Funding Opportunities

Call for Projects: Other Funding Opportunities

Enhancing Mobility Innovation (Public Transportation Innovation Program

Application deadline: August 30, 2024

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has announced the availability of $1.936 million in FY 2024 funds for the Enhancing Mobility Innovation (Public Transportation Innovation Program). The Enhancing Mobility Innovation program advances a vision of mobility for all – safe, reliable, equitable, and accessible services that support complete trips by promoting technology projects that focus on the traveler experience and encouraging people to get on board, such as integrated fare payment systems and user-friendly software for demand-response public transportation. The funds for this program are for competitive cooperative agreement awards for projects that enhance mobility innovations for transit. Eligible projects include projects that advance emerging technologies, strategies, and innovations in traveler-centered mobility in two distinct areas. Eligible applicants include: providers of public transportation, including public transportation agencies, state or local government DOTs, and federally recognized Indian tribes; private for-profit and not-for-profit organizations incorporated in a jurisdiction of the United States, including shared-use mobility providers, private operators of transportation services, technology system suppliers and integrators, bus or vehicle manufacturers or suppliers, software and technology developers, financial institutions, consultants, research consortia, and industry organizations; state, city, or local government entities, including multi-jurisdictional partnerships, and organizations such as metropolitan planning organizations; or institutions of higher education, including large research universities, particularly those with Minority Serving Institution status.

Of the total available funds, $968,000 is available for projects to accelerate innovations that improve mobility and enhance the rider experience with a focus on innovative service delivery models, creative financing, novel partnerships, and integrated payment solutions. Another $968,000 is available for projects to develop software solutions that facilitate the provision of integrated demand-response public transportation service that dispatches public transportation fleet vehicles through riders’ mobile devices or other means. The maximum Federal share of project costs under this program is 80 percent. 

Technical Assistance and Workforce Development

Application deadline: August 30, 2024

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has announced the availability of $2.5 million in FY 2024 to establish a Coordinating Council on Access and Mobility (CCAM) National Technical Assistance Center (CCAM TA Center) that supports CCAM members, Federal agencies, their grantees, partners, and stakeholders in improving transportation access for people with disabilities, older adults, and individuals of low income. The overarching mission of this new center is to promote and facilitate human services transportation, public transit, and non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) coordination that advances people's access to everyday destinations. Eligible lead applicants are national nonprofit organizations with a demonstrated capacity to advance technical assistance strategies that support CCAM members, Federal agencies, their grantees, partners, and stakeholders as they work to develop multisector coordination and strategic partnerships around human services transportation. The FTA will award one cooperative agreement, funded up to $2.5 million for the first year with a start date in 2024 to be determined. The maximum Federal share of project costs under this program is 100 percent.

Pilot Program for Transit-Oriented Development Planning

Application deadline: July 22, 2024

Pilot Program for Transit-Oriented Development Planning: The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced the availability of approximately $10.5 million in FY2024 competitive grant funding for the Pilot Program for Transit-Oriented Development Planning (TOD Pilot Program). The TOD Pilot Program funds the creation of comprehensive planning or site-specific planning studies associated with a new fixed guideway or core capacity improvement project. Eligible sponsors are states, U.S. territories, or local governmental authorities as well as an FTA grant recipient (i.e., existing direct or designated recipients) as of May 23, 2024. Applicants must be the project sponsor of a new fixed guideway project or a core capacity improvement project or an entity with land use planning authority in the project corridor. The maximum local match requirement is 20%; proposals that support planning activities in areas with lower population density or lower average income compared to the adjoining area have a maximum required local match requirement of 10%, and may request 0% if requirements are met.

Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program Cycle 7

Application deadline: July 23, 2024

The California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA) has announced the availability of $900 million in FY25 - FY29 competitive grant funds for Cycle 7 of the Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP). TIRCP funds transformative capital improvements that modernize California’s intercity rail, bus, ferry, and rail transit systems to reduce emissions of greenhouse gasses, expand and improve transit service to increase ridership, integrate service of the state’s various rail operations, and improve transit safety. Eligible projects include: rail capital projects; acquisition of rail cars, locomotives and facilities; intercity, commuter, and urban rail projects that increase service levels, improve reliability, or decrease travel times; rail, bus, and ferry integration implementation; bus rapid transit and other bus and ferry transit investments, including autonomous fixed guideway, vanpool, and microtransit services, large scale deployment of zero emission vehicles and the technologies to support them, and capital investments as a component implementing transit effectiveness studies. Eligible applicants are public agencies, including joint powers agencies, that operate or have planning responsibility for existing or planned regularly scheduled intercity or commuter passenger rail service, urban rail transit service, or bus or ferry transit service. While there is no minimum match requirement for this funding source, funding leverage is desirable and will be considered in the evaluation of expected project benefits.

