Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program Cycle 6 2023 - LA n Sync Funding ForecasterLA n Sync Funding Forecaster

Category/Topic
Transportation

Level
State

Summary
The Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP) was created by Senate Bill 862 and modified by Senate Bill 9 to provide grants from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) to fund transformative capital improvements that will modernize California’s intercity, commuter, and urban rail systems, and bus and ferry transit systems, to significantly reduce emissions of greenhouse gases vehicle miles traveled, and congestion. The TIRCP was created to fund transformative capital improvements that modernize California’s intercity rail, bus (including feeder buses to intercity rail services, as well as vanpool and micro transit services that are eligible to report as public transit to the Federal Transit Administration), ferry, and rail transit systems (collectively referred to as transit services or systems inclusive of all aforementioned modes unless otherwise specified) to achieve all of the following policy objectives, as codified in Section 75220(a) of the PRC: (1) Reduce emissions of greenhouse gases (2) Expand and improve transit service to increase ridership (3) Integrate the rail service of the state’s various rail operations, including integration with the high speed rail system (4) Improve transit safety Additionally, Section 75221(c) of the PRC codifies a programmatic goal to provide at least 25 percent of available funding to projects that provide a direct, meaningful, and assured benefit to disadvantaged communities, consistent with the objectives of Senate Bill 535. Assembly Bill 1550 provides further requirements related to ensuring investments meet the needs of priority populations, a term used to cover disadvantaged communities, low-income communities and low-income households. Investments made by TIRCP are expected to collectively meet or exceed the requirements in Assembly Bill 1550. Funding categories unique to TIRCP Cycle 6, as established by Assembly Bill 180, are below. • Existing TIRCP Projects Leveraging Federal and Local Funds Reserve: Set aside funding for existing TIRCP project awards (TIRCP Cycle 1-4) intended for projects that can demonstrate a supplemental state grant would leverage or maintain an identified source of significant local or federal funding. • Major Projects Project Development Reserve: Set-aside funding for projects seeking to enter or already have entered a federal project development program, such as the Capital Investment Grant Program at the Federal Transit Administration or the Corridor Development Program at the Federal Railroad Administration. • High-Priority Grade Crossing Improvement and Separation Projects: Set aside funding seeks to maximize safety benefits and reduce or eliminate conflicts between road users and railroads, as well as provide state funding to leverage federal investment for grade crossing improvement and separation projects. This one-time High-Priority Grade Crossing Improvement and Separation set-aside funding is intended to advance projects that align with the California State Rail Plan, the California Freight Mobility Plan (where applicable), as well as the Climate Action Plan for Transportation Infrastructure (CAPTI) climate action and equity goals.

Summary

The Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP) was created by Senate Bill 862 and modified by Senate Bill 9 to provide grants from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) to fund transformative capital improvements that will modernize California’s intercity, commuter, and urban rail systems, and bus and ferry transit systems, to significantly reduce emissions of greenhouse gases vehicle miles traveled, and congestion.

The TIRCP was created to fund transformative capital improvements that modernize California’s intercity rail, bus (including feeder buses to intercity rail services, as well as vanpool and micro transit services that are eligible to report as public transit to the Federal Transit Administration), ferry, and rail transit systems (collectively referred to as transit services or systems inclusive of all aforementioned modes unless otherwise specified) to achieve all of the following policy objectives, as codified in Section 75220(a) of the PRC:

(1) Reduce emissions of greenhouse gases

(2) Expand and improve transit service to increase ridership

(3) Integrate the rail service of the state’s various rail operations, including integration with the high speed rail system

(4) Improve transit safety

Additionally, Section 75221(c) of the PRC codifies a programmatic goal to provide at least 25 percent of available funding to projects that provide a direct, meaningful, and assured benefit to disadvantaged communities, consistent with the objectives of Senate Bill 535. Assembly Bill 1550 provides further requirements related to ensuring investments meet the needs of priority populations, a term used to cover disadvantaged communities, low-income communities and low-income households. Investments made by TIRCP are expected to collectively meet or exceed the requirements in Assembly Bill 1550.

Funding categories unique to TIRCP Cycle 6, as established by Assembly Bill 180, are below.

• Existing TIRCP Projects Leveraging Federal and Local Funds Reserve: Set aside funding for existing TIRCP project awards (TIRCP Cycle 1-4) intended for projects that can demonstrate a supplemental state grant would leverage or maintain an identified source of significant local or federal funding.

