2025 Consolidated Grants Program
Update
The Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) will be selecting local and regional projects to receive approximately $15 to 18 million in state and federal funds as part of its 2025 Consolidated Grants Program and 2026 Regional Transportation Improvement Program (RTIP).
The Call for Projects was released on July 1, 2025, , with applications due September 15, 2025. A total of 26 applications were submitted, requesting over $66 million in funds.
RTC advisory committees will provide feedback on the project applications and preliminary recommendations at their October 2025 meetings.
The RTC will seek input from the public on the final staff recommendations, and the RTC board is scheduled to hold a public hearing and adopt the list of projects (program of projects) to receive funding at the RTC's November 6, 2025 Commission meeting.
RTC Contact
Rachel Moriconi
Senior Transportation Planner
programming@sccrtc.org
(831) 460-3200
Available Funds
Available Funds
Approximately $15 million* is anticipated to be available for programming this cycle. This funding comes from the region's shares of funding from the following state and federal programs:
- State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP)
- Surface Transportation Block Grant Program (STBG)/Regional Surface Transportation Program Exchange (RSTPX)
- SB1-Local Partnership Program (LPP) formula funds
- Low Carbon Transit Operations Program (LCTOP).
- State Transit Assistance (STA)
*Following release of the call for projects, the RTC received new estimates for several funding sources and an additional $2.8 million is potentially available if the RTC and California Transportation Commission (CTC) approve an advance of future STIP shares.
Eligibility Requirements
Eligible Projects include a wide range of public street/road and highway, local roadway reconstruction/rehabilitation, bicycle, pedestrian, transit, transportation system management, transportation demand management and other projects. Additional information about each funding source, including eligible uses and activities, is provided in the Funding Program Summary.
Eligible Applicants include Cities, the County of Santa Cruz, SCCRTC, Caltrans, Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District (METRO), University of California at Santa Cruz (UCSC) and other governmental agencies with a Master Agreement with Caltrans. Non-governmental organizations and other entities interested in applying for funds are required to have a public agency sponsor that will be responsible for ensuring state and federal accounting and implementation requirements are met.
Schedule
Below is the schedule outlining the steps to review and fund projects for the 2025 Consolidated Call for Projects cycle:
- July 1 - Call for Projects issued
- July 17 - Applicant workshop (Optional)
- September 15 - Project applications due to RTC by 3:00 PM
- October 2025 - Advisory committees review preliminary recommendations and provide input.
- Late October: Staff and committee recommendations released for public review and input.
- November 6, 2025 - Public Hearing; RTC considers public and committee input and staff recommendations and adopts program of projects.
- December 15 - RTIP Proposal for STIP-funded projects due to the California Transportation Commission (CTC).
- March 2026 - California Transportation Commission (CTC) adopts the 2026 STIP
Project Evaluation
Below is a summary of criteria that the RTC uses to evaluate project benefits and transportation decisions. These criteria support the Regional Transportation Plan (RTP), state, and/or federal goals and policies.
- Access for All - Expand affordable and convenient multi-modal travel options and choices, especially to and within key destinations, to allow people to access their regular needs.
- Safety and Health - Reduce transportation related fatalities and serious injuries (crashes) and enhance healthy, safe transportation options.
- System Preservation/ Infrastructure - Maintain and improve the condition of transportation assets cost effectively and responsive to the needs of all transportation system users.
- System Performance - Improve efficiency and enhance performance of the transportation system while protecting and enhancing the natural environment. Includes improving goods movement, supporting economic development, improving travel times, and reducing congestion.
- Climate Change and Resiliency - Reduce vehicle miles traveled and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and establish a climate-resilient transportation system that anticipates, adapts to, and mitigates the impacts of climate change.
- Equity - Ensure that plans, investments, policies, and transportation decisions will reduce disparities for historically and systemically marginalized, underserved, and excluded populations.
While projects may not address every goal, objective, or criteria, those that provide multiple benefits to the community will be scored more favorably than single-benefit projects. Other considerations include project readiness, scale of benefits, public engagement, community support, and leveraging non-RTC discretionary funds.
Application Receipt Log
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