Securing Designation Makes Greenway Eligible for Future Funding
In August 2020, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) and the Association of Bay Area Governments granted approval for the Southeast Greenway to become a designated “Priority Conservation Area”, known as a PCA. These are special locations around the Bay Area deserving of long-term protection within one of the following categories: natural landscapes, agriculture, urban greening, and regional recreation. The Southeast Greenway is the first PCA in Sonoma County located within a city’s limits.
In cooperation with the Coastal Conservancy, MTC has created a funding opportunity using federal transportation dollars to support protection of PCA’s through the One Bay Area Grant Program (OBAG).
Securing a PCA designation will enable the Greenway project to be eligible for future funding through the OBAG program. To date, OBAG has provided Sonoma County with $3.25 million in grants for projects such as replacing a bridge on the Joe Rodota Trail and constructing the Crocker Bridge bike and pedestrian path in Cloverdale.
We want to thank the Santa Rosa City Council for recognizing the Greenway as a regionally significant project, and for recognizing the importance of this PCA designation as we move into the development phase of the Greenway.