The Federal Transit Administration recently awarded the city of Mesa a $920,000 grant to conduct comprehensive transit-oriented development planning along a proposed 5-mile streetcar route in west Mesa.

The Mesa streetcar route would connect four major economic activity centers within the city — Riverview Marketplace, Asian District, Fiesta District and downtown Mesa, according to a release.

“We are very excited about this grant and what it can do for the future development of Mesa. Enhancing the mobility of our residents is crucial to attract businesses, revitalize communities and strengthen our economy,” Francisco Heredia, District 3 councilmember and Valley Metro and RPTA Board chair, said in the release. “The pilot program for transit-oriented development planning grant will allow us to develop the strategies to maximize economic opportunities around the streetcar route.”

Mesa will use the grant funding to conduct comprehensive planning efforts, define design guidelines and develop economic strategies. The Federal Transit Administration awarded Mesa the second-largest TOD grant in the country, after Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority, the release states.