Title
Staff Report for a Resolution Authorizing the Filing of Two Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) - Regional Active Transportation Program (ATP) Grant Applications Committing to Local Matching Funds and Assurance to Complete the Projects for Two Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Projects near James Monroe Elementary School, and Garfield Elementary School and Lincoln High School
Staffreport
SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommends approval of a resolution authorizing the City Manager to file two applications for funding from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) Active Transportation Program, committing any necessary matching funds and stating assurance that the City will complete the projects; and to accept any awarded grant funds for the projects and to execute any necessary implementing documents.
BACKGROUND
The Active Transportation Program (ATP) was created by Senate Bill 99 and Assembly Bill 101 to encourage increased use of active modes of transportation such as biking and walking and to provide for safe bicycle and pedestrian facilities. The 2014-16 ATP Grant Program has a total of $360 million available to be distributed over three cycles. For Cycle 1 ATP Program Funds, $180 million is available for the competitive statewide program and $30 million is available for the Regional Competitive program.
In March 2014 Caltrans issued a call for ATP statewide competitive projects. The City responded by submitting two applications for ATP funds by the May 2014 deadline. In May 2014, the MTC issued a call for projects for the Regional ATP Grant Program funds. Local agencies submitting applications for the State ATP funds also qualify for the Regional ATP funds as long as the local agency submits a supplemental application satisfying the regional requirements. One of the requirements for the Regional ATP funds is for the City Council to adopt a Resolution of Local Support to MTC authorizing the filing of applications for the ATP funding, committing to the necessary local match and stating assurance that the City will complete the projects.
The City submitted two project applications for ATP State competitive funds in May 2014. The first Safe Routes to School (SRTS) project is for an intersection improvement project to add a traffic signal at the Floresta Boulevard and Monterey Boulevard intersection near the James Monroe Elementary School; estimated cost is $801,000. The City's matching funds are $120,000 (14.98%), and the ATP grant request is $681,000. The second proposed SRTS project would be to build bulb-outs to improve pedestrian safety at the Aurora Drive and State Street intersection near Garfield Elementary School and installing an enhanced, lighted crosswalk near Lincoln High School at 2600 Teagarden Street. The overall cost of the second SRTS project is $341,000. The City's matching funds would be $51,000 (14.96%) while the ATP grant request is $290,000. Staff recommends that the local match be funded using Measure B Bicycle and Pedestrian Funds and Development Fees for Street Improvements, which carries sufficient balance for the required local matches.
Analysis
The MTC is the regional transportation planning agency for the San Francisco Bay Area responsible for planning, funding, and delivering transportation projects and programs within the nine-county Bay Area. In addition, the MTC is also responsible for developing the region's competitive ATP guidelines and implementing MTC's policies, procedures and project selection criteria for the Regional Competitive ATP. MTC's share of the ATP provides about $30 million in funding to the nine Bay Area Counties it serves. MTC's project evaluation criteria match the State ATP criteria, with one additional criterion for the Regional Competitive ATP, which is consistency with the Regional Priorities and Planning Areas, including:
· Consistency with Plan Bay Area's Healthy and Safe goals to reduce particulate matter, collision reduction and encouragement of active transport;
· Consistency with the MTC Safe Routes to School Program;
· Regional Bike Network Build-out
San Leandro's proposed SRTS projects at James Monroe Elementary School, Garfield Elementary School and Lincoln High School satisfy the MTC Safe Routes to School Program criteria to reduce child injuries and fatalities and to encourage students to walk and bicycle to school. Funded by the Alameda County Transportation Commission (Alameda CTC) Safe Routes to School Program (SR2S) program, a Walk Audit for Garfield Elementary School was conducted on October 20, 2010. The audit was led by TransForm and Alta Planning & Design. Participants included the school principal, teachers, parents and City of San Leandro Engineering & Transportation staff. The proposed bulb-outs project for Garfield Elementary School is one of several recommended improvements resulting from the SR2S Walk Audit. Most of the other recommended, low-cost improvements containing signing and striping works have been implemented by the City and the School District, leaving bulb-outs at the Aurora Drive/State Street intersection unfinished. The traffic signal at the Floresta Boulevard and Monterey Boulevard intersection near the James Monroe Elementary School and enhanced, lighted crosswalk near Lincoln High School at 2600 Teagarden Street were projects identified from San Leandro School District staff input.
Current Agency Policies
The City adopted a Complete Streets Policy to promote safe multi-modal transportation in the City.
Committee Review and Actions
Several updates on the project have been presented to the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC), the most recent occurring April 29, 2014.
Applicable General Plan Policies
· Policy 14.03 - Funding: Aggressively pursue state and federal funding for bicycle and pedestrian improvements, while also including funding for bicycle and pedestrian improvements in the City's Capital Improvement Program
· Policy 14.07 - Pedestrian Environment: Strive to achieve a more comfortable environment for pedestrians in all areas of San Leandro, with particular emphasis on the BART station areas, downtown, and major commercial thoroughfares such as East 14th Street
· Policy 18.01 - Law Enforcement: Aggressively enforce traffic safety laws on San Leandro streets, including speed limits, red light violations, and pedestrian and bicycle lane right-of-way violations
· Action 18.02A - Accident Data Collection and Remediation: Collect and evaluate collision data at the top 25 accident locations in San Leandro. Develop measures to reduce the number of collisions at these locations
· Action 18.02B - Pedestrian Safety Improvements: Develop programs to improve pedestrian safety at both controlled and uncontrolled intersections throughout the City. Programs that use innovative technology, such as lighted crosswalks and warning countdowns, should be explored
· Policy 18.03 - Public Education: Increase public education on laws relating to parking, circulation, speed limits, right-of-way, pedestrian crossings, and other aspects of transportation safety in the City
· Action 18.03A - Safe Routes to School Program: Continue the Safe Routes to School program and other bicycle, pedestrian, and non-motorized transportation safety programs for children and seniors
· Policy 18.05 - Funding: Pursue grants for the improvement of pedestrian, bicycle, and motor vehicle safety
· Policy 18.06 - Staff Education: Ensure that City staff is up-to-date and educated on the latest technology and/or methods of improving safety for all modes of transportation
Environmental Review
This proposed action is not a project under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) as it is an administrative activity that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment (CEQA Guidelines Section 15378).
Fiscal Impacts
The costs of the SRTS projects are estimated to be $801,000 for the traffic signal at the Floresta Boulevard and Monterey Boulevard intersection near the James Monroe Elementary School, and $341,000 for build bulb-outs at the Aurora Drive and State Street intersection near Garfield Elementary School and enhanced, lighted crosswalk near Lincoln High School. The City's matching funds for each project is $120,000 and $51,000, respectively.
Budget Authority
The matching funds will be funded by the Measure B Bicycle and Pedestrian Funds and the Development Fees for Street Improvements Fund and will be appropriated upon award of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission Active Transportation Program grant.
PREPARED BY: Reh-Lin N. Chen, Senior Transportation Engineer, Engineering & Transportation Department