This funding program provides grants to local government agencies and their partners to support planning and capital improvements that support the SACOG's Blueprint project principles.
On March 16, 2006, the SACOG Board approved recommended projects for funding awards. Twenty-four projects were funded totaling $12.71 million in Sacramento, Sutter, Yolo and Yuba Counties. Projects in El Dorado and Placer Counties will have a separate selection and funding process due to an agreement between their respective county transportation authorities and SACOG.
The awarded projects were recommended from a selection process comprised of two regional appointed review committees. Applications were evaluated on how well they promoted the seven SACOG Blueprint principles: transportation choices, housing diversity, compact development, mixed land uses, use of existing assets, natural resource protection, and quality design. Applications were then evaluated according to how "real" or ready for implementation they were.
These were the selected projects that were approved for funding in the 2005-2007 Community Design funding cycle:
California State University Sacramento, Sacramento State Tram, Selection Committees, awarded amount $924,000
The Sacramento State Tram is a bus rapid transit system (BRT) that will connect the 65th Street Light Rail Station to the CSUS campus. Once on campus, the SST will serve as a people mover to link classroom, event and residential uses. The project also delays or avoids the need for construction of a fourth parking garage. Grant funds will be used for project development up to final design and vehicle specification. ( PDF)
City of Davis, East Eighth Street Corridor Improvements, awarded amount $650,000
This project will construct pedestrian, bicycle, transit, and other streetscape improvements along the East Eighth Street Corridor from L Street to Pole Line Road. These improvements will help with the safety, appearance, transportation flow and functioning of this corridor. It will also support the redevelopment and infill activities in this community. ( PDF)
City of Elk Grove, Light Rail/Bus Rapid Transit Alignment Study, awarded amount $300,000
The city of Elk Grove will identify a fixed light rail/bus rapid transit alignment within the city's boundaries to reserve right-of-way prior to development. The project will utilize grant funds to develop alignment options, evaluate modes and alignments, consider the integration of a proposed Amtrak station, and conduct the necessarily environmental, financial and technical analysis. ( PDF)
City of Elk Grove, Revitalization of Historic Old Town/Elk Grove Blvd. Special Planning Area, award amount $400,000
The city of Elk Grove seeks to improve circulation, streetscaping, parking and transit infrastructure and update associated land use policies and economic development efforts for the revitalization of Old Town Elk Grove. The grant funds will be used to develop the environmental documents necessary for the Special Planning Area and provide transit shelters in select parts of the city. ( PDF)
City of Folsom, Railroad Block Public Plaza, awarded amount $500,000
This project will fund pre-construction design, engineering and initial construction of the Folsom Railroad Block Public Plaza. The Plaza binds the private and public development efforts, which include 33,600 square feet of retail space, 15,600 square feet of office, and as many as 60 new residential units, an amphitheater, a historic railroad turntable and a public parking garage. ( PDF)
Paratransit, Arika's Village, awarded amount $303,000
This project will help fund new sidewalks, planter strips and other streetscape enhancements for the mixed-use transit-oriented infill project at Florin Road and Woodbine in Sacramento. Arika's Village will provide 44 units of environmentally sustainable affordable housing on two acres. ( PDF)
City of Rancho Cordova, The Promenade: Connecting and Revitalizing Rancho Cordova, awarded amount $300,000
This grant will plan for a bicycle/pedestrian bridge that will connect both sides of Rancho Cordova across U.S. 50. The funds will be used to develop a vision, feasibility study, preliminary environmental assessment, design competition, and preliminary engineering plans for the bridge. Future residents south of U.S. 50 will have access to light rail, retail and the 25,000 projected office jobs north of the freeway. ( PDF)
Regional Transit, Downtown/Waterfront Streetcar Starter Line, awarded amount $500,000
This project will plan and conduct preliminary design for a streetcar line linking downtown Sacramento, the riverfront area and West Sacramento. The planning efforts will clarify track and equipment choices, design schemes and maintenance needs that will build this line and other future streetcar systems in the region. ( PDF)
Regional Transit, Stockton Boulevard Bus Rapid Transit, awarded amount $100,000.
