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Metro TOC Grant Writing Assistance Program
The Transit Oriented Communities Grant Writing Assistance (TOC GWA) Program will provide grant writers to LA County communities pursuing funding to realize equitable TOCs near Major Transit Stops in LA County planning studies or capital improvement projects that meet Metro’s eligibility requirements.
Overview
The TOC Policy included the following goals:
- Increase transportation ridership and choice.
- Stabilize and enhance communities surrounding transit.
- Engage organizations, jurisdictions, and the public.
- Distribute transit benefits to all.
- Capture the value created by transit.
In 2020, the Metro Board adopted the TOC Implementation Plan which established a series of actions for Metro to implement directly, or through partnership with others, to realize equitable TOCs. The TOC Grant Writing Assistance Program is one such program. Please review the TOC Grant Writing Assistance Program Guidelines to assess eligible activities, applicants, and requirements.
Eligible TOC Activities
In the near-term, Metro is focusing grant writing activities around the following core TOC areas:| Eligible TOC Activities | Distance from Major Transit Stop* | Eligible Applicants |
|---|---|---|
| Affordable Housing (Production, Preservation, and Tenant Protections) | Within a half mile | LA County jurisdictions |
| Community Stabilization (Anti-displacement strategies for residential and commercial areas) | Within a half mile | LA County jurisdictions |
| First/Last Mile (FLM): FLM funding is only available for existing stations and stations not otherwise in the Metro FLM Planning work program. | Within half mile (Walk) - three (Wheel/Roll Mode) miles | LA County jurisdictions |
| Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA), with a TOC focus | Within a half mile | LA County jurisdictions |
| Measure M Metro Active Transport (MAT) (For further support of MAT recipients) | N/A | LA County jurisdictions, Caltrans, State and Federal agencies, transit agencies, and JPAs (if sponsored by one of the aforementioned public agencies) |
| Transit to Parks | Countywide - However must connect Community of Interest to a high quality park or open space (See Transit to Parks Strategic Plan, pg 28) | LA County jurisdictions, transit agencies, nonprofit organizations (if eligible for Transit to Parks- related grant) |
Review this map to view eligible project areas for TOC Activities in your city.
*Major Transit Stop Definition
Major Transit Stop, per California Public Resource Code 21064.3, which may be amended from time-to-time, is defined as:
(a) An existing rail or bus rapid transit station (PRC 21060.2)
(b) A ferry terminal served by either a bus or rail transit service.
(c) The intersection of two or more major bus routes with a frequency of service interval of 15 minutes or less during the morning an afternoon peak commute periods.
Per the intent of the TOC Policy, Major Transit Stop shall also include an environmentally-cleared fixed guideway transit station. A planned fixed-guideway station may also be considered if its location is the only alternative under consideration for a transit corridor in the planning stages.
Equity
Metro calls on Program Recipients to incorporate equity as a process and an outcome in funding requests. Additionally, Metro will prioritize resources in Equity Focus Communities and other high-need communities, based on socio-economic factors, as deemed relevant.
For more information on Equity Focused Communities or other equity measurement sources, see the TOC GWA FAQs.
How to Apply
- Review the Program Guidelines to assess eligible activities, projects, and requirements.
- Reach out to Metro staff at tocimplementation@metro.net to confirm grant writer availability. In email, provide link to grant program and include grant due date. If grant writers are available, proceed to the next step.
- Capital Project applicants must first complete and submit intake form for Metro review. Access the intake form here, submit to Metro at tocimplementation@metro.net.
- Download and complete the grant writing assistance application here.
- Submit completed application or intake form to Metro staff at tocimplementation@metro.net.
Applications are evaluated on a rolling basis. Program funding is subject to annual budget programming and Grant Writer availability. Processing time from submission to potential award is 8-12 weeks.
Review training on the Grant Writing Assistance application here.
Review training slide deck on Grant Writing Assistance application here.
FAQs
Access the TOC GWA Frequently Asked Questions here.
