GCC Sites Receive Safe Routes to Transit Grants

Written by Clarrissa Cabansagan, Community Planner, TransForm

Last February the Metropolitan Transportation Commission approved projects for the fifth and final cycle of Safe Routes to Transit (SR2T). The SR2T grant program is managed by Clarrissa Cabansagan from TransForm and Dave Campbell from Bike East Bay, with fiscal sponsorship from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission.

Funded by Regional Measure 2, a $1 bridge toll increase passed in 2004, the program has awarded about $20 million in five competitive grant cycles.

SR2T has helped San Francisco Bay Area residents make crucial last-mile bicycle and pedestrian connections to regional transit. SR2T promotes bicycling and walking to transit stations by funding projects and plans that make non-motorized trips easier, faster, and safer.

SR2T is the first competitive grant program of its kind. Projects must include connection to a bridge and demonstrate they will remove congestion on one or more state bridges by facilitating walking or bicycling to regional transit that serves trips between counties. From its outset, the program has helped agency staff think big and try out new ideas. By maintaining an eye for innovation and flexibility in program management, SR2T has had a regional impact, including funds that helped launch our regional bike share.

In this last cycle of SR2T, I’m pleased to announce that several GCC sites have been awarded funding to implement the much needed bicycle and pedestrian station area improvements we’re advocating for:

• Concord Bike and Pedestrian Access to Transit ($200K): To improve non-motorized access to the three BART stations–North Concord/Martinez, Downtown Concord and Pleasant Hill/Contra Costa Centre. The project will assess current conditions, identify community needs and priorities and develop a transit access plan.
• South San Francisco Caltrain Station Pedestrian and Bicycle Underpass Plan ($200K): This plan will study the feasibility of segregating the pedestrian and bicycle tunnel from other planned improvements for the Caltrain station within the City of South San Francisco. The study will review existing plans, identify what operations improvements are needed to move trains through the station more quickly and accommodate high speed rail, and engage stakeholders for input on the alternatives considered.
• Balboa Park Station Access and Safety ($279K with potential of up to $315K): The project will eliminate the gap in the pedestrian network along the southside of Ocean Avenue where light rail trains enter and exit the station. Work includes detectable curb ramps, better delineation of the pedestrian crossing, signage or signal work to alert pedestrians and bicyclists to cross safely.
• Access Improvements to Lake Merritt BART Station ($279K with potential of up to $342K): This project will improve pedestrian access to the Lake Merritt BART Station.

SR2T projects are improving the travel experience for Bay Area pedestrians and bicyclists and giving commuters new options to leave their cars at home, living car-free or car-light. Regions, residents, and transit systems nationwide stand to benefit from increased access to transportation options through creative funding mechanisms like SR2T.