The Corpus Christi Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) has issued a call to regional entities to submit applications for projects that could be covered by the next round of federal funding.

On July 10, the Corpus Christi MPO issued a Call-for-Projects for federal Surface Transportation Block Grant Set Aside (STBG-SA) Program projects, according to a news release. The ideal projects for these types of funding are bicycle and pedestrian projects, the release added.

The news release said the total amount of funds available for the project call is at least $6.6 million for federal FY 2027-2030, according to the organization.

Entities eligible to apply for funding are local governments, natural resource or public land agencies including federal agencies, school districts, local education agencies, or schools, regional transportation authorities, transit agencies, tribal governments, and any other local or regional governmental entity. According to the Corpus Christi MPO, examples of eligible bicycle and pedestrian projects are:

• New or reconstructed sidewalks or walkways

• Pedestrian and bicycle signs or signals

• Lighting that primarily benefits cyclists and pedestrians

• Transportation projects that achieve ADA compliance, such as curb ramps

• New or reconstructed off‐road trails that serve a transportation or recreational need, such

as trails that provide connections to schools, parks, or other public places

• Crosswalks, bicycle lanes or shared lane pavement markings

• Widening or paving shoulders

• Bicycle parking facilities, such as bicycle lockers and bicycle racks (including those on buses)

• Shared use paths, side paths, and trails that serve a transportation purpose

• Bicycle and pedestrian bridges and underpasses

• Crossing improvements that shorten crossing distance, provide access, and/or primarily

improve bicycle and pedestrian safety

• Traffic realignments, road diets, or intersection changes that improve bicycle and pedestrian

access or safety

• Rails with trails projects, which are adjacent to active (not abandoned) lines

The local Transportation Policy Committee board members are Nueces County Judge Connie Scott (chair), Corpus Christi Mayor Paulette Guajardo (vice-chair), San Patricio County Judge David Krebs, Portland Mayor John Green, Gregory Mayor Estella Boyes, Port of Corpus Christi commission chairman Gabe Guerra, Corpus Christi Regional Transportation Authority Board Chairman Art Granado, and TxDOT-Corpus Christi District Engineer Mike Walsh.

The preliminary application submittal deadline is Aug. 7, and the deadline for complete project application submittal is Sept. 21.

“Bicycle and pedestrian projects allow communities to make non‐motorized transportation safe, convenient, and appealing. Projects may include on‐road and off‐road trail facilities that serve to meet the transportation and recreation needs of pedestrians, bicyclists, and users of other non‐motorized forms of transportation,” the MPO said in an email blast. “These active transportation projects encourage healthful physical activity, keep the air clean by decreasing use of fossil fuels, and enrich local economies with recreational assets.”

Applicants are required to attend at least one of two scheduled mandatory upcoming workshops, which will be held at 602 N. Staples St. Room 324 in Corpus Christi. The first workshop was scheduled for 10 a.m. on July 23, and the second workshop is set to take place at 10 a.m. Aug. 10. There will be a virtual option for the Aug. 10 workshop.

For more information or with any questions about the call for projects, interested parties can go online to https://www.corpuschristi-mpo.org/05_projects_stbg-sa.html. They can also contact the Corpus Christi MPO (ccmpo@cctxmpo.us), Keren Costanzo at kcostanzo@cctxmpo.us, or Robert MacDonald at rmacdonald@cctxmpo.us.