SUBJECT
Title
ADOPT A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE DIRECTOR, PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, TO EXECUTE AGREEMENTS WITH THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO PROJECT: PLANNING FOR FIRST AND LAST MILE TRANSPORTATION SOLUTIONS IN UNINCORPORATED SAN DIEGO COUNTY VILLAGES AND CEQA EXEMPTION (DISTRICTS: ALL)
Body
OVERVIEW
On September 11, 2024 (6), the County of San Diego (County) Board of Supervisors (Board) adopted the 2024 Climate Action Plan (CAP), which establishes actions the County will take to meet greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction targets for 2030 and 2045 and achieve a goal of net zero emissions by 2045. The CAP directs the County to increase access to first and last mile transportation services and connections (e.g., neighborhood electric vehicles, microtransit, bike/scooter-share) to reduce vehicle miles traveled (VMT) within the unincorporated area. These services help residents connect to public transit where it exists and support short, local trips to community destinations, particularly in areas without transit service.
On July 1, 2025, the County received notification of a successful application for the Fiscal Year 2025-26 Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant Program through the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans). The $300,000 grant will support implementing the CAP through a planning effort titled Planning for First and Last Mile Transportation Solutions in Unincorporated San Diego County Villages. The project will begin in November 2025 and continue for the duration of the grant program, which concludes in June 2028. It will assess mobility needs and travel barriers across the unincorporated Villages and develop locally tailored strategies to plan, scale, and prioritize first and last mile transportation services. The project will serve as a foundation for future implementation by informing capital improvement planning, guiding future County budget funding requests and external grant applications, and supporting coordination with internal and regional partners. In addition to advancing transportation goals, the project supports housing feasibility in unincorporated Villages by improving mobility options, reducing transportation costs, and enabling housing near key destinations, particularly in areas without fixed-route transit. A requirement for the grant award acceptance is a current Local Board Resolution.
This is a request for the Board to adopt a Resolution authorizing the Director of Planning & Development Services (PDS), or a designee, to enter into a grant agreement with Caltrans and to waive Board Policy B-29 because the grant will not cover all administrative costs.
RECOMMENDATION(S)
CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER
1. Find that the proposed project is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of CEQA Guidelines.
2. Adopt the Resolution entitled: A Resolution of the Board of Supervisors of the County of San Diego Authorizing the Director, Planning & Development Services, To Execute Agreements with the California Department of Transportation for the County of San Diego Project: Planning for First and Last Mile Transportation Solutions in Unincorporated San Diego County Villages (Attachment A).
3. Authorize the Director, Planning & Development Services, or their designee, to execute all required grant documents pertaining to the Fiscal Year 2025-26 California Department of Transportation Sustainable Transportation Planning Grants, including any annual extensions, amendments, and/or revisions that do not materially impact or alter the services or funding levels.
4. Waive Board Policy B-29: Fees, Grants, Revenue Contracts - Department Responsibility for Cost Recovery, which requires full cost recovery for grants.
5. Establish appropriations of $300,000 in Planning & Development Services, Services & Supplies to support implementation of Action T-6.3 through a planning effort titled Planning for First and Last Mile Transportation Solutions in Unincorporated San Diego County Villages, based on grant funding from the California Department of Transportation. (4 Votes)
EQUITY IMPACT STATEMENT
This grant-funded planning effort will allow the County to create a First and Last Mile Transportation Services Evaluation and Implementation Plan that seeks to reduce transportation barriers and increase equitable access to essential services for residents in unincorporated areas, many of whom face high transportation costs, limited mobility options, and limited access to reliable transit. The project was developed in response to community feedback gathered during the County’s Climate Action Plan (CAP) process, including input from underserved communities and rural residents, where community members identified the lack of affordable and accessible transportation as a major obstacle to opportunity, particularly for low-income and geographically isolated populations.
