Santa Clara River Trail Final Master Plan - Development Services ...

Chapter 7: Project Implementation Plan
State Safe Routes to School Program (SR2S)
California Safe Routes to School Program expires December 21, 2012, requires a 10 percent local match, is
eligible to cities and counties, and targets children in grades K-12. The fund is primarily for construction,
but applicants may use up to 10 percent of the program funds for education, encouragement, enforcement
and evaluation activities. Cycle 9 provided $24.25 million for FY 10/11.
Regional and Local Funding Sources
This section discusses potential funding sources from local agencies and organizations.
Municipal Bonds
Municipalities have access to the commercial financial markets via bonds. Use of this funding mechanism
is dependent upon strong community support in order to pass the required bond referendum. This is
frequently used to obtain the required local matching funds.
Adopt-A-Trail Programs
These programs are often administered by a local trail commission or non-profit and are used to fund
new construction, renovation, trail brochures, informational kiosks and other amenities. These programs
can also be extended to include sponsorship of trail segments for maintenance needs.
Design Arts Program
The National Endowment for the Arts provides grants to states and local agencies, individuals and
nonprofit organizations for projects that incorporate urban design, historic preservation, planning,
architecture, landscape architecture and other community improvement activities, including greenway
development. Grants to organizations and agencies must be matched by a 50% local contribution.
Agencies can receive up to $50,000.
Donations and In-Kind Matches
Other potential funding sources include donations of cash from private foundations and philanthropic
organizations. Donations of property or construction materials and labor can be another valuable source
of funding. The value of these resources is magnified when they are used as a local match for the Federal
funding programs described above. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has in the past
approved “innovative financing plans” that include donation or in-kind labor performed by the trail
proponent or community organization. It should be noted that the approval of an innovative financing
plan is done on a case-by-case basis by FHWA, in light of community circumstances, and is not
guaranteed.
TDA Article 3 (SB 821)
Transportation Development Act (TDA) Article III funds are a percentage of the state sales tax given
annually to local jurisdictions for bicycle and pedestrian projects. Funds may be used for engineering
expenses leading to construction, right-of-way acquisition, construction and reconstruction, retrofitting
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