The Land Acquisition Grant Program uses TransNet funds to support the SANDAG Environmental Mitigation Program by acquiring land that promotes regional habitat conservation plans. On April 26, 2013, the Board of Directors approved the execution of an amended memorandum of understanding to include a set of 11 policy points that clarified the definition, use, and process for release of funding related to the “economic benefit” provision of the TransNet Extension Ordinance.
Under the amended memorandum of understanding, regional and local transportation projects that have received all required local, state, and federal permits for construction are eligible to release economic benefit funding pursuant to a prorate share formula included in the memorandum of understanding. This milestone in the construction process of transportation infrastructure was identified to correspond with the last environmental clearance milestone that sets the final required mitigation obligations.
On September 27, 2013, the Board approved $20 million of economic benefit derived funds to be released through the land Acquisition Grant Program. A total of seven grants were awarded that preserved a total of 4,075 acres by TransNet EMP and regional conservation partners.