This project will help lead to the development of an Enhanced Bus Service along Stockton Boulevard in the south Sacramento area. The grant will be used to help better position the project for funding through the Federal Transit Administration. ( PDF)
Regional Transit, Station Enhancement Study for Four Downtown Light Rail Stations, awarded amount $550,000
This grant will initiate design studies that will lead to rehabilitation of four light rail stations in downtown Sacramento. The stations are Alkali Flat/La Valentina, 12th and I, and two on the K Street Mall. ( PDF)
City of Sacramento, 65th Street/University Transit Village Circulation Plan Amendments, awarded amount $885,000
This project is a traffic circulation study and a supplemental Environmental Impact Review for this redevelopment area near Sacramento State University. The study will evaluate alternative mitigation measures, amend the existing circulation plan and analyze the environmental impacts of these new measures. The efforts will help lead to better support the vision of the Transit Village Plan. ( PDF)
City of Sacramento, City College Light Rail Station Pedestrian/Bicycle Crossing Study and Design, awarded amount $443,000
This project will help plan for a safe, convenient pedestrian and bicycle access from City College and the adjacent light-rail station to the proposed 66-acre Curtis Park Village and surrounding neighborhood. The grant will be used to complete feasibility and siting study for a crossing. ( PDF)
City of Sacramento, Docks Area Alternative Modes Parkway, awarded amount $1,239,000
The Alternative Modes Parkway will serve as the riverfront bicycle and pedestrian pathway and will be a central feature in downtown Sacramento's newest community - the Docks area. This grant will fund hardscaping of the levee surface that will lead into the Parkway, allowing for easy access into the Docks area from the rest of downtown. ( PDF)
City of Sacramento, R Street Market Pedestrian Walkway and Plaza, awarded amount $630,000
The Pedestrian Walkway and Plaza will provide critical pedestrian safety and accessibility improvements to the R Street corridor between the light-rail station on 16th Street and 18th Street, near the new R Street Market. The grant will fund design and engineering plans for this vital two-block corridor segment. ( PDF)
City of Sacramento, Redding Avenue Alternative Mode Improvements, awarded amount $745,000
This project will lead to increasing the safety and connectivity of the only route between 65th Street and Power Inn Road near planned transit villages north and south of U.S. 50. The grant funds will be used for planning, design and right-of-way acquisition. ( PDF)
Sacramento County, 47th Avenue Transportation Improvements/Victoria Station Development, awarded amount $1,082,000
This grant will fund construction of transportation improvements along the 47th Avenue corridor near a new infill, compact, mixed-use 15-acre development named Victoria Station. The improvements include new and wider sidewalks, landscaping, parking improvements, and bicycle and pedestrian enhancements.
Sacramento County, Marconi Ave. Improvement Project - Fair Oaks to Walnut Avenue, awarded amount $500,000
In partnership with the Rental Housing Association, Sacramento County seeks to design and construct streetscape improvements along one of the highest density residential communities in the region. The improvements would serve as a catalyst for redevelopment and infill in the eastern end of the Marconi Corridor. ( PDF)
Sacramento County, North Watt Avenue Corridor Planning Project, awarded amount $250,000
This planning effort will coordinate circulation and land use changes for redeveloping the North Watt corridor into a series of mixed-use centers and urban villages. This corridor will serve as a model for twelve other corridors identified for similar efforts within Sacramento County. ( PDF)
Sacramento County, Walerga Road Corridor Improvements/Antelope Place Development, awarded amount: $1,200,000
This grant will fund construction of sidewalks, streetscaping, bicycle lanes, pedestrian amenities, and transit access safety enhancements along Walerga Road from Don Julio to Larchmont in North Highlands. The improvements will be near Antelope Place, a new mixed-use, compact development with 112 condominiums and 20,000 square feet of retail.
Sacramento County, Watt Avenue at Roseville Road Pedestrian and Bicycle Access Improvements, awarded amount $130,000
This project will examine alternatives for creating a continuous walking and bicycle path under the railroad over-crossing at North Watt Avenue and Roseville Road. This planning grant will serve as a demonstration project to promote redevelopment of an existing low-density residential corridor into a more Blueprint-oriented one. ( PDF)
City of Wheatland, Streetscape Enhancement Plan for Downtown Arterials, awarded amount $100,000
The city of Wheatland will prepare the streetscape element of the city's Downtown Specific Plan. This element will be used to enhance the city's downtown roadway network by identifying bicycle and pedestrian connectivity routes and appropriate land uses to support alternative modes of travel. ( PDF)
City of Woodland, Casa del Sol Public Transportation and Streetscape Improvements, awarded amount $494,000
As the city of Woodland's highest priority redevelopment project, this grant will help eliminate a deficient and dangerous segment of East Street Corridor. The project will build a new bus stop, shelter and turnout, sidewalks, curbs, gutters, fencing and landscaped buffers. ( PDF)
Yolo County, Esparto Downtown Revitalization Project, awarded amount $185,000
This project is a critical step in a multi-year partnership effort to redevelop the historic commercial center of Yolo County's largest unincorporated community. The effort will develop a cohesive, sustainable plan for creating a livable, pedestrian-oriented commercial center along Highway 16.
City of Yuba City, Defining the Urban-Rural Edge, awarded amount $300,000
The city of Yuba City, partnered with Sutter County, will use this grant to help define the urban-rural edge on the city's boundaries. The project will develop urban growth management policies, create urban-edge design guidelines and development standards, and amend the city's development ordinances and documents to achieve this project's objectives.
Summary Descriptions of the 2003-05 Awarded Projects and links to their grant applications are also available for viewing.
Next Round of Funding
The program funds projects approximately every two years. Notification for a request for applications will be sent to eligible SACOG member and partner agencies in 2007 or 2008.
Contact Information
If you have questions about the Community Design Program, please contact the Community Design Program Manager, Greg Chew, at (916) 340-6227 or gchew@sacog.org.