The project will use data sources such as Assembly Bill 1550 criteria and the Healthy Places Index to prioritize communities most in need in the evaluation and implementation strategy. Equity-centered engagement will be led in partnership with community-based organizations with environmental justice expertise to design and lead multilingual, culturally responsive public outreach throughout the planning process. The project will follow the County’s Equity Implementation Framework, a CAP resource developed with community-based organizations and County equity-focused offices, providing step-by-step guidance to prioritize climate action, investments, and equitable outcomes and avoid unintended consequences in frontline communities across the unincorporated area.
The plan is expected to advance equity by reducing mobility challenges, improving access to employment, education, healthcare, and other critical services, decreasing vehicle miles traveled, and lowering transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions.
SUSTAINABILITY IMPACT STATEMENT
The proposed actions advance the County’s Sustainability Goals by supporting community-driven planning efforts that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve air quality, and increase access to essential services through equitable, multimodal transportation solutions. The project aligns with the goals to engage the community in meaningful ways and provide just and equitable access by prioritizing outreach to underserved and rural communities, using culturally and linguistically appropriate engagement strategies, and focusing investment in areas with the highest need. It also supports the goal to transition to a green, carbon-free economy by reducing reliance on personal vehicles and encouraging sustainable mobility options, while protecting the health and wellbeing of residents through improved air quality and access to opportunity.
FISCAL IMPACT
Funds for this request are partially included in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025-26 Operational Plan in Planning & Development Services (PDS). Total costs for the First and Last Mile Transportation Services Evaluation and Implementation Plan are estimated at $338,868. The funding sources will be a grant from the California Department of Transportation ($300,000) and matching funds ($38,868) in the form of County staff time supported by existing General Purpose Revenue (GPR) in PDS. A waiver of Board Policy B-29: Fees, Grants, Revenue Contracts - Department Responsibility for Cost Recovery is requested in the amount of $38,868 in FY 2025-26 for program costs not covered by the grant and would be funded by existing GPR in PDS. There will be no change in net General Fund cost and no additional staff years.
BUSINESS IMPACT STATEMENT
N/A
Details
ADVISORY BOARD STATEMENT
N/A
BACKGROUND
On September 11, 2024 (6), the County of San Diego (County) Board of Supervisors (Board) adopted the 2024 Climate Action Plan (CAP), which establishes actions the County will take to meet greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction targets for 2030 and 2045 and achieve a goal of net zero emissions by 2045. The CAP identifies 21 measures that include 70 actions to reduce GHG emissions produced from existing and new development in the unincorporated areas of the county, as well as from County facilities and operations regardless of their location.
On-road transportation is the largest source of GHG emissions in the unincorporated area, accounting for approximately 45% of total emissions in the CAP’s GHG inventory. The CAP includes actions to increase the use of zero-emission vehicles and decrease reliance on single-occupancy vehicle trips to reduce emissions from on-road transportation. As part of these efforts, the CAP directs the County to increase access to first and last mile transportation services and connections (e.g., neighborhood electric vehicles, microtransit, bike/scooter-share) to reduce vehicle miles traveled (VMT) by 7% within the unincorporated area by 2030. First and last mile transportation services help residents connect to public transportation where it exists and support short, local trips to community destinations, particularly in areas without public transportation. The intent of this action is to expand mobility options that respond to community needs, regardless of whether traditional transit is available. During the development of the CAP, this action received a high community priority score, reflecting strong public support, and was identified as having significant co-benefits such as improved air quality, reduced transportation costs, and increased access to opportunity. The action also advances equity-based outcomes by prioritizing mobility improvements in communities that face the greatest barriers to transportation access.
On September 11, 2024 (6), alongside the 2024 CAP, the Board authorized the Chief Administrative Officer, or designee, to pursue and execute grant funding opportunities that support implementation of CAP measures. Planning & Development Services (PDS) submitted an application in January 2025 to the Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant Program for Fiscal Year 2025-26. The program is administered by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) aiming to provide a safe and reliable transportation network that serves all people and respects the environment across the State. State-funded Sustainable Communities grants are awarded annually to support and implement Regional Transportation Plan Sustainable Communities Strategies/Alternatives Planning Strategies and to ultimately help achieve the State’s GHG reduction targets.