• Major Projects Project Development Reserve: Set-aside funding for projects seeking to enter or already have entered a federal project development program, such as the Capital Investment Grant Program at the Federal Transit Administration or the Corridor Development Program at the Federal Railroad Administration.

• High-Priority Grade Crossing Improvement and Separation Projects: Set aside funding seeks to maximize safety benefits and reduce or eliminate conflicts between road users and railroads, as well as provide state funding to leverage federal investment for grade crossing improvement and separation projects. This one-time High-Priority Grade Crossing Improvement and Separation set-aside funding is intended to advance projects that align with the California State Rail Plan, the California Freight Mobility Plan (where applicable), as well as the Climate Action Plan for Transportation Infrastructure (CAPTI) climate action and equity goals.

Eligible Entities
Local Public Agencies

Due Date
Feb 10, 2023

Max Award
$1,200,000,000

Match Required?
No

Match Notes
While there is no minimum match requirement for TIRCP, funding leverage is desirable and will be considered in the evaluation of expected project benefits. In particular, emphasis will be placed on projects that leverage: • Funding from other GGRF programs • Funding from SB1 programs • Funding from other federal, state, local, regional, or private sources

Match Notes

While there is no minimum match requirement for TIRCP, funding leverage is desirable and will be considered in the evaluation of expected project benefits. In particular, emphasis will be placed on projects that leverage:

• Funding from other GGRF programs

• Funding from SB1 programs

• Funding from other federal, state, local, regional, or private sources

Funder
CA State Transportation Agency

Total Amount Available for All Grants
$3,980,000,000

Competition Notes
AB 180 provided additional direction with regards to the funding appropriated in the Budget Act of 2021. It created specific categories for funding as follows: A) $1,831,500,000 shall be for high-priority transit projects in Southern California, geographically inclusive of the Counties of Imperial, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego and Ventura, to deliver local and regional projects. At least $900 million of this amount shall be administered as a General Fund set-aside for an “Existing TIRCP Projects Leveraging Federal & Local Funds Reserve” within Southern California, and shall be available for multi-year grants to support the delivery of capital projects that have previously received grants from the Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program and that can demonstrate that a supplemental state grant would leverage or maintain an identified source of significant local or federal investment, including through the federal Capital Investment Grant Program, Expedited Project Delivery Program, or other such federal funding source. B) $1,498,500,000 shall be for geographical areas outside of the Southern California counties identified above for investments in high-priority transit and rail infrastructure projects. At least $900 million of this amount shall be administered as a General Fund set-aside for an “Existing TIRCP Projects Leveraging Federal & Local Funds Reserve”, and shall be available for multi-year grants to support the delivery of capital projects that have previously received grants from the Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program and that can demonstrate that a supplemental state grant would leverage or maintain an identified source of significant local or federal investment, including through the federal Capital Investment Grant Program, Expedited Project Delivery Program, or other such federal funding source. C) The Transportation Agency shall amend its program guidelines for the Existing TIRCP Projects Leveraging Federal & Local Funds Reserve to establish an application review and prioritization process that is separate and apart from the prioritization of program funds not set aside under this provision. D) Up to $150,000,000 total across both regions shall be administered as a General Fund set-aside for a “Major Projects Project Development Reserve” and shall be available for multiyear grants to support the delivery of capital projects and programs of projects that have entered or have applied to enter federal project development processes for at least a portion of the project or program of projects, and that expect to receive federal funding in the future once complete with project development. Contingent awards that provide the match necessary to leverage federal planning funds shall be encouraged. The Transportation Agency shall amend its program guidelines to establish an application review and prioritization process that is separate and apart from the prioritization of program funds not set aside under this provision. E) $100,000,000 shall be administered as a General Fund set-aside for High-Priority Grade Crossing Improvement and Separation Projects. Such funds shall be available for multi-year grants to support the delivery of projects that maximize safety benefits and reduce or eliminate conflicts between road users and railroads, including those anticipated with future rail service growth. Such projects may benefit existing or proposed rail passenger services. Contingent awards that provide the match necessary to leverage federal funds shall be encouraged. The Transportation Agency shall amend its program guidelines to establish an application review and prioritization process that is separate and apart from the prioritization of program funds not set aside under this provision. In addition, AB 180 appropriated $250,000,000 to the Department of Transportation for local assistance grade separation projects funded with resources from the General Fund.

