SF Bay Area VTA Expands Transit Development Grants

VTA to announce second round of Transit Oriented Communities grant recipients Sept 10

VTA Adds Round 2 Transit Development Grants

Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority plans to announce recipients of its second round of Transit Oriented Communities grants on September 10, transit officials said. The program funds local governments developing projects near VTA transit stations, though officials haven't disclosed how much money will be awarded in Round 2. VTA awarded $7 million to 14 projects in the program's first round in 2022.

Program Background

The Transit Oriented Communities program supports partnerships between VTA and local public entities to create housing and commercial development near transit hubs, according to the agency. Officials said the grants help cities meet state housing goals while improving transit access for residents. Specific eligibility criteria and application deadlines for Round 2 weren't available. Transit agencies throughout California have launched similar programs as the state pushes for concentrated development near public transportation to address the housing crisis.

Grant Details

VTA hasn't released details about which cities or projects will receive Round 2 funding or how much each grant will total. The agency said Round 2 grantees will be announced September 10, but officials didn't say when funded projects would break ground or reach completion. Round 1 awarded grants to 14 projects across Santa Clara County in 2022, though VTA hasn't published updates on those projects' current status. Officials said the grants support planning, design, and implementation of transit-adjacent development.

Timeline

The September 10 announcement will reveal which local governments received Round 2 grants, officials said. VTA didn't provide a timeline for when grant recipients must complete their projects or when construction might begin. The agency typically works with cities over multiple years on transit-oriented development, though specific timelines vary by project complexity and local approval processes.

Rider Impact

Transit-oriented development aims to increase housing density near VTA stations, potentially boosting ridership as more residents live within walking distance of transit. Officials said the projects create more accessible communities around transit hubs, though they didn't specify how many housing units or commercial spaces Round 2 might generate. Riders can track real-time VTA service and find transit-accessible destinations using Moovit's trip planning tools.