Technical Assistance Program
The Strategic Plan 2025-2029 formalized and expanded SMCTA's technical assistance offerings into a comprehensive Technical Assistance Program. With $2 million in Measure A interest earnings set aside to fund the program, SMCTAnow provides a broader suite of support to eligible Sponsors and project managers across all Measures A and W funding programs — both during and between CFP cycles. The program includes:
- CFP Planning & Office Hours — Providing Sponsors with dedicated opportunities throughout the year to discuss potential projects, receive early application feedback, and build competitive submissions ahead of CFP cycles.
- Technical Trainings & Workshops — Offering training to partner agency staff on best practices for applicable Measures A and W program categories, including Complete Streets and other topic areas requested by Sponsors.
- Project Implementation Support — Providing TA staff and consultant support to act as the implementing agency in partnership with local jurisdictions where staffing needs or multijurisdictional coordination require it.
- Grant Support & Application Assistance — Helping Sponsors identify external grant opportunities and prepare competitive applications to leverage Measures A and W funds.
- Community-Based Organization (CBO) Bench — Formalizing a bench of CBOs to support jurisdictions on projects, better reflect the needs of underserved communities, and strengthen grant applications by broadening community engagement.
- Best Practice Design Reviews — Requiring and facilitating third-party design reviews at 30% design for projects seeking Ped/Bike and Highway Program construction funding, with potential extension to other program categories.
- Consultant Bench Access — Facilitating access to third-party consultant support for Sponsors with TA funding, for use across project implementation, trainings, grant assistance, and design reviews.
Below is a list of projects to which the TA is providing technical assistance:
Project | Description |
|---|---|
Menlo Park is actively designing and implementing new landscaping around the Willow/101 interchange with more densely planted trees, consistent with community feedback. The interchange project addresses operational deficiencies both on US 101 and Willow Road that were caused by the short weave between on- and off-ramps and result in travel time and reliability benefits. The project will also increase safety and address operational issues for people bicycling and walking. | |
Burlingame is designing and implementing new landscaping around the 101/Broadway interchange. The US 101/Broadway Interchange Reconstruction Project replaced the previous interchange with a seven-lane structure, reconfigured ramp connections, installed, and removed the five-legged intersection at Broadway and Rollins Road. The purpose of the Project is to improve traffic movements and access around the interchange, accommodate future increases in traffic, improve operations for vehicles entering and exiting southbound US 101, and increase access for people biking and walking across US 101. | |
San Mateo County will create multiple new opportunities for people walking and biking to cross SR 1 where only one marked crossing currently exists in a six-mile stretch of the unincorporated midcoast area. | |
San Mateo County aims to improve access and connectivity for people walking and biking to transit, housing, commercial centers, and other destinations as well as to relieve traffic congestion and improve traffic operations on the Alpine Road corridor. | |
The Town of Atherton is studying how to enhance safety and quality of life by providing a balanced variety of options for travel along a 1.5-mile segment of El Camino Real (State Route 82) from Selby Lane to Valparaiso Avenue. | |
The SMCTA and C/CAG are co-sponsoring a Strategic Plan coupled with a five-year action plan to prepare for the advent of AV in San Mateo County. | |
Menlo Park is looking to install Class IV separated bikeways and bicycle detection, upgrade curb ramps, construct median refuge islands, stripe new high-visibility crosswalks, install new countdown pedestrian signals, and modify signals at signaized intersections. The project will also include bus boarding islands and transit amenities. |
Community-Based Organization (CBO) Bench Pilot Program
SMCTA launched a new CBO Bench Pilot Program as part of the expanded Technical Assistance Program to help address gaps in how transportation projects engage historically underrepresented communities across San Mateo County. SMCTA has partnered with 7 CBOs representing the North, Mid, South, and Coastside regions, with outreach capacity in Spanish, Chinese, Tagalog, Samoan/Tongan, and other languages. Selected CBOs are part of this year-long bench program and receive compensation for quarterly meetings, access to paid project-based outreach opportunities, and dedicated capacity-building support. The program is designed to reduce administrative barriers to participation and center the voices of communities that have historically been left out of transportation decisions.
To request CBO Bench Technical Assistance for your project, please fill out the form here.