Metro - File #: 2023-0450

• File #: 2023-0450
• Type: Program
• Status: Passed
• File created: 6/27/2023
• In control: Planning and Programming Committee
• On agenda: 1/17/2024
• Final action: 1/25/2024
• Title: CONSIDER: A. AWARDING $5 million to the Open and Slow Streets Grants Program Cycle Five to fund 16 events scheduled through December 2025 (Attachment A); and B. REPROGRAMMING Cycle Four funds not expended by December 31, 2023, up to the amount of $500,000, towards Cycle Five (Attachment A), increasing the total available funding amount for Cycle Five to $5.5 million.
• Sponsors: Program Management (Department), Maria Luk
• Indexes: Ara Najarian, Budgeting, Calabasas, Commerce, Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), Council Of Governments, Downey, Equity Focus Communities, Fernando Dutra, Gateway Cities (Southeast LA County) Service Sector, Gateway Cities subregion, Grant Aid, Guidelines, Hilda Solis, Huntington Park, Janice Hahn, Lancaster, Long Beach, Metro’s Open Streets Grant Program, Motion / Motion Response, Open Street Grant Program (Project), Open Streets, Program, Program Management, Promotion, Proposition C, San Gabriel, Santa Clarita, Santa Monica, South Pasadena, Southern California Association Of Governments, Strategic planning, Sustainable transportation, Transportation Demand Management, Transportation modes, Transportation system management, Travel demand management, Vernon
• Related files: 2024-0125

Date	Action By	Action	Result
1/25/2024	Board of Directors - Regular Board Meeting

Meeting_Body
PLANNING AND PROGRAMMING COMMITTEE MEETING
JANUARY 17, 2024

Subject
SUBJECT: OPEN AND SLOW STREETS GRANT PROGRAM CYCLE FIVE

Action
ACTION: APPROVE RECOMMENDATIONS

Heading
RECOMMENDATION

Title
CONSIDER:

A. AWARDING $5 million to the Open and Slow Streets Grants Program Cycle Five to fund 16 events scheduled through December 2025 (Attachment A); and

B. REPROGRAMMING Cycle Four funds not expended by December 31, 2023, up to the amount of $500,000, towards Cycle Five (Attachment A), increasing the total available funding amount for Cycle Five to $5.5 million.

Issue
ISSUE

The Open and Slow Streets Grant Program funds events that are designed to close streets to vehicular traffic, allowing Los Angeles County residents and visitors to experience alternative modes of transportation. The primary goal of Open Streets events is to promote walking, cycling, and the use of public transportation. By doing so, the program aims to encourage the development of multimodal policies and infrastructure at the city and community levels.

Cycle Four of the Open and Slow Streets Grant Program ended on December 31, 2023. Board approval is needed to fund Cycle Five and reprogram the unused funds from Cycle Four.

Background
BACKGROUND

In September 2013, the Metro Board approved the Open Streets Competitive Grant Program framework in response to Motion 72 by Directors Villaraigosa, Molina, Najarian, and Wilson (Attachment B). This framework includes the following:

* A grant program based on a two-year cycle.
* An annual allocation of funds of up to $2 million.
* A competitive grant process and program.
* A technical process for collecting data and evaluating funded events.
* Funding for support of planning, coordination, promotion, and other related organizational costs.

Summary of Open Streets Events to Date - Cycles One, Two, Three, and Mini Cycle

Staff developed a comprehensive framework and competitive grant process to solicit and evaluate Open...