Transportation and Community Development Initiative (TCDI)
The Transportation and Community Development Initiative (TCDI) is a grant program of the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) that supports local development and redevelopment efforts in qualifying municipalities of the Delaware Valley. Begun in 2002 to reverse the trends of disinvestment and decline in many of the region's core cities and developed communities, TCDI provides a mechanism for municipalities to undertake locally-directed actions to improve their communities, which in turn implements their local and county comprehensive plans and supports the goals and vision of the long-range land use and transportation plan, Connections 2035. It seeks to support and leverage state and county programs by providing funding in selected areas to undertake planning, analysis, or design initiatives for projects or programs which enhance development or redevelopment and enhance or improve the efficiency of the regional transportation system. Funding for TCDI program comes from a combination of state Transportation dollars and federal STP funds. Through fiscal years 2002-2010, DVRPC has distributed $10.62 million to over 100 communities throughout the region for TCDI planning grants. These projects are located in the downtowns, commercial centers, neighborhoods, transit corridors within the region's older suburbs and Core Cities of Camden, Chester, Trenton, and Philadelphia.
TCDI Goals
The TCDI program targets transportation investments in a sustainable way. Federal transportation funds are used to provide planning grants to local governments and select non-profit organizations to create plans that link transportation improvements with land use strategies, enhance established communities, and build upon existing public and private assets. The adoption of TCDI set into motion the ideology of coordinating regional transportation planning with local land use planning and decision-making.
TCDI strives to create more vital and livable neighborhoods in the region's core cities and disadvantaged communities by:
- Supporting local planning projects that will lead to more residential, employment, or retail opportunities;
- Improving the overall character and quality of life within these communities to retain and attract businesses and residents;
- Enhancing and utilizing the existing transportation network infrastructure capacity in these areas to reduce the demands on the region's transportation network; and
- Reducing congestion and improving the efficiency of the region's transportation network
FY 2012 TCDI Funding Amounts
Up to $2,200,000 is available for TCDI grants in the region: $1,200,000 in Pennsylvania and $1,000,000 in New Jersey. All projects must have a 20% match. At least 5% of the required match must be provided in cash. Projects will be selected on a competitive basis.
FY 2012 Pennsylvania TCDI Awards [0.1 MB pdf]
Eligible Communities
Areas eligible for TCDI projects are identified on the attached map [0.1 MB pdf]. These areas may reflect an entire municipality, but in several municipalities, only selected census tracts may be eligible. There are 233 municipalities or portions of municipalities eligible to participate in the FY 2012 TCDI program.
FY 2012 TCDI Program Guide and Grant Application Forms
Eligible municipalities may download the FY 2012 TCDI Program Guide and Application Forms here. All applications must be delivered to DVRPC no later than 5 p.m. on Thursday, September 1, 2011. Faxes will not be accepted. Applications received after the due date and time will not be considered. Only applications received from municipalities who attended the pre-application meeting will be considered.
DVRPC is conducting a second call for TCDI projects for eligible New Jersey census tracts/communities. For a municipality to be considered, all application requirements must be filled out in their entirety and be returned to the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) by 5 pm on December 28th, 2011. The New Jersey TCDI Review Committee will determine if all criteria have been met. An eligible municipality may only receive TCDI funds if all criteria have been achieved.
Addendum to 2012 TCDI [0.1 MB pdf]
2012 TCDI Program Guide and Application Forms [0.1 MB pdf]
Application and Budget Form Only [0.1 MB doc]
Program Evaluation
DVRPC has completed two Program Evaluations of the TCDI Program. These reports provide an overview of the TCDI program and evaluate the administration, project selection, and funding investment throughout the region.