Problem
Solution
One of the most competitive grants in federal transportation funding
The U.S. Department of Transportation's Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant program is among the most sought-after and difficult-to-win federal funding mechanisms available to local agencies. Each cycle draws thousands of applications nationwide, all competing for a fraction of available dollars. The bar for eligibility is high, the application itself is technically demanding, and selection rates are historically low.
Winning at this level requires more than a good project. It requires a precisely structured narrative, airtight cost justification, a demonstrated equity and sustainability framework, and deep familiarity with how federal reviewers evaluate submissions. B&A delivered all of it, and the result speaks for itself.
The challenge: a missing link in multimodal mobility
Despite being home to major employment hubs and high-traffic entertainment and cultural destinations, Anaheim faced a persistent gap: no safe, connected, non-motorized routes linking those destinations to the regional rail and bus transit center.
The consequences extended beyond convenience. Without active transportation infrastructure, mode shift away from single-occupancy vehicles remains limited, transit ridership is suppressed, and the environmental and equity benefits of a connected network go unrealized. The City of Anaheim recognized the urgency of closing this gap and turned to B&A to make the federal case for doing so.
Five connections. One cohesive network.
The funded project will produce 100% shovel-ready design and construction documents for five distinct but interconnected active transportation improvements, each chosen for its high impact and high visibility within the regional network:
Non-motorized multi-modal bridge #1
A dedicated crossing designed to safely separate cyclists and pedestrians from vehicle traffic at a key chokepoint in the network.
Non-motorized multi-modal bridge #2
A second crossing addressing a parallel gap, completing a continuous off-street corridor between major destinations and the transit center.
Elevated "highline" trail
An iconic elevated trail segment that reimagines underutilized infrastructure as a high-visibility active transportation amenity connecting urban districts.
Major regional trail extension
An extension of an existing regional trail corridor that closes a long-standing gap and brings the network meaningfully closer to full connectivity.
Engineered riverbank realignment
A reconfiguration of an existing engineered riverbank to physically separate high-speed bicycle traffic from pedestrian users, improving safety, increasing comfort, and enabling higher volumes of both.
Together, these five elements don't function as isolated improvements, they form a coherent, interconnected network. Each connection reinforces the others, and the cumulative effect is a fundamentally transformed active transportation environment for Anaheim.
From planning grant to shovel-ready reality
A RAISE Planning Grant is a specific and powerful instrument. It doesn't fund construction directly, but it funds the development of construction-ready documents: the engineering drawings, environmental clearances, cost estimates, and specifications that transform a concept into a project that can break ground. Done well, this phase collapses the timeline from vision to construction and positions Anaheim for a future capital award with far less friction.
B&A's role was to make that case compellingly to federal reviewers, demonstrating not just what Anaheim wanted to build, but why these five connections, why now, and why this investment would generate outsized returns in equity, sustainability, and regional mobility. The $5,066,500 award confirms that case was made.
What this means for Anaheim and the region
With this planning grant secured, Anaheim is now positioned to move at speed. The funded design work will produce documents ready for construction bidding, meaning the next federal or state capital application can point to a project that is genuinely ready to build, not merely proposed. That distinction matters enormously in competitive funding environments.
For residents of Anaheim, the longer-term vision is tangible: a connected, safe, and inviting active transportation network that makes it possible to travel between major destinations and the transit center without a car. For B&A, this award represents another demonstration of what expert grant strategy, technical writing, and deep knowledge of federal programs can unlock for the communities we serve.