State Announces $5 Million in Blueprint Planning Grants

Business Wire, Nov 30, 2006

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), along with the State Resources Agency and Business, Transportation and Housing Agency, today announced the award of $5 million in regional blueprint grants to help local metropolitan planning organizations and councils of governments make better use of planning when considering land use decisions.

The grant program focuses on helping the regional agencies develop plans, strategies and tools to guide them in various aspects of infrastructure development.

Blueprint planning is a key element in implementing the $19.9 billion transportation portion of the Strategic Growth Plan, an initiative that voters approved on Nov. 7 to help improve mobility in California over the next decade.

"In meeting California's anticipated growth, mobility planners need to look at such issues as housing, traffic congestion, reducing fuel consumption, protecting habitat and the environment, improving air quality and protecting and preserving our water supplies and agricultural lands," said Caltrans Director Will Kempton.

This year's recipients are:

* The Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments ($325,000);

* Butte County Association of Governments ($180,000);

* Merced County Association of Governments on behalf of eight metropolitan planning organizations in the San Joaquin Valley ($1.95 million);

* Metropolitan Transportation Commission/Association of Bay Area Governments ($320,000);

* Sacramento Area Council of Governments ($350,000);

* San Diego Association of Governments ($200,000);

* San Luis Obispo Council of Governments ($325,000);

* Shasta County Regional Transportation Planning Agency ($375,000); and

* Southern California Association of Governments ($975,000).

The grants were awarded today at the Blueprint Learning Network workshop in Anaheim. The workshop is being held in conjunction with the annual meeting of the California State Association of Counties (CSAC), and it focuses on water issues, air quality, and the protection of the environment and agricultural lands.

The meeting is part of a series of forums for recipients and prospective recipients to network, learn to overcome planning obstacles, and to share effective strategies for planning.