Electric Charging Infrastructure for Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicles and Equipment

Application deadline: August 1, 2024

Electric Charging Infrastructure for Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicles and Equipment: The Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) has announced the availability of up to $35 million in competitive grant funding for electric charging infrastructure. The goal of this competitive solicitation is to support the installation and operation of permanent electric infrastructure that will spur the adoption of zero-emission vehicles and equipment in the Bay Area, expedite air quality improvements and the transition to zero-emission in Priority Communities, and be placed into service by early 2027. Eligible projects will procure and install new, permanent, stationary, voluntary electric battery-charging infrastructure that supports medium- and heavy-duty vehicles and off-road, marine, and locomotive equipment; or expand such infrastructure. BAAQMD seeks to make at least seven awards. At least 80% of funds will be awarded to projects in priority communities, which include Bayview-Hunters Point. The minimum award is $10,000 per site and the maximum award is $20 million per site or applicant. There is no cap on the number of sites for which an applicant may apply. Fund matching requirements vary by project type and location, with projects located in disadvantaged communities generally requiring lower fund matching.

Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A)

Application deadlines for Planning and Demonstration Grants: April 4, May 16, and August 29, 2024

Application deadline for Implementation Grants: May 16, 2024

The U.S. Department of Transportation announced the availability of over $1.2 billion in competitive grant funds for the FY 2024 Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) program. The program supports planning, infrastructure, behavioral, and operational initiatives to prevent death and serious injury on streets involving all roadway users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, public transportation, micromobility users, motorists, and commercial vehicle operators. Eligible activities fall under two grant categories:

• Planning and Demonstration Grants ($657 million available, awards from $100,000 to $10 million)
  • Develop a comprehensive safety Action Plan
  • Conduct supplemental safety planning to enhance an Action Plan
  • Carry out demonstration activities to inform the development of, or an update to, an Action Plan
• Implementation Grants ($580 million available, awards from $2,500,000 to $25 million)
  • Conduct planning, supplemental planning, design, demonstration, and development activities for projects and strategies identified in an Action Plan
  • Carry out projects and strategies identified in an Action Plan
  • Applicants must have an existing Action Plan to apply for Implementation Grants or have an existing plan that is substantially similar

Eligible applicants include metropolitan planning organizations, political subdivisions of a State or territory, federally recognized Tribal governments, and multijurisdictional groups of entities composed of the above entities. An eligible applicant for an Implementation Grant must have ownership and/or maintenance responsibilities over a roadway network, have safety responsibilities that affect roadways, or have agreement from the agency that has ownership and/or maintenance responsibilities for the roadway within the applicant’s jurisdiction. The required local match is 20%.

Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants Program

Application deadline: November 21, 2024

The Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grant program (Community Change Grants), created by the Inflation Reduction Act, offers an unprecedented $2 billion in grants under this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). The Community Change Grants will fund community-driven projects that address climate challenges and reduce pollution while strengthening communities through thoughtful implementation. This historic level of support will enable communities and their partners to overcome longstanding environmental challenges and implement meaningful solutions to meet community needs now and for generations to come. There will be two tracks of funding under this opportunity. Track I will fund approximately 150 large, transformational community-driven investment grants of $10 million - $20 million. Track II will fund approximately 20 meaningful engagement grants of $1 million - $3 million. Grants cannot exceed 3 years in duration.

Bay Area Vanpool Program

Application period: Continuous

MTC’s recently established Bay Area Vanpool Program is offering direct subsidies to new and existing vanpools, thanks to an infusion of over $9.5 million approved by MTC in July of 2018 for the next five years. Qualifying vanpools that rent their vehicles through Enterprise (the preferred vendor for the Vanpool Program) are eligible for a $350/month subsidy. Vanpoolers can pay for their remaining vanpool costs with pretax dollars, further reducing the cost of their shared commute.

