San Francisco Bay Area Vision Project

The Station Area Planning Grant Program is an initiative to finance planning efforts that will result in land use plans and policies that increase transit ridership around public transit hubs and bus and rail corridors in the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area. Originally developed to advance MTC’s Transit Oriented Development (TOD) policy, which set minimum level of zoning for land adjacent to Resolution 3434 transit corridors, the Commission expanded the program to include FOCUS Priority Development Areas (PDAs) in October 2007.

The key goals of this program are to:

boost transit ridership and reduce vehicle miles traveled (VMT) by station area residents, employees and visitors

increase walking, bicycling, carpooling, carsharing, local transit and other transportation options for residents, employees and visitors within the station area

increase the housing supply within station areas, particularly affordable housing for low-income residents

increase jobs in station areas and provide access to jobs elsewhere along transit corridors, and

locate key services and retail within station areas

Three cycles of funding have been made available through the Station Area Planning program. The first (pilot) cycle funded 8 projects for a total amount of approximately $2.8 million. The second cycle in FY 2008-2009 was the first time that the program was extended to Priority Development Areas. A total of $7.5 million was allocated to this cycle, with planning grant awards available up to $750,000. Thirty-seven applicants totaling $13.9 million were submitted during this round, and all but three of the applications were in PDAs. Ultimately, twenty communities were awarded grants. The grants vary in funding amounts depending on what each city requires to complete a station area plan. Many cities are already engaged in extensive land use planning but require additional planning funds to complete complementary elements (e.g. environmental reports and access studies). Cycle Three of the Station Area Planning program, announced in July 2009, has $2.5 million available for station area planning around stations along the Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) corridor as identified in Resolution 3434.

Applications for Cycle Three of the Station Area Planning grant program are being accepted till August 31, 3009. Local governments with a station area that is part of the SMART transit corridor identified in Resolution 3434 can apply.

Cycle Three Program Guidelines
Cycle Three Application Form

Policies & Programs	Projections 2009	FOCUS	News & Events
Home FOCUS Program Goals Priority Development Areas PDA Application PDA Showcase Priority Conservation Areas PCA Showcase Building Partnerships Best Practices Conferences FOCUS Forum Schools Grants & Funding Technical Assistance Planning Grants Equitable Development Tools & Resources Program Milestones Staff Contacts News & Events Policies and Programs Projections 2009	Station Area Planning Grants The Station Area Planning Grant Program is an initiative to finance planning efforts that will result in land use plans and policies that increase transit ridership around public transit hubs and bus and rail corridors in the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area. Originally developed to advance MTC’s Transit Oriented Development (TOD) policy, which set minimum level of zoning for land adjacent to Resolution 3434 transit corridors, the Commission expanded the program to include FOCUS Priority Development Areas (PDAs) in October 2007. The key goals of this program are to: boost transit ridership and reduce vehicle miles traveled (VMT) by station area residents, employees and visitors increase walking, bicycling, carpooling, carsharing, local transit and other transportation options for residents, employees and visitors within the station area increase the housing supply within station areas, particularly affordable housing for low-income residents increase jobs in station areas and provide access to jobs elsewhere along transit corridors, and locate key services and retail within station areas Three cycles of funding have been made available through the Station Area Planning program. The first (pilot) cycle funded 8 projects for a total amount of approximately $2.8 million. The second cycle in FY 2008-2009 was the first time that the program was extended to Priority Development Areas. A total of $7.5 million was allocated to this cycle, with planning grant awards available up to $750,000. Thirty-seven applicants totaling $13.9 million were submitted during this round, and all but three of the applications were in PDAs. Ultimately, twenty communities were awarded grants. The grants vary in funding amounts depending on what each city requires to complete a station area plan. Many cities are already engaged in extensive land use planning but require additional planning funds to complete complementary elements (e.g. environmental reports and access studies). Cycle Three of the Station Area Planning program, announced in July 2009, has $2.5 million available for station area planning around stations along the Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) corridor as identified in Resolution 3434. Applications for Cycle Three of the Station Area Planning grant program are being accepted till August 31, 3009. Local governments with a station area that is part of the SMART transit corridor identified in Resolution 3434 can apply. Cycle Three Program Guidelines Cycle Three Application Form The Station area Planning Manual provides guidance on the development of these plans: Station Area Planning Manual (for a high-resolution version, click here)