History of SR2T

Background

The $22.5 million Safe Routes to Transit (SR2T) Program received Bay Area voter approval in March 2004 through Regional Measure 2, the $1 bridge toll increase for transit. Of the SR2T funds, $2.5 million are allocated directly to City CarShare projects (with $750,000 already encumbered) and the remaining $20 million will be allocated on a competitive grant basis.

To be eligible, projects must have a "bridge nexus," that is, reduce congestion on one or more state toll bridges by facilitating walking or bicycling to regional transit services or City CarShare pods. "Regional transit service" is essentially transit that serves trips between counties. To satisfy the nexus, the transit service associated with a proposed project must connect with, cross, or provide the same geographic connection as a state-owned Bay Area bridge, or provide direct access to regional transit.

Regional Measure 2 named the East Bay Bicycle Coalition (EBBC) and TransForm as joint project sponsors, with the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) serving as the lead public agency co-sponsor for fund allocation purposes.