Learn how to join a vanpool, start a new one, or see if your existing vanpool qualifies for the subsidy.
Learn how vanpool groups can apply for subsidies.

Carl Moyer Program

Application Period: Continuous

The Bay Area Air Quality Management District has up to $10 million available for the Carl Moyer Program. This program funds equipment or vehicle replacement, engine replacement, power system conversion, and battery charging or fueling infrastructure. It aims to reduce emissions in the communities most impacted by air pollution. Eligible equipment includes:

• Trucks and Buses
• Public School Buses
• Off-road Equipment
• Agricultural Equipment
• Marine Vessels and Equipment
• Locomotives

Funding is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Maximum funding amounts depend on the type of project. Projects required by law or contract are ineligible. Public or private entities that will operate the equipment within the Bay Area may apply. New project types and increased grant amounts are available for the purchase of hybrid, zero- and near-zero-emissions equipment, and for fueling and charging infrastructure as part of alternative-fuel or battery-electric project types.

Community Health Protection Grant Program

Application Period: Continuous

The Bay Area Air Quality Management District has up to $40 million available for the Community Health Protection Grant Program, which follows the same guidelines as the Carl Moyer program, with a few caveats, including those projects must be in eligible areas, such as “Eastern San Francisco”. Please see the information for the Carl Moyer Program above, as well as the Air District Community Health Protection Grant Program website for additional information.

Expedited Project Delivery Pilot Program

Application Period: Applications accepted on a rolling basis

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has announced $100 million available for the Expedited Project Delivery (EPD) Pilot Program. The program aims to streamline project delivery of new transit infrastructure and encourages innovative partnerships. State and local government authorities may apply. Eligible projects include fixed guideway capital projects, small start projects, or core capacity improvement projects that have not entered into a full funding grant agreement with FTA. Projects under this program must include public-private partnerships, be operated and maintained by employees of an existing public transportation provider, and have a federal share not exceeding 25 percent of the project cost. 

FTA intends to award up to eight grants under this announcement, subject to funding availability. Proposals will be accepted on a rolling basis. Applicants will be notified whether their application was approved within 120 days of submittal.

Hybrid Voucher Incentive Program

Application Period: Continuous

The California Air Resources Board's (CARB) Hybrid Voucher Incentive Program (HVIP), provides vouchers to California purchasers and lessees of eligible zero-emission, hybrid and low NOx medium and heavy-duty trucks and buses. The program is meant to accelerate the adoption of clean vehicle technology. Voucher amounts range between $45,000 and $150,000, depending on the vehicle's weight. Increased voucher amounts are available for transit buses and vehicles that provide service in disadvantaged communities. Any purchaser of an eligible vehicle may apply for funding, with a limit of 200 vouchers per fleet. Vouchers are applied at the point of sale. A total of approximately $1.7 billion is available. The funding allocation is broken down into multiple categories:

• HVIP Standard: $265 million
• Zero-Emission Public Transit Buses: $70 million
• Zero-Emission Public School Buses: $135 million
• Zero-Emission Drayage Trucks: $157 million
• Innovative Small E-Fleets: $35 million
• Local Education Agency School Bus Replacement Grants: $1.125 billion, to be awarded in $225 million increments between FY 23/24 and FY 27/28.

Volkswagen Settlement Environmental Mitigation Trust — Zero-Emission Class 8 Freight and Port Drayage Trucks Category

Application Period: Continuous

On August 18, 2020, the Volkswagen Settlement Environmental Mitigation Trust released the first solicitation for freight and port drayage truck projects. $27 million is available on a first-come, first-served basis to fund the replacement of Class 8 freight trucks (including drayage trucks), waste haulers, dump trucks, and concrete mixers with zero emission technologies. Both public and private entities that own and operate eligible vehicles may apply. The program will fund up to 100% of project cost for government owned equipment and up to 75% of cost for non-government owned equipment. Per piece of equipment, maximum funding is $200,000. 

The program is currently oversubscribed. Applications will continue to be accepted in order to generate a back-up list of applications. Projects placed on the back-up list will only be considered if returned or additional funds become available.

