News and Updates:

UPDATE:

SRTA has issued a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) and Pre-Application Guide for Regional Early Action Planning (REAP) 2.0 funds.  Pre-application submissions must be submitted by November 21, 2022. For more information, visit SRTA's bid posting page for the NOFA at: https://www.srta.ca.gov/Bids.aspx?BidID=72 

Past Events:

October 5, 2022 – SRTA will be hosting a workshop on Wednesday, October 5 at 10 a.m. The meeting is a hybrid format: you may join us in-person in our conference room at 1255 East Street, Suite 202, in Redding or via Zoom. 

September 28, 2022 – SRTA hosted a webinar about Regional Early Action Planning (REAP) 2.0 on Wednesday, September 28 at 2 p.m. We discussed the goals, objectives, and requirements of the program; upcoming public engagement and eligible uses; next steps; and questions and answers.    View a recording of the webinar at: https://youtu.be/8OpRrkTFnbc or download the slides at https://www.srta.ca.gov/DocumentCenter/View/6030/2022-09-28-REAP-20-Webinar-Slides

What is REAP 2.0?

Regional Early Action Planning (REAP 2.0) is a flexible program that seeks to accelerate progress towards our state housing goals and climate commitments through a strengthened partnership between the state, its regions, and local entities. To achieve these goals, REAP 2.0 seeks to:

• accelerate infill housing development, 
• reduce Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT), 
• increase housing supply at all affordability levels, 
• affirmatively further fair housing, and 
• facilitate the implementation of adopted regional and local plans to achieve these goals.

REAP 2.0 will be administered by the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) in collaboration with the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR), the Strategic Growth Council (SGC), and the California Air Resources Board (CARB).

REAP 2.0 provides a $600 million investment to advance implementation of adopted regional plans by funding planning and implementation activities that accelerate infill housing and reductions in per capita Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT).

This new program was established as part of the 2021 California Comeback Plan under AB 140.

How Much State Money is Available to the Shasta Region?

The REAP 2.0 Program makes available 85 percent of funds ($510,000,000) to MPOs and COGs through the “Formula Allocations to MPOs and COGs” funding stream.  The maximum award amount available to the Shasta Region through SRTA is $2,243,909.07. SRTA is anticipating that no less than 70% of these funds will go towards implementation, with up to 25% available for planning efforts. 

Who Can Apply For These Funds Through SRTA?

SRTA may partner through legally binding agreements with other forms of governments or entities where the proposal will have a direct effect on land-use, transportation, or development within areas of influence of the eligible applicant. This includes, but is not limited to, partnerships with other localities, regional governments, Housing authorities, school districts, special districts, community-based organizations, Tribal Entities or any duly constituted governing body of an Indian Reservation or Rancheria. 

What Type of Activities May Be Eligible?

1. Accelerating Infill Development that facilitates Housing supply, choice, and affordability: 

a) Affordable Housing development programs – which may involve predevelopment costs (e.g., studies, land acquisition and entitlements), large expenditures and capital investments – are eligible uses if the programs accelerate the supply of long-term Affordable Housing for Lower-Income and Moderate-Income Households in Infill areas, remove barriers to encourage development and commit to development within a reasonable time frame (e.g., within 5 years of the expenditure deadline). Affordable Housing developments can include mixed-uses (e.g., a minimum of 65 percent total floor area is residential use), and Affordable Housing units that are part of mixed income development programs.
b) Rezoning and guiding development by updating planning documents, development standards, and zoning ordinances, including general plans, community plans, specific plans, SCS, and local coastal programs. All uses that include the creation of planning documents must be accompanied by a commitment to adopt by the expenditure deadline 
c) Revamping local planning processes to accelerate Infill development that facilitates Housing supply, choice, and affordability. 
d) Completing environmental clearance to eliminate the need for project specific review for Infill development that facilitates Housing supply, choice, and affordability.
e) Establishing and funding an Affordable Housing catalyst fund, trust fund, or revolving loan fund for location efficient projects. 
f) Performing infrastructure planning and investing in upgrading infrastructure, including for sewers, water systems, transit, active transportation, or other public facilities necessary to enable reduction in Per Capita VMT and accelerate Infill development that facilitates Housing supply, choice, and affordability. 

2. Realizing Multimodal Communities: 

a. Establishing and implementing a vision-zero policy and program, a safety plan, and a slow streets program. 

b. Developing bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure plans and other multimodal plans or policies. 

c. Investing in infrastructure projects and other programs to expand active transportation and implement bicycle or pedestrian plans.

d. Producing multimodal corridor studies associated with developing specific planning documents or implementation actions. 

3. Shifting travel behavior through reducing driving: 

a. Studying roadway pricing feasibility and implementing road pricing programs. 
b. Funding the establishment of a local VMT impact fee or catalyzing a regional VMT mitigation bank (seed funding for mitigation is ineligible). 
c. Funding and implementing parking and transportation demand management programs or ordinances. 
d. Accelerating Infill Housing production near jobs, transit, and 12 resources. 

4. Increasing transit ridership: 

a. Funding and implementing actions to establish more seamless regional transit systems between and across communities, including establishing common fares systems, sync transit routing systems and schedules, service design, and wayfinding to connect residential neighborhoods with employment centers and other key destinations. 

b. Developing and implementing multimodal access plans to and from transit facilities.  

c. Planning for additional Housing near transit. All uses that include the creation of planning documents must be accompanied by a commitment to adopt by the expenditure deadline. 

(G)Eligible activities under technical assistance may be broadly construed but must demonstrate a clear and significant nexus to all REAP 2.0 objectives. 

(H)Eligible activities must have a significant geographic or region-wide benefit and are not intended to fund projects that are relatively small in scope.

What Types of Uses Are Ineligible?

1. Ineligible uses are uses inconsistent with REAP 2.0 goals and objectives.
2. (B) Ineligible uses apply to suballocations.
3. (C)Ineligible uses include but are not limited to: 1. Roadway or highway capacity increases 2. Advocacy work (direct lobbying for specific bills or local propositions) 3. Bonus payments of any kind 4. Ceremonial expenses 5. Commission fees 6. Real estate brokerage fees or expenses 7. Services, materials, or equipment obtained under any other state program 8. Stewardship of legal defense funds 9. General meetings that do not specifically discuss or advance implementation of awarded REAP 2.0 funds 10.Using funds for mitigation activities already mandated by local or state governing bodies or agencies 11.Ongoing expenses (e.g., routine maintenance or operations of transportation infrastructure associated with transit service expansion) 12.Costs associated with automobile or motorcycle parking (excluding EV 13 charging infrastructure). Proposed Uses with a surface parking component are not eligible. 13.Costs associated with infrastructure related to fossil fuels, including connections to natural gas infrastructure 14.Costs associated with ongoing provisions of internet service 15.In lieu fees for local inclusionary Housing programs 16.Updates to the RTP 17.Organizational membership fees 18.Street construction or repair to benefit vehicular traffic
4. (D)Other items unrelated to the REAP 2.0 Program or application

How Can I Learn More About REAP 2.0?

SRTA is currently developing guidelines for an upcoming Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) and will be hosting a webinar for potential applicants in the Shasta Region on Wednesday, October 5, 2022 at 10 a.m. The webinar will be recorded and posted online for viewing. You may also review the  NOFO for MPOs and the guidelines that will inform SRTA's guidelines at the  California Department of Housing and Community Development website.