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TOC Technical Assistance Program
Metro’s Transit Oriented Communities Technical Assistance Program (TOC TAP) is a competitive funding program that supports transit oriented community feasibility studies and plans for jurisdictions of LA County.
Round 3 of the TOC Technical Assistance Program will be accepting applications from September 25 – December 1, 2023.
Interested in discussing a potential project? Connect with our team over a virtual call.
Program Background
In 2018, the Metro Board approved the Transit Oriented Communities Policy (TOC Policy) which affirmed Metro’s commitment to incorporate equity, community development and land use considerations in how Metro plans and delivers the public transportation system in LA County.
The TOC Policy included the following goals:
1. Increase transportation ridership and choice
2. Stabilize and enhance communities surrounding transit
3. Engage organizations, jurisdictions, and the public
4. Distribute transit benefits to all
5. Capture the value created by transit
In 2020, the Metro Board adopted the TOC Implementation Plan which established a series of actions for Metro to implement directly, or through partnership with others, to realize equitable TOCs. The TOC Technical Assistance Program is one such program. Please review the TOC Technical Assistance Program Guidelines to assess eligible activities, applicants, and requirements.
Eligible Transit Oriented Communities Activities
In the near-term, Metro is focusing technical assistance funding around the following core TOC program areas:
| Activity | Distance from Major Transit Stop* | Eligible Applicants |
|---|---|---|
| Affordable Housing (Production, Preservation, and Tenant Protections) | Within half mile | LA County Jurisdictions |
| Community Stabilization (Anti-displacement strategies for residential and commercial areas) | Within half mile | LA County Jurisdictions |
| First/Last Mile (FLM): FLM funding is not available to jurisdictions with pending or yet to be developed First/Last Mile Planning coordination with Metro. This includes most new Rail/BRT stations. | Within half (walk) or three (wheel/roll mode) miles | LA County Jurisdictions |
| Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA), with a TOC Focus | Within half mile | LA County Jurisdictions |
| Measure M Metro Active Transportation (MAT) (For further support of MAT recipients) | N/A | LA County Jurisdictions, Caltrans, State & Federal agencies, transit agencies and JPAs (if sponsored) |
Utility analysis studies are eligible projects if they further the efforts of a TOC Activity listed above and are limited to new, existing or planned rail stations with a complete certification of the Final EIS/R.
*Major Transit Stop Definition
Major Transit Stop, per California Public Resource Code 21064.3, which may be amended from time-to-time, is defined as:
(a) An existing rail or bus rapid transit station (PRC 21060.2)
(b) A ferry terminal served by either a bus or rail transit service.
(c) The intersection of two or more major bus routes with a frequency of service interval of 15 minutes or less during the morning an afternoon peak commute periods.
Per the intent of the TOC Policy, Major Transit Stop shall also include an environmentally-cleared fixed guideway transit station. A planned fixed-guideway station may also be considered if its location is the only alternative under consideration for a transit corridor in the planning stages.
Equity is Our Priority
Metro calls on Program Recipients to incorporate equity as a process and an outcome in funding requests. Additionally, Metro will prioritize resources in Equity Focus Communities and other high-need communities, based on socio-economic factors, as deemed relevant.
How to Apply
TOC Technical Assistance Program Round 3 is open September 25 – December 1, 2023.
- Review the Round 3 Application Guide (available soon) and the Program Guidelines to assess eligible activities, projects and requirements.
- Complete TOC Technical Assistance Program Round 3 here (available September 25). Download the TOC Technical Assistance Program Round 23 Application Worksheet here (available soon) to draft application answers.
- Submit completed application on or before December 1, 2023.
Program funding is subject to annual budget programming. Applicants can apply for up to $200,000.
Previous Rounds
Template Example Scopes
Linked below are example scopes of work for projects that could be funded by the TOC Technical Assistance Grant Program.
These sample scopes of work should be used as templates and guidance for local governments to develop a scope of work that fits the specific Transit Oriented Communities Technical Assistance needs of their community. Please add or remove tasks and deliverables as necessary to adjust the scopes of work to reflect local conditions, in-house capacity and unique issues of concern.
- Sample Project Scope A: Affordable Housing Production Feasibility Study
- Sample Project Scope B: Community Stabilization – Business
- Sample Project Scope C: Community Stabilization – Housing
- Sample Project Scope D: First/Last Mile Plan Development
- Sample Project Scope E: First/Last Mile Strategy Design Refinement
- Sample Project Scope F: Utility Capacity Constraints Analysis
Frequently Asked Questions
Review TOC TAP frequently asked questions for Round 3 here.
Contact Us
For more information on the TOC Technical Assistance Program, contact Metro at tocimplementation@metro.net.
Sign up for TOC Implementation Program updates here.
Want to discuss a potential project? Connect with our team over a virtual call.