Volkswagen Mitigation Trust — Zero-Emission Transit, School, and Shuttle Bus Program

Application Period: Continuous

The Volkswagen (VW) Mitigation Trust was established as part of a settlement with Volkswagen for using illegal emission testing defeat devices in certain VW vehicles, resulting in excess NOx emissions. $130 million in first come, first served funding is available to replace high-polluting transit and shuttle buses with new battery-electric or fuel-cell buses.  There is no longer funding available for school buses.  Government and non-government vehicle owners as well as agencies that lease or rent applicable buses to third parties are eligible to apply.  The old bus to be replaced must have a fuel type of gasoline, diesel, compressed natural gas (CNG); an internal combustion engine; and an engine model year of 2009 or older.  The maximum funding per entity is capped at $3,250,000 and the maximum funding level for each vehicle varies based on the bus and fuel types, ranging from $160,000 to $400,000 per vehicle.  Matching funds are required for all non-government owned purchases (at least 25 percent).

Additional Resources

View Caltrans' 2021 Guide to Transportation Funding in California (PDF) for an overview of transportation funding sources and apportionments.

View Caltrans' Division of Local Assistance June 2022 Transportation Funding Opportunities Guidebook (PDF) for information about state and federal funds available for local public agency projects.

The California Transportation Commission (CTC) has created a list of programs that may fund active transportation projects and elements, to serve as a resource for cities, counties and agencies looking to fund valuable active transportation projects in their communities.

Contact

For more information or assistance with Prop K or other federal, state, or regional funding opportunities, contact Anna LaForte, Deputy Director for Policy & Programming

Introduction

This is a resource page for sponsor agencies who currently or potentially may use federal funds to implement their transportation projects in San Francisco, focusing on Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) funds.

Funding Opportunities

• SFCTA Funding Opportunities (see "Calls for Projects: Transportation Authority & Other Funding Opportunities" above)
• MTC Funding page
• Transportation Funding in California — Caltrans' overview

Project Delivery Policies and Status Update Reports

Federal funds come with strict timely-use-of-funds requirements, especially on the obligation and reimbursement, at various levels⁠—federal, state, and regional. It is critical for sponsors to adhere to the requirements to avoid risk of losing funds.

• Caltrans Delivery Policies and Reports
  • Caltrans Local Safety Program Delivery Status Reports (for Highway Safety Improvement Program)
  • Caltrans Inactive Project Information page
  • Caltrans E-76 Status page: search by project ID or agency name to find the status of E-76s that are pending or obligated within last month or E-76s that have been obligated for the current fiscal year
  • Caltrans Local Programs Accounting Tracking page contains payment history for payments issued within the past 18 months except major construction contractors.
• MTC Project Delivery / Program Monitoring
  • Resolution of Local Support template (doc)
  • Regional Project Delivery Policy Guidance (PDF)(MTC Resolution 3606)
  • Transportation Improvement Program Funding Report page (also see under TIP below)
  • Annual Obligation Status section lists downloadable links for the "FHWA Obligated Funds — Federal Fiscal Year to Date" list and the "FHWA Projects Submitted by District 4 to Caltrans HQ — Federal Fiscal Year to Date" list — up to FY 2017/18 (for the current fiscal year, visit Caltrans E-76 Status page).
  • Federal Aid Single Point of Contact Workshop (MTC Presentation and Caltrans Presentation)  (including presentations on project monitoring and delivery, fund programming, TIP, CMA overview, Caltrans overview (Local Assistance, Environmental, and Right of Way)
  • Federal Aid Single Point of Contact Checklist
• SFCTA's Portal page for sponsors to submit quarterly reports for SFCTA-funded projects

Caltrans Programs and Procedures References

Caltrans, with its delegated authority from FHWA, develops procedures for and conducts review of a majority of FHWA-funded projects. Also see Caltrans District 4 page and the Training Resources section (below) for materials from past training.

