks and community services.

One of the primary selection criteria in the TIGER II grant award was that a project should enhance a region’s livability. The East Bay Green Transportation Initiative provides extensive qualitative benefits to the communities of the East Bay. The 265,000 residents living within one mile of these proposed projects will be provided with enhanced, healthful, and non-polluting transportation choices. An additional 500,000 residents already live adjacent to existing trails and will also benefit. In addition the trail network improves economic competitiveness by connecting people directly to business parks and their places of work. A fully completed Green Transportation Network will make the East Bay an even more attractive place for new businesses and a highly skilled workforce to locate.

According to Doug Siden, President of the East Bay Regional Park District Board of Directors, this is the largest single competitive grant that the District has ever received. “The East Bay Regional Park District has always been quite innovative in providing East Bay residents with opportunities that mesh well with their lifestyles, whether for work or recreating. I’m quite pleased that this project, supported so well by our Congressional delegation and area stakeholders, is very forward-thinking about how to achieve healthy, livable and sustainable communities which value walking, biking, and transit.”

The total EBGTI project cost is estimated to be $43.3 million. The total percentage of project costs provided by the TIGER II grant program represents about 25% of total project costs. The East Bay Regional Park District will provide the remaining funds through its voter approved Measure AA and WW, and funding partners including SAFETEA-LU, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, Alameda County Transportation Improvement Authority, Contra Costa Transportation Authority, West Contra Costa Transportation Advisory Committee, the San Francisco Bay Trail Project, and the cities of Dublin, Pleasanton, and Hercules.

The entire application, along with detailed project descriptions, is on the District’s website www.ebparks.org/ebgti. The DOT stated that more details about funding for the Park District’s application will be released shortly, and the Park District will update the website as information becomes available.

Share on Facebook

Tweet

Follow us