On July 1, 2025, PDS received notification of a successful application for the Fiscal Year 2025-26 Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant cycle. The funding will support a planning project titled Planning for First and Last Mile Transportation Solutions in Unincorporated San Diego County Villages. The purpose of the project is to develop a First and Last Mile Transportation Services Evaluation and Implementation Plan that will assess mobility needs and travel barriers across unincorporated Villages. Ultimately, this effort will develop locally tailored strategies to plan, scale, and prioritize first and last mile transportation services for future implementation. The plan will also recommend first and last mile service areas, estimate implementation costs, and identify potential funding and partnership opportunities to address gaps in transportation connectivity and access to essential services for residents. The final plan will serve as a foundation for future implementation by informing capital improvement planning, guiding funding applications, and supporting coordination with internal and external partners.
The project will be conducted from November 2025 through June 2028 in collaboration with the County’s Department of Public Works, regional transportation agencies, and local community-based organizations to ensure integration with existing transportation planning efforts, infrastructure investments, regional climate priorities, and community needs. In addition to supporting implementation of the CAP, the project aligns with multiple County initiatives, including the Sustainable Land Use Framework, Development Feasibility Analysis, Community-Based Transportation Program, and broader efforts to better integrate transportation and housing planning. By identifying mobility improvements that expand access to essential services and reduce reliance on personal vehicles, the project can support both current and future housing development, particularly in unincorporated areas without fixed-route transit, by improving the feasibility of locating housing near services and future mobility hubs and reducing overall transportation costs for residents.
Regionally and statewide, the project aligns with the San Diego Association of Government’s 2021 Regional Plan and Draft Proposed 2025 Regional Plan strategies around mobility hubs and neighborhood electric vehicle service, as well as the California Transportation Plan 2050, which emphasizes expanding shared mobility, reducing VMT, and advancing sustainable, multimodal transportation systems.
A requirement of the grant award acceptance is a current Local Board Resolution that includes the grant project title and job title of the person authorized to enter into a contract with Caltrans. Today’s request is for the Board to adopt a Resolution authorizing the Director of PDS, or a designee, to enter into a grant agreement with Caltrans to accept the grant award. A waiver of Board Policy, B-29: Fees, Grants, Revenue Contracts - Department Responsibility for Cost Recovery is also requested because the grant funding does not cover all administrative costs. Costs in the amount of $300,000 will be covered by the grant, with in-kind matching funds of $38,868 provided over the grant term through existing PDS staff hours paid for by existing General Purpose Revenue.
ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT
The request for delegation of authority to accept and act as an official signatory for grant funding is exempt from review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines, which states that CEQA only applies to projects which have a significant effect on the environment. Since the proposed action involves delegation of authority to accept grant funding without a commitment to adopt or implement any particular project, the action is exempt from CEQA review because it can be seen with certainty that the activity will not have a significant effect on the environment.
LINKAGE TO THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO STRATEGIC PLAN
Today’s proposed actions support the Strategic Initiatives of Sustainability, Equity, Community in the County of San Diego’s 2025-2030 Strategic Plan by planning for transportation services that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve mobility options in underserved communities, and increase equitable access to essential destinations such as jobs, schools, and healthcare. The proposed action also fosters meaningful community engagement and leverages interagency collaboration and grant funding to maximize resources through partnerships that strengthen regional transportation connectivity.
Respectfully submitted,
DAHVIA LYNCH
Deputy Chief Administrative Officer
ATTACHMENT(S)
Attachment A - A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO AUTHORIZING DIRECTOR, PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, TO EXECUTE AGREEMENTS WITH THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO PROJECT: PLANNING FOR FIRST AND LAST MILE TRANSPORTATION SOLUTIONS IN UNINCORPORATED SAN DIEGO COUNTY VILLAGES