The City of Solana Beach is applying for a grant through the State of California’s Active Transportation Program (ATP) application process. This is the first year that Federal and State money have been pooled together and there is $360M to be awarded (3 years of funding on the table right now).  The statewide competition will award $180M of the total and applications are due to Caltrans before May 21.

The purpose of ATP is to encourage increased use of active modes of transportation here in California by achieving the following goals:

• Increase the proportion of trips accomplished by biking and walking
• Increase safety and mobility for non-motorized users
• Advance the active transportation efforts of regional agencies to achieve greenhouse gas reduction goals
• Enhance public health
• Ensure that disadvantaged communities fully share in the benefits of the program
• Provide a broad spectrum of projects to benefit many types of active transportation users

For more information, please go to http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/LocalPrograms/atp/

We are pleased that the City of Solana Beach’s ATP application includes as its main component an infrastructure project for Stevens Avenue.  This project will greatly improve this widely used transportation corridor enhancing the area for the many school children walking and biking to and from school, La Colonia Park, and the Boys and Girls Club.  It will also benefit other members of the community traveling to and from work, shopping, and other areas of our City.  BikeWalkSolana would also like the City to include improvements to Lomas Santa Fe Drive, with school routes specifically in mind.

A second component of the City of Solana Beach’s ATP grant supports educational and encouragement projects.  Specifically, BikeWalkSolana has asked the City to include a Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program to complement the planned infrastructure improvements in the City’s grant application.  The mission of SRTS “is to advance safe walking and bicycling to and from schools, and in daily life, to improve the health and well-being of America’s children and to foster the creation of livable, sustainable communities.” (http://saferoutespartnership.org/about)

Letters of Support Request

BikeWalkSolana is reaching out to members of the Solana Beach community to request important letters of support backing the City of Solana Beach’s grant application for the State of California’s Active Transportation Program (ATP) funding. Your letter of support will enhance the ATP application and improve the probability of an award to the City. This funding will provide a huge benefit to our wonderful community.  Make your voice heard!

Click here for a sample letter which you may use and modify as you see fit.  We encourage you to include remarks from your unique perspective.  Please sign and provide your letter to the City of Solana Beach, attention Dan Goldberg at [email protected].  We ask you to please copy BikeWalkSolana member Kristine Schindler at [email protected] as we are supporting the City’s grant application efforts by coordinating this letter writing campaign.

Please contact [email protected] if you have any questions and/or need assistance with your letter.  Letters must be received by the City of Solana Beach before May 14 to be included as part of the grant application.  We ask that you target having the letter sent to the City by the end of April, if possible.  As well, please provide the letter on your organization’s letterhead, sign, and scan the letter to submit via email to Dan Goldberg.