2025 Trails Technical Assistance Pilot Program

SACOG fosters collaboration and progress for an equitable, sustainable, and prosperous future. The Regional Trail Network has the goals of health, environmental justice, economic vitality, safety, recreation, and access for all ages and abilities for the Sacramento area. For implementation of the trail network, SACOG is committed to supporting interagency coordination, regional convening, managing public information, tracking implementation, managing data and geographic information systems (GIS), offering grant technical assistance, tracking and sharing funding sources, and supporting new funding opportunities.

About the Trails Technical Assistance Application

This technical assistance program will provide one-on-one consultant support to advance individual projects at no cost to agencies. The program is designed to be easy to access, effective in advancing implementation of planned projects, and impactful for SACOG member agencies and the public.

The application was open from February 10, 2025, to March 28, 2025.

Download the application questions here. 

Applicant Eligibility

Applicants must meet all the following criteria to be eligible:

• Lead applicant must be the primary or secondary implementing agency of a project identified in the 2022 Plan, Appendix A.

Project Eligibility

 Projects must meet all the following criteria to be eligible:

• Identified in the 2022 Plan, Appendix A – Trail Study Corridors included

• Partial segments are eligible but full segments will be prioritized.

• Includes or focuses on segments that demonstrate community need*.

* The ideal description will clearly identify a great need for support and strongly describe the makeup of the community and the challenges that they have experienced. Applicants may use any of these three approaches to demonstrate need:

1. Publicly available designations, indices, or community analysis tools, such as CalEnviroscreen, Free or Reduced Meal Program, Healthy Places Index, Median Household Income, or others with a description of how the data demonstrates the needs of the community.
2. Any designation defined by SACOG, such as Environmental Justice Communities as defined in the MTP / SCS, Mobility Zone Equity Priority Communities, Green Zone opportunity areas, or others.
3. Applicants may describe their communities’ unique circumstances and what disadvantages they experience. Applicants must include the demographics of the community and describe the populations impacted. Populations may include youth, seniors, people of color, people with disabilities, and/or underserved rural area; factors may include language barriers, low educational attainment, or some other community concern.

• Grant Application Support
• Opinions of Probable Cost
• Feasibility Assessments
• Funding Strategies
• Signage Strategy
• Making the Case for Trails
• Phasing and Implementation Strategies
• Trail Design Guidance
• Green Infrastructure Guidance
• Trail Conceptual Design
• Illustrative Graphics/Visualizations
• Community Engagement, Activation, or Programming
• Staff Training and Capacity Building
• Strategies for Emerging Mobility Trends on Trails

Selection Criteria 

Applications must meet all the applicant and project eligibility criteria to be considered for selection. Only one application per applicant will be accepted. Eligible applications will be ranked based on the following criteria:

• 2022 Plan Tier. From highest to lowest: Tier 1 or Top Tier Study Corridor, Tier 2, Tier 3 or Other Study Corridor
• Connectivity. Higher scoring for projects that cover the full extent of segment identified in the 2022 Plan. Lower scores for projects that cover only a partial segment.
• Collaboration. Demonstrated willingness to work in partnerships, where necessary.
• Staff capacity. Higher scoring for agencies who demonstrate capacity to use the technical assistance and work closely with SACOG and consultant staff.
• Regionalism. Distribution of projects throughout the six counties in the Sacramento area will be considered in the final selection.

2025 Trail Technical Assistance Awards

1. City of Yuba City - Yuba City Railroad Corridor Conversion Project
2. City of Folsom - Folsom Boulevard Bicycle and Pedestrian Overcrossing
3. Placer County Department of Public Works - Truckee River Corridor
4. City of West Sacramento - Clarksburg Branch Line Trail
5. City of Rancho Cordova - Capital Center Drive Class IV Study Corridor
6. Citrus Heights - Arcade Creek
7. City of Galt - UPRR Bike and Pedestrian Overcrossing
8. City of Colfax – Bunch Creek Trail Study Corridor