The following is a list of funding sources and examples of previously approved projects.

Federal Programs

Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (Federal)

The Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) funds are targeted at transportation projects that benefit both congestion and air quality. Projects must undergo an air quality analysis demonstrating emissions reductions. In general, projects that add capacity are not eligible under this program. Projects previously approved for CMAQ funds include the purchase of transit vehicles, High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes, rail stations, and signal interconnects.

Surface Transportation Program (Federal)

The Surface Transportation Program (STP) is intended to fund a wide range of transportation projects from capital improvements to planning activities. Projects previously approved for STP funds include freeway interchanges, roadway widenings, signal installations, road rehabilitations, and planning studies.

Transportation Enhancement Activities (Federal)

Funding for Transportation Enhancement Activities (TEA) projects is a set aside of 10% of the state apportionment of STP funds. TEA projects must be over and above normal enhancements to transportation projects. Typically, a normal transportation project may include mitigation and standard landscaping. TEA projects may not identify funding for mitigation or other routine elements of transportation projects.

TEA projects that have been funded by RCTC include rehabilitation of historic rail depots, bike lanes, bike and pedestrian trails, and landscaping projects that enhance a jurisdiction's attributes including artwork, streetlights, and pedestrian facilities.

The TEA program was incorporated into the STIP (see State Programs below) in 2004. This requires TEA funding recipients to undergo two processes for requesting funds:

1. Allocation request through the California Transportation Commission
2. Obligation of funds through Caltrans District 8, Office of Local Assistance.

Regional Transportation Improvement Program (RTIP)/Federal Transportation Improvement Program (FTIP) (Federal)

RCTC is also responsible for proposing projects that are approved for federal funds in the RTIP/FTIP. The RTIP/FTIP is developed and approved by the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) and is updated approximately every 12 to 24 months. SCAG is responsible for determining transportation conformity on the RTIP/FTIP.

Transportation Conformity for the SCAG region is determined by SCAG and approved by the Federal Highway Administration. In order to obtain Federal approval, the FTIP must meet five conformity tests:

1. Timely Implementation of Transportation Control Measures
2. Financial Constraint
3. Interagency Consultation and Public Involvement
4. Regional Emissions Analysis
5. Consistency with the Regional Transportation Plan

Section 5310 Program (Federal)

The Federal Transit Administration's Section 5310 program provides capital grants for the purpose of assisting private, non-profit corporations and public agencies in providing transportation services to meet the needs of seniors and persons with disabilities for whom public transportations services are otherwise unavailable, insufficient or inappropriate. The program provides funding for approved projects on an 80% federal and 20% local match basis.

Section 5310 funds are awarded through a statewide competition. A Local Review Committee in each county quantitatively evaluates all applications submitted for their area, ranks them, and submits the scores to Caltrans for the statewide competition.

State Programs

Regional Improvement Program also called STIP (State)

The State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) is developed and approved by the California Transportation Commission (CTC) in April every even year. Each county transportation agency in the state is responsible for programming projects on or off the state highway system with Regional Improvement Program (RIP) funds, which represent 75% of the total STIP program. Eligible projects include capital improvement projects (e.g. interchange improvements, freeway and arterial widening, commuter rail stations, etc.) and planning and rideshare activities. Most RIP projects are funded with federal funds. Rideshare and planning activities and capital projects under $750,000 may receive state-only funding. RCTC has set aside RIP discretionary funding for allocation through a competitive process.

SB 821 Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities Program (State)

Each year 2% of the Local Transportation Fund (LTF) revenue is made available for use on bicycle and pedestrian facility projects through the Commission's SB 821 Program. All of the cities and the county are notified of the SB 821 program estimate of available funding and are requested to submit project proposals. Eligible projects include sidewalks, bike paths (Class I), bike lanes (Class II), bike routes (Class III), and access ramps or curb cuts.

A Call for Projects is issued annually in April and funds are allocated each July. An evaluation committee comprised of three members of each of the Commission's Technical Advisory Committee and Citizens Advisory Committee review and rank the projects based on evaluation criteria approved by the Commission. The evaluation committee makes recommendations for projects and funding award amounts to the Commission for their final approval.