• Local Assistance Program Guidelines (LAPG) provides a description of federal and state programs, including:
  • Introduction/Overview: Ch 1 Introduction/Overview (PDF); Ch 2 Financing the Federal-Aid Highway Program (PDF); Ch 3 Federal-Aid Routes & Functional Classifications
  • Most commonly used funding programs: Ch 4 Surface Transportation Program (STP); Ch 5 Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ); Ch 9 Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP)
• Local Assistance Procedures Manual (LAPM) describes procedures and documents required to use federal and state funds. This link gives a compilation of "packages" required by phase.
  • Introduction/Overview: Ch 1 Introduction/Overview; Ch 2 Roles/Responsibilities
  • Authorization/Agreement/Invoicing: Ch 3 Project Authorization; Ch 4 Agreements; Ch 5 Invoicing
  • Environmental: Ch 6 Environmental Procedures
  • Preliminary Engineering: Ch 7 Field Review; Ch 8 Public Hearings; Ch 9 Civil Rights and DBEs; Ch 10 Consultant Selection; Ch 11 Design Standards; Ch 12 PS&E
  • ROW/Utility Coordination: Ch 13 ROW; Ch 14 Utility Relocations
  • Construction: Ch 15 Advertise and Award; Ch 16 Administer Contracts
  • Completion (and after): Ch 17 Project Completion; Ch 18 Maintenance; Ch 19 Oversight and Process Reviews; Ch 20 Audits and Corrective Actions
  • LAPM forms in word documents
• Updates
  • Division of Local Assistance Office Bulletins (DLA-OBs) disseminate the most recent policy and procedural changes, including LAPG and LAPM chapters and forms.
  • Local Programs Procedures (LPPs) formalize LAPG and LAPM changes that have been initiated through DLA-OBs.  DLA-OBs expire upon issuance of LPPs.
  • Caltrans Oversight Information Notices (COIN) are single-topic bulletins intended to provide information and guidance to local agencies on a wide range of issues pertaining to the Federal-aid projects.
  • Local Assistance Blog (or "LAB") for federal-aid program updates 

Transportation Improvement Program (TIP)

Transportation projects that receive federal funds, are subject to a federally required action, or have a regionally significant air quality impact must be included in the TIP. 

2023 TIP update 

Non-exempt project [update to reflect Plan Bay Area 2050]

• MTC memo (PDF) on non-exempt projects 
• Plan Bay Area 2050 Project List with RTP ID (PDF)

Primer & latest schedule

• 2023 TIP — Overview
• MTC memo (PDF) on 2023 TIP Primer (02-18-22) 

General

• MTC TIP page, including MTC Guide to TIP and TIP revision schedule and status (2023 TIP)
• MTC Fund Management System (FMS, online database for TIP)
  • TIP Overview and How to Use FMS (powerpoint)
• FMS Funding Report page, which generates reports showing obligation status by funding program by county
• Air Quality (AQ) PM 2.5 ("fine particulate matter") Conformity Requirement: MTC, with the help of project sponsors, must conduct a project-level hot spot analysis for "projects of air quality concern."
  • MTC memo (PDF) on quantitative analysis requirement (12-12-11)
  • MTC instruction (PDF) to submit AQ PM 2.5 info (03-08-12, as part of the 2013 TIP Update)

Other Federal and State Agency Resources

• FHWA MAP-21 page, including Fact Sheets
• California Transportation Commission (CTC): meeting schedule and agenda, CTC-administered programs 
• Caltrans Division of Transportation Planning and Local Assistance
• California Safe Routes to School Active Transportation Resource Center, including a resource page for Caltrans SRTS Non-Infrastructure Projects 

Training Resources

• Caltrans District 4 Training (District 4-specific training), which includes materials from past training
  • Caltrans Risk-based invoicing presentation (11-18-14)
  • Contract administration of federal-aid projects by local agencies (06-10-14): presentation (PDF), list of helpful handouts (PDF), FHWA 1273 form (PDF)
• Caltrans Highway Bridge Program (HBP) training
• Caltrans Local Assistance Training for Local Agencies (general training info) 
• California Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP; Caltrans in partnership with Sacramento State's College of Continuing Education)
• SF Public Work's Overview of the Federal Aid Process for Transportation Projects (powerpoint)
• FHWA's Every Day Counts Exchange webinars on project development and delivery practices and tools for local agencies 
• UC Berkeley TechTransfer (click on "Click here to register for a class!")

FAQ

• Twelve Procedural Errors (doc) from TechTransfer training

Contact

Nick Smith, Senior Transportation Planner