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2025 Consolidated Grants Program

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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. 

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

TOTAL  $66,209,563
ApplicantProject TitleRequested
City of CapitolaBay Avenue Corridor - Final Design $700,000
City of CapitolaCapitola Complete Streets Sidewalk Infill $1,276,000
City of Santa CruzCoastal Rail Trail Segments 8 and 9 Construction $10,000,000
City of Santa CruzProspect Heights Paving $4,003,482
City of Santa CruzBay Street Paving $2,191,806
City of Scotts ValleyGranite Creek Overcrossing $1,000,000
City of WatsonvilleClifford Ave Road Rehabilitation and Traffic Calming $1,675,000
City of WatsonvilleFreedom Blvd Road Rehabilitation and Traffic Calming $1,800,000
City of WatsonvillePennsylvania Dr Trail Rehabilitation Project $1,000,000
County of Santa CruzBrommer Yard Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) $1,220,070
County of Santa CruzEmergency Routes Resurfacing Phase 2  $3,400,000
County of Santa CruzFelton Yard Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) $896,575
County of Santa CruzInterlaken Routes Resurfacing Phase 1 $800,000
County of Santa CruzLode Street Yard Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) $806,306
County of Santa CruzRoy Wilson Yard Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) $838,973
County of Santa CruzSoquel Drive Multimodal Project $5,800,000
Ecology ActionBike Safe/ Walk Safe $295,940
Santa Cruz METRO90X Operations/ BOS Service $650,000
Santa Cruz METROBeach St Parking Lot $150,000
Santa Cruz METROHASTUS 2026 Upgrade $900,000
Santa Cruz METROParaCruz Vans $288,000
SCCRTCFelton/SLV Schools Complete Streets Enhancement $679,000
SCCRTCCoastal Rail Trail Segments 8-9 and 10-11 $8,260,000
SCCRTCZero Emission Passenger Rail and Trail (ZEPRT) $15,006,611
UCSCLower Campus High-Speed Public EV Chargers $1,243,800
UCSCElectric Bus #3 Purchase for Campus Transit ZEV Transition  $1,328,000

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