Competition Notes

AB 180 provided additional direction with regards to the funding appropriated in the Budget Act of 2021. It created specific categories for funding as follows:

A) $1,831,500,000 shall be for high-priority transit projects in Southern California, geographically inclusive of the Counties of Imperial, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego and Ventura, to deliver local and regional projects. At least $900 million of this amount shall be administered as a General Fund set-aside for an “Existing TIRCP Projects Leveraging Federal & Local Funds Reserve” within Southern California, and shall be available for multi-year grants to support the delivery of capital projects that have previously received grants from the Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program and that can demonstrate that a supplemental state grant would leverage or maintain an identified source of significant local or federal investment, including through the federal Capital Investment Grant Program, Expedited Project Delivery Program, or other such federal funding source.

B) $1,498,500,000 shall be for geographical areas outside of the Southern California counties identified above for investments in high-priority transit and rail infrastructure projects. At least $900 million of this amount shall be administered as a General Fund set-aside for an “Existing TIRCP Projects Leveraging Federal & Local Funds Reserve”, and shall be available for multi-year grants to support the delivery of capital projects that have previously received grants from the Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program and that can demonstrate that a supplemental state grant would leverage or maintain an identified source of significant local or federal investment, including through the federal Capital Investment Grant Program, Expedited Project Delivery Program, or other such federal funding source.

C) The Transportation Agency shall amend its program guidelines for the Existing TIRCP Projects Leveraging Federal & Local Funds Reserve to establish an application review and prioritization process that is separate and apart from the prioritization of program funds not set aside under this provision. D) Up to $150,000,000 total across both regions shall be administered as a General Fund set-aside for a “Major Projects Project Development Reserve” and shall be available for multiyear grants to support the delivery of capital projects and programs of projects that have entered or have applied to enter federal project development processes for at least a portion of the project or program of projects, and that expect to receive federal funding in the future once complete with project development. Contingent awards that provide the match necessary to leverage federal planning funds shall be encouraged. The Transportation Agency shall amend its program guidelines to establish an application review and prioritization process that is separate and apart from the prioritization of program funds not set aside under this provision.

E) $100,000,000 shall be administered as a General Fund set-aside for High-Priority Grade Crossing Improvement and Separation Projects. Such funds shall be available for multi-year grants to support the delivery of projects that maximize safety benefits and reduce or eliminate conflicts between road users and railroads, including those anticipated with future rail service growth. Such projects may benefit existing or proposed rail passenger services. Contingent awards that provide the match necessary to leverage federal funds shall be encouraged. The Transportation Agency shall amend its program guidelines to establish an application review and prioritization process that is separate and apart from the prioritization of program funds not set aside under this provision.

In addition, AB 180 appropriated $250,000,000 to the Department of Transportation for local assistance grade separation projects funded with resources from the General Fund.

Additional Notes
Southern California, inclusive of the Counties of Imperial, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego and Ventura: a. Existing TIRCP Projects Leveraging Federal and Local Funds Reserve: $900 million to $1.35 billion b. New Projects: $331.5 million to $931.5 million c. Major Projects Project Development Reserve: up to $150 million d. High Priority Grade Crossing Improvement and Separation Projects: $140 million to $280 million B) Rest of the State: a. Existing TIRCP Projects Leveraging Federal and Local Funds Reserve: $900 million to $1.20 billion b. New Projects: $148.5 million to $598.5 million c. Major Projects Project Development Reserve: up to $150 million d. High Priority Grade Crossing Improvement and Separation Projects: $70 million to $210 million

Additional Notes

Southern California, inclusive of the Counties of Imperial, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego and Ventura:
- a. Existing TIRCP Projects Leveraging Federal and Local Funds Reserve: $900 million to $1.35 billion
- b. New Projects: $331.5 million to $931.5 million
- c. Major Projects Project Development Reserve: up to $150 million
- d. High Priority Grade Crossing Improvement and Separation Projects: $140 million to $280 million

B) Rest of the State:
- a. Existing TIRCP Projects Leveraging Federal and Local Funds Reserve: $900 million to $1.20 billion
- b. New Projects: $148.5 million to $598.5 million
- c. Major Projects Project Development Reserve: up to $150 million
- d. High Priority Grade Crossing Improvement and Separation Projects: $70 million to $210 million

Resources
Opportunity Posting or Webpage Solicitation