Approved Projects (RTIP)

Approved Projects (RTIP)

Projects approved for funding by the RTC are included in the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Improvement Program (RTIP). The RTIP identifies projects programmed to receive various state and federal funds, amends information on previously programmed projects, and acts as Santa Cruz County’s proposal to the California Transportation Commission (CTC) for programming State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) funds.

RTIP

The RTC is responsible for selecting projects to receive certain state, federal, and regional funds. Following consideration of public input, staff recommendations, and advisory committee recommendations, the RTC board adopted the 2021 Consolidated Grant Program and 2022 Regional Transportation Improvement Program (RTIP) at its December 2, 2021 meeting. Projects approved to receive $11 million include pavement maintenance and roadway rehabilitation projects on local roads, new and upgraded bike and pedestrian facilities in Capitola, Santa Cruz, Scotts Valley, Watsonville, and on Soquel Avenue/Drive in the county.

Federal Transportation Improvement Program (FTIP/MTIP)

Projects that are regionally significant or have been approved by RTC, Caltrans, and/or other agencies for Federal transportation funds are included in the Federal Transportation Improvement Program (FTIP). The FTIP for the Monterey Bay Area is prepared by the Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments (AMBAG) and is called the Monterey Bay Metropolitan Transportation Improvement Program (MTIP).

The Monterey Bay MTIP is the tri-county region’s (Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito counties) short range federally-mandated transportation programming document that contains transportation improvement projects including public mass transit, highway, bridge, local road, bicycle and pedestrian projects proposed for funding based on anticipated available federal, state and local funding over four years. All projects that receive federal funds, are subject to a federally required action, or are regionally significant need to be included in the MTIP. The MTIP must be financially constrained and must be updated at least every four years. The MTIP must be consistent with AMBAG’s Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP) for the tri-county (Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito counties) Metropolitan Planning Region.

The public review and comments period for the Draft Monterey Bay MTIP: FFY 2022-23 to 2025-26 ended August 30, 2022. The AMBAG board is scheduled to adopt the 2023 MTIP at its September 14, 2022 meeting. The document is subject to Caltrans and FHWA/FTA final review and approval.

Prior Programming

2020 RSTPX Competitive Grants (Approved February 6, 2020)

The RTC programmed $350,000 in state Regional Surface Transportation Program Exchange (RSTPX) funds to three bicycle and pedestrian safety and encouragement programs at its February 6, 2020 meeting. For more information visit:

2020 RTIP (Approved December 5, 2019)

The RTC is responsible for selecting projects to receive certain state, federal, and regional funds. The RTC held a public hearing and approved projects to receive available funds at its December 5, 2019 Meeting. For more information, visit the RTC’s Grants Programs webpage.

2018 RTIP (Approved December 7, 2017)

Following a public hearing at its December 7, 2017 meeting, the RTC approved 31 projects to receive $22 million from the region’s formula shares of state and federal funds as part of its adoption of the 2018 Regional Transportation Improvement Program (RTIP). These include state funds made available by Senate Bill 1 (2017) revenues.

Amendments to the 2016 RTIP (Approved March 2, 2017)

At its March 2, 2017 meeting, the RTC approved amendments to the Regional Transportation Improvement Program (RTIP) in order to maximize use of State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) funding available in Fiscal Year 2017/18, initiate work on the Harkins Slough Road/Highway 1 bicycle/pedestrian overcrossing in Watsonville, and program funds necessary to close out the construction contract for the Highway 1 Soquel-Morrissey Auxiliary Lanes project.

2016 Surface Transportation Block Grant Program (STBG) – 16 projects approved for $7 million (September 1, 2016)

Following a public hearing at its September 1, 2016 meeting, RTC approved funding for 15 projects, including roadway preservation, bicycle, transit, pedestrian, traveler assistance, carpool, and highway projects throughout the county.

2016 RTIP – Projects delayed due to State funding shortfalls (Adopted December 3, 2015)

On December 3, 2015 the RTC adopted the 2016 STIP. Due to a severe drop in state gas tax revenues made available for STIP projects, no new funding was available for programming in the 2016 STIP and instead over $750 million in projects statewide were deleted and most others have to wait several years to receive funding. The RTC’s proposal to the CTC shifted funds for previously approved projects to later years. In total, the RTC delayed 80% of previously approved funds. In May 2016, the CTC delayed projects even more and deleted funds designated for construction of one project in Santa Cruz County.

2014 RTIP – $14 million approved for projects (Adopted December 5, 2013)

The RTC adopted the 2014 RTIP following a public hearing at its December 5, 2013 meeting, selecting 26 projects to receive over $14 million in State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP), Regional Surface Transportation Program (RSTP), and Monterey Bay Sanctuary Scenic Trail funds.

Regional Surface Transportation Program (RSTP) (Approved February 7, 2013)

Following a public hearing, the RTC programmed $5.3 million of the region’s shares of Regional Surface Transportation Program (RSTP) funds to 16 projects on February 7, 2013.

Projects Selected to Receive Over $11 million in Transportation Funds (June 2009)

Following a public hearing in Watsonville on June 4, 2009, the Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) selected transportation projects to receive over $11 million in federal funds, including economic stimulus funds from the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA).

Economic Stimulus Funds (February & June 2009)

At its February 5, 2009 and June 4, 2009 meetings, the RTC selected projects to receive $12.1 million in funds from the “highway” portion of the federal economic stimulus bill – the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). In October 2009 and spring 2010, additional changes were made to the project list, primarily resulting from cost savings on projects constructed over the summer.

Helpful Links:

RTC Contact

Rachel Moriconi
Senior Transportation Planner
info@sccrtc.org
(831) 460-3200