The Treasure Island Development Authority board heard on Jan. 8 that the Treasure Island Mobility Management Agency (TIMA), with 1 Treasure Island as lead partner, has been awarded a $20,000,000 grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to fund six transportation projects called “Treasure Island Connects.”

The award comes from the EPA’s Community Change Program, funded through the Inflation Reduction Act, and will support a three‑year program of projects intended to reduce pollution, expand electric mobility options and build local transportation capacity. Alex Pan, a transportation planner with the San Francisco County Transportation Authority and TIMA, told directors the grant “was obligated in late December and does not have a local match requirement. The grant period of performance is 3 years starting this January, so projects will be completed by December 2027.”

Why it matters: board members said the funding will help connect island residents to jobs and services and is a necessary step toward electrifying ferry service. The projects aim to improve first‑/last‑mile connections from the Treasure Island ferry and broaden options for seniors and residents with limited mobility.

What the grant will fund: presenters and staff described six projects under the Treasure Island Connects umbrella. Those named in the briefing were:
- An on‑demand, all‑electric micro‑transit pilot to serve destinations in San Francisco beyond the Salesforce Transit Center (examples given: UCSF, grocery stores and community services).
- A free on‑demand shuttle serving Treasure Island and Yerba Buena Island.
- Enhanced Muni service on the 25 line and procurement of a battery‑electric bus for that route.
- Construction of electric charging infrastructure at the Treasure Island ferry terminal to enable battery‑electric ferry operations.
- Expansion of the Bay Wheels bike share system to Treasure Island.
- A Transportation Resource Center (TRC) operated by 1 Treasure Island to combine community ambassadors, travel training and marketing of affordable transit options.

Nela Gonzalez, executive director of 1 Treasure Island, said the grant will also fund a five‑person community ambassador program and other outreach: "We're very excited to work with the SFCTA to roll out this project."

Panelists described next steps as drafting and signing subaward agreements with partners (1 Treasure Island, SFMTA and WETA), conducting public outreach this winter to set service parameters and procuring operators and service providers with a target launch of services in 12 to 18 months. The EPA grant requires projects to be completed by December 2027.

Board questions and follow‑up: board members asked how the new funding relates to prior federal grants, including an earlier pilot for an autonomous shuttle. Rachel Hyatt, deputy director for planning at the SFCTA, said the autonomous‑shuttle demonstration concluded and the new EPA‑funded micro‑transit will replace that service. When asked whether the ferry charging work is funding for construction or only study and design, staff answered plainly: “No. This is funding for the infrastructure itself.”

Directors pressed staff to ensure micro‑transit and the TRC serve riders arriving by ferry and to consider accessibility for seniors and people with disabilities. Staff said they are coordinating to site the Transportation Resource Center near the ferry and bus stops so arriving passengers see it immediately. Nela Gonzalez added that ambassadors will help greet and direct riders.

Timing and sustainability: presenters said the EPA grant has no local match and is not expected to provide permanent ongoing operating revenue. When board members asked whether the micro‑transit would continue after three years, staff said additional funding would be required and that the program will pursue other funding sources and integration with planned congestion management revenues.

What the board will see next: staff said they will return with details on subaward agreements, outreach results and procurement schedules as the TIMA/1 Treasure Island teams set service parameters and prepare launches.