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David Pape, Grants and Funding Principal, Reflects on SACOG’s First Six-County Funding Round
For the first time, SACOG is conducting a federal funding round with all six counties in the Sacramento region (El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento, Sutter, Yolo, and Yuba). David Pape, principal planner of grants and funding at SACOG, has been leading the effort to coordinate with cities, counties, and partners to create a holistic approach to project selection that reflects the regional nature of transportation.
“One of the biggest joys has been seeing how much shared interest there is across the six counties in working together around common challenges. Regional partners have shown a willingness to work through this new process together,” said Pape about the working groups and thought partners who have helped shape this funding cycle. “Recognizing that each county and jurisdiction has its own needs, there’s a strong desire to understand how projects fit into a broader regional picture,” he added.
One of the benefits of a funding round with all six counties is the ability to look at how these projects might interplay on a regional level. Jurisdictions will have the ability to strategize together and realize opportunities to work across jurisdiction lines. Pape explained that although the common misunderstanding is that grant programs are “mostly about chasing dollars... in reality, they’re about alignment—aligning projects with regional goals, federal requirements, and long-term deliverability.”
This comprehensive approach allows the region to be more strategic and competitive with limited federal resources, helping the Sacramento region secure necessary funding. Even in the pre-application phase, collaboration produces benefits, as Pape consults with jurisdictions to help them narrow in on what they plan to submit to be most competitive.
The working groups formed in 2023 were key to providing solid feedback and a clearer picture of what was needed for each county. The two working groups, consisting of city and county staff and SACOG board members, collaborated with SACOG on the funding cycle and provided perspectives from across the region. Over the two years of working together, Pape said that one repeated theme from the groups was the need for investment in pavement maintenance. He plans to work with jurisdictions to address pavement degradation across the region and help roadway improvements exist alongside larger projects.
The alignment of a six-county funding round helps avoid investments from being made in isolation and ultimately builds a transportation system that fulfills the Sacramento region’s needs across city and county boundaries.