Title
Staff Report for a City of San Leandro City Council Resolution to Authorize the City Manager to Execute Program Supplement Agreement No. F029 with the State of California to Provide $37,350 in Federal-aid Funds for the Design Phase of the Wicks Boulevard and Manor Boulevard Intersection Signal Upgrade Project and to Appropriate $323,910 from Grant Funds and $35,990 from the Development Fees for Street Improvements Fund Balance for the Total Project Budget of $359,900 in Fiscal Year 2019-20
Staffreport
SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS
The City was awarded a Highway Safety Improvement Program Grant to improve the safety of the Wicks Boulevard and Manor Boulevard Intersection. Program Supplement Agreements are used by Caltrans to assure that Federal-aid funding awards satisfy federal requirements. This agreement will allow the City to receive Federal-aid funding of $37,350 for the design of upgrades to the traffic signal at the subject intersection.
Staff recommends the following action:
• Authorize the City Manager to execute the Program Supplement Agreement that accepts federal funding of $37,350 and obligates the City to provide matching funds of $4,150 in order to complete the design phase of the subject project; and
• Authorize appropriation of Grant funds in the amount of $323,910 and Development Fees for Street Improvements (DFSI) fund balance reserves in the amount of $35,990, for a total of $359,900 for the subject project in Fiscal Year 2019-20 for design, construction and administrative costs.
BACKGROUND
The Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST), which was signed into law on December 4, 2015, established the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) grant as a core Federal-aid program. The overall purpose of this program is to achieve a significant reduction in traffic fatalities and serious injuries on all public roads through the implementation of infrastructure-related highway safety improvements. Caltrans manages this program in California on behalf of the federal government.
The City was awarded $323,910 in the 2018 HSIP Cycle 9 to upgrade the traffic signal and improve the traffic safety at the Wicks Boulevard and Manor Boulevard intersection. This intersection was selected because it ranked high on the City’s High Collision Intersections list, which is regularly monitored and updated by City staff. Nineteen collisions were reported between April 1, 2013 and March 31, 2018, including twelve that involved southbound left turns from Manor Boulevard onto Wicks Boulevard.
Staff evaluated collision patterns during the five-year period and determined that left turn collisions could be decreased by upgrading the traffic signal equipment as well as enhancing traffic signal operations. More specifically, City staff identified the following three countermeasures:
• Provide a protected left turn traffic light phase (left turn lane already exists);
• Improve traffic signal hardware to the current standards; and
• Provide Advanced Dilemma Zone Detection for high speed approaches. A dilemma zone exists when a vehicle approaching a green signal display is traveling too slow to clear the intersection but too fast to stop at the limit line.
Analysis
Caltrans, through the HSIP, approved $323,910 in Federal-aid funding for the design and construction of the Wicks Boulevard at Manor Boulevard Signal Upgrade Project. The City’s required local match is $35,990, bringing the total project budget to $359,900.
Upon execution of Program Supplement Agreement No. F029, staff will proceed with the design phase of the project. This design phase is estimated to cost $41,500. The HSIP grant will fund $37,350, while the City’s required local match for this phase is $4,150. After the completion of the design phase, the City must execute a second Program Supplement Agreement for the construction phase of the work.
Current Agency Policies
• Support and implement programs, activities and strengthen communication that enhances the quality of life and wellness, celebrates the arts and diversity and promotes civic pride.
• Maintain and enhance San Leandro’s infrastructure.
Previous Actions
• On June 19, 2017, by Resolution No. 2017-085, the City Council approved the Administering Agency-State Agreement No. 04-5041F-15.
Applicable General Plan Policies
• Policy T-2.1: Complete Streets Serving All Users and Modes. Create and maintain “complete” streets that provide safe, comfortable, and convenient travel through a comprehensive, integrated transportation network that serves all users.
• Policy T-7.2: Capital Improvements. Identify capital improvements and other measures which improves the safety of bicyclists, pedestrians, and motor vehicles on San Leandro Streets.
• Policy T-7.7: Funding. Pursue grants for the improvement of pedestrian, bicycle, and motor vehicle safety, including a greater focus on traffic law and speed enforcement.
Environmental Review
Caltrans performs environmental review on behalf of local agencies for Federal-aid projects. Caltrans completed the following reviews:
• On December 4, 2019, the Categorical Exemption/Categorical Exclusion Determination Form was signed by Project Manager/District Local Assistance Engineer.
• On November 13, 2019, the Preliminary Environmental Study (PES) form was signed by Cultural Resources Professionally Qualified Staff, the District Local Assistance Engineer, and the Environmental Planner Designee.
• On April 25, 2019, the Air Quality Conformity Task Force reviewed and concurred that the project is exempt from PM2.5 project level conformity requirements.
Fiscal Impacts
The total project cost for this signal upgrade project is $359,900. Federal-aid reimbursable funds amount to $323,910 and the City must provide matching funds from its Development Fees for Street Improvements (DFSI) fund in the amount of $35,990.
Budget Authority
If the City of San Leandro City Council approves appropriations recommended by staff, then Grant funds in the amount of $323,910 will be appropriated to account 150-38-349-5240 to cover reimbursable expenditures for Fiscal Year 2019-20. Also, Development Fees for Street Improvements (DFSI) fund balance reserves shall be used to appropriate $35,990 to account 120-38-349-5240 for Fiscal Year 2019-20 for the City’s local match. Total appropriations for this project are $359,900.
ATTACHMENT
• Program Supplement Agreement No. F029
PREPARED BY: Dean Hsiao, Traffic Operations Engineer, Engineering and Transportation Department