Preliminary Staff Recommendations for 2023 Consolidated Grant Program Announced

The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) is pleased to announce the preliminary staff recommendations for the 2023 Consolidated Grants program.

The RTC received 22 applications requesting over $95 million, however only $61.3 million is available in funding. The RTC staff developed preliminary recommendations based on a number of evaluation criteria, including project readiness, regional benefits, and alignment with the RTC’s strategic goals.

The following projects are recommended for full or partial funding from RTC discretionary funds:

• Capitola 41st Avenue Pavement Rehabilitation and Multimodal Improvements
• County of Santa Cruz Corralitos Corridor Resurfacing
• County of Santa Cruz Emergency Routes Phase 2 Resurfacing
• County of Santa Cruz Glen Arbor Road Sidewalk
• County of Santa Cruz Green Valley Road Multi-Use Path
• County of Santa Cruz Highway 17 Corridors Resurfacing
• County of Santa Cruz Intercounty Routes Resurfacing
• County of Santa Cruz Rio Del Mar Resurfacing
• County of Santa Cruz Robertson Street and Soquel Drive Signalization
• Ecology Action Youth SRTS Bike/Pedestrian Education
• Santa Cruz Bay Corridor Design
• Santa Cruz Bay Street Paving
• Santa Cruz Bethany Culvert Replacement
• Santa Cruz Escalona Complete Streets
• SCCRTC Go Santa Cruz County Bicycle Incentives Program
• SCCRTC Felton-SLV Schools Complete Streets Improvements
• SCCRTC Planning, Programming, and Modeling (PPM)
• Scotts Valley Mount Hermon Road Improvements
• Scotts Valley Scotts Valley Drive Corridor Improvements
• Watsonville Green Valley Road Rehabilitation

The following projects are recommended for funding from SB125 TIRCP/ZETCP funds:

• SCCRTC Zero Emission Passenger Rail and Trail
• SCMTD Rapid Corridors Projects
• SCMTD Transit Operations

The RTC’s Bicycle Committee, E&DTAC, and ITAC will review and make recommendations for these projects at their upcoming November 2023 meetings. The RTC will make a final decision on which projects to fund at its December 7, 2023 meeting. This decision will be based on recommendations from RTC staff, advisory committees, and public input.

To learn more about the 2023 Consolidated Grants program and view the project applications, please visit the RTC website at https://sccrtc.org/funding-planning/project-funding/23-24-rtip/

Public comment:

The RTC is seeking public comment on the preliminary staff recommendations. Public comment can be submitted in writing  via email to info@sccrtc.org. Written comments received by 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday before the RTC meeting will be posted to the RTC website by 2:00 p.m. that same afternoon to allow time for Commissioner review. The opportunity to make oral comments is offered prior to the discussion period of each item.

The RTC will hold a public hearing on the preliminary staff recommendations on December 7, 2023. The meeting will begin at 9:00 AM at the Scotts Valley City Council Chambers.