Priority Conservation Area (PCA) Grants

Priority Conservation Area (PCA) Grants is sponsored by Metropolitan Transportation Commission. Supports projects that advance Bay Area conservation priorities, including environmental and outdoor recreation benefits.

Priority Conservation Area (PCA) Grants | Metropolitan Transportation Commission Monday, December 22, 2025 Priority Conservation Area (PCA) Grants Priority Conservation Area (PCA) grants support agencies, tribes and non-profits as they implement local projects that advance Bay Area conservation priorities. Submissions Currently Closed The 2025 PCA Grant Program Letter of Interest submission period is now closed.

All applicants will be notified of their status on February 2, 2026. Selected applicants will be invited to continue the application process by submitting a more detailed proposal for further evaluation. Priority Conservation Areas (PCAs) are spaces that provide important environmental and/or outdoor recreation benefits in the Bay Area.

PCAs are identified and nominated through a locally driven process and are designated by the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG). PCA designations and the PCA grant program support the goals of Plan Bay Area 2050 , the adopted long-range regional plan for housing, the economy, transportation and the environment.

The PCA Grant Program – funded through the One Bay Area Grant (OBAG) program and administered by the San Francisco Estuary Partnership – was initiated by MTC in collaboration with the State Coastal Conservancy.

Since 2013, the PCA Grant Program has provided over $38 million to protect and enhance the region's natural and agricultural lands, improve outdoor access and urban greening, and build regional climate resiliency across Bay Area communities. Explore the PCA Grants StoryMap Learn more about how PCA grant awards support a healthy and resilient Bay Area. See details on projects, maps and more.

Ben Botkin, PCA Grant Manager Email: ben. botkin@sfestuary. org The 2025 PCA Grant Program Letter of Interest submission period is now closed.

See details below. Email Ben Botkin to be added to the mailing list. The 2025 PCA Grant Program Letter of Interest submission period is now closed.

2025-2026 Call for Proposals for Priority Conservation Area Grant Program materials: Grant guidelines and call for proposals Table of 2025 Adopted PCA Nominations and Amendments PCA Grant Program Frequently Asked Questions Staff held a webinar on Tuesday, November 4, 2025 with details for prospective applicants: Available Funds: MTC will provide $8 million in local and federal funds. Grants may range from $200,000 to $1 million.

Geographic Scope: Projects must be located in designated PCAs. Multi-county projects are allowed and encouraged. A map of designated PCAs is available here.

Eligible Applicants: Local governments (cities, towns and counties), county transportation agencies, state agencies, Tribes, water/utility districts, resource conservation districts, park and/or open space districts, land trusts and other nonprofit and community-based organizations are invited to apply. Applicants are strongly encouraged to collaborate and partner on project applications.

Planning and design, implementation and acquisition projects may consist of one or more of the following activities within a designated PCA. Protection, Restoration or Enhancement of Natural Resources, Open Space or Agricultural Lands: Acquisitions of or easements over natural landscapes, habitats and ecosystems, agricultural lands, parks and open space and natural resources.

Restoration or enhancements for parks and open space, climate resilience, environmental facilities or natural resources such as listed species, identified priority habitat, wildlife corridors, watersheds or agricultural soils of importance. Projects that support agricultural land protection by enhancing the agricultural economy, including farm-to-market infrastructure. Land acquisition projects must involve willing sellers.

Pedestrian and Bicycle Facilities: Pedestrian and bicycle trails, on-road bicycle facilities, sidewalks, bicycle infrastructure, pedestrian and bicycle signals, pedestrian and bicycle bridges, traffic calming, lighting and other safety-related infrastructure, staging areas, improvements to trails to improve accessibility for people with disabilities, and conversion and use of abandoned rail corridors for pedestrians and bicyclists.

Urban Greening: Protection or enhancement of potential or existing green spaces in urban areas to improve community health, provide recreation and educational opportunities, increase habitat connectivity and address stormwater.

Planning Activities: Planning associated with the PCA program goals including, but not limited to, natural resource protection, restoration or enhancement, wildlife connectivity, public access to open space and parklands, support for the region’s agricultural economy and advancing nature-based solutions to enhance climate resilience.

Considerations for Competitive Proposals Program Goals: Projects should meet one or more of the PCA Program objectives identified in the PCA Framework Refresh. Regional Significance: Projects should serve a greater than-local need. Indicators of regional significance include a project’s consistency with state, regional and jurisdiction-wide plans.

Projects that propose innovative strategies to address and overcome common challenges — and share lessons learned to help others — can also be an indicator of regional significance. Partnerships: Identify how project partners, including community-based organizations and Tribes, will be engaged or involved in project implementation and/or benefit beyond the grant period.

Likelihood of Success: Demonstrate the programmatic capability to deliver the project. Matching funds are not required but applicants should identify how the project will leverage other resources, including existing initiatives and/or other local/state/federal funding. Grant funded tasks should be completed by 2030.

The 2025 PCA Grant Program Letter of Interest submission period is now closed. The PCA Grant Program follows a two-step application and evaluation process that will be overseen by an evaluation committee consisting of staff from SFEP, MTC, and the State Coastal Conservancy.

Step 1: Interested applicants submit a Letter of Interest form providing a concise overview of the project scope, schedule, and budget and how the project aligns with PCA Program Objectives. Step 2: Selected applicants will be invited to submit a full proposal for further evaluation, which will include a more detailed project description, scope of work, budget, schedule, maps and images.

Key Dates for the 2025 PCA Grant Cycle Call for Proposals Released Informational webinar at 12 p. m. The One Bay Area Grant guides MTC’s distribution of federal transportation funding to projects and programs throughout the Bay Area, including PCAs.

Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) MTC works with ABAG to build healthier, stronger communities. ABAG adopts PCAs that are nominated by local agencies.

PCA Grant Program Funded Projects The PCA grant program was initiated by MTC in collaboration with the State Coastal Conservancy (SCC) in 2013 to provide funding to cities, counties, park districts, utility districts and other agencies and non-profits to acquire, enhance or improve designated PCAs.

PCA Grant Program Funded Projects See the projects that have been funded in the OBAG 1, OBAG 2 and OBAG 3 grant cycles: OBAG 1 PCA Grant Program of Projects OBAG 2 PCA Grant Program of Projects OBAG 3 PCA Grant Program of Projects