Title
Staff Report for a City of San Leandro City Council Resolution to Authorize the City Manager to Enter into a Project Funding Agreement with the Alameda County Transportation Commission for Grant Funding for Class IV Protected Bike Lanes on Hesperian Boulevard and Fairmont Drive; and to Appropriate $1,479,000 in Grant Funds.
Staffreport
SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS
The City was awarded a Grant of $1,479,000 by Alameda County Transportation Commission (ACTC) for the installation of Class IV bike lanes on Hesperian Boulevard and Fairmont Drive.
Staff recommends the following actions:
• Authorize the City Manager to execute the agreement that accepts $1,479,000 in grant funds from ACTC; and
• Appropriate $1,479,000 in grant funds.
BACKGROUND
ACTC administers funding programs consisting of 2000 Measure B, 2010 Vehicle Registration Fee, 2014 Measure BB, and federal grants for transportation improvements throughout Alameda County. In February 2021, the City of San Leandro applied for a grant to assist with the cost of installation of Class IV Protected Bike Lanes on Hesperian Boulevard and Fairmont Drive and was awarded $1,479,000. The award requires matching funds in the amount of $504,000.
The grant will cover a portion of the cost of improvements to upgrade buffered Class II bike lanes that are already planned for Hesperian Boulevard and Fairmont Drive to Class IV bike lanes. The improvements associated with this grant will be constructed as part of existing projects already underway.
Hesperian Boulevard between Fairmont Drive and Springlake Drive has three travel lanes each direction and a landscaped concrete median. The Annual Street Overlay/Rehabilitation 2019-2021 project, which is currently in design, includes a road diet for this segment that will remove a travel lane and install a buffered Class II bike lane. The grant will cover a portion of the cost of upgrading the planned buffered Class II bike lane to a Class IV bike lane by installing intermittent raised, medians which provide separation between bicyclists and vehicular traffic.
Fairmont Drive is currently configured with three travel lanes each direction and a concrete median from Hesperian Boulevard to East 14th Street. The Street Sealing 2020-2021 project, which is currently under construction, includes a road diet for this segment that will remove a travel lane and install a buffered Class II bike lane. The grant will cover a portion of the cost of upgrading the planned buffered Class II bike lane to a Class IV bike lane by installing intermittent raised, hardscaped medians which provide separation between bicyclists and vehicular traffic.
Analysis
Acceptance of the grant will commit the City to installing Class IV bike lanes on Hesperian Blvd between Fairmont Drive and Springlake Drive and on Fairmont Drive from Hesperian Boulevard to East 14th Street. The grant will fund 75% of the cost of the improvements leaving only 25% of the cost for the City to cover. This work will improve safety and accessibility for bicyclists of all levels on an important thoroughfare in San Leandro and help the City meet its Climate Action Plan goals to reduce greenhouse gases.
Rejection of the grant, and not installing Class IV bike lanes, will leave the matching funds available for pavement maintenance or rehabilitation. The City has a backlog of pavement maintenance; using road maintenance funds for installation of medians will cause the backlog to grow. The matching funds in the amount of $504,000 represent the cost to perform a mill and fill on residential streets for a length of about one half of a mile, which is about three typical blocks in San Leandro.
Current Agency Policies
• Maintain and enhance San Leandro’s infrastructure
Previous Actions
• On September 28, 2020, by Resolution No. 2020-124, the City Council approved a reduction of the number of vehicle travel lanes from three to two and installation of Class IV Bicycle lanes on Fairmont Drive between Hesperian Boulevard and E 14th Street.
• On January 4, 2021, by Resolution No. 2021-005, the City Council approved a reduction of the number of vehicle travel lanes from three to two and installation of Class IV Bicycle lanes on Hesperian Blvd between Fairmont Drive and Spring Lake Drive.
Committee Review and Actions
• On December 2, 2020, the road diet proposal for Hesperian Boulevard was presented to the City Council Facilities and Transportation Committee; it received the support of the committee members.
• On November 3, 2021, the road diet for Fairmont Drive was presented to the City Council Facilities and Transportation Committee and was supported by the committee members.
Applicable General Plan Policies
• Goal T-2: Design and operate streets to be safe, attractive, and accessible for all transportation users whether they are pedestrians, bicyclists, transit riders or motorists, regardless of age or ability.
• 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
• Roadway alterations that add bicycle facilities and do not create additional automobile lanes are categorically exempt from CEQA per section 15301(c).
Board/Commission Review and Actions
• On September 3, 2020, the Planning Commission recommended approval of the lane reduction and the installation of Class IV Bike Lane concepts for both Fairmont Dr. and Hesperian Blvd.
Summary of Public Outreach Efforts
A public meeting was held at Bayfair Mall on July 10, 2018. In addition, input was collected at the 2018 Cherry Festival and through an online survey to determine the public’s preferred alternatives.
Legal Analysis
The City Attorney’s Office reviewed the agreement and approved it as to form.
Fiscal Impacts
The estimated total cost of the improvements described in the grant is $1,983,000. Execution of the agreement will provide $1,479,000 in funds for the design and construction of the Project. Matching funds are required for this grant of $504,000.
Budget Authority
Matching funds will be provided from existing project appropriations as follows:
Street Overlay / Rehabilitation 2019-21
Account No. Source FY/Approp. Date Amount
210-38-419 Budget, General Fund FY 20-21 $2,140,000
142-38-419 Gas Tax FY 20-21 $1,000,000
141-39-403 Measure BB Grant FY 20-21 $7,000,000
141-38-419 Measure B FY 20-21 $1,200,000
141-38-402 Measure BB Streets FY18-19 $460,000
Total Existing Appropriation $11,800,000
Street Sealing 2020-21
Account No. Source FY/Approp. Date Amount
143-38-412 Vehicle Registration Fees FY20-21 $400,000
144-38-412 Measure B Streets FY20-21 $1,500,000
210-38-412 General Fund FY20-21 $600,000
143-38-418 Vehicle Registration Fees FY21-22 $400,000
144-38-418 Measure B Streets FY21-22 $1,500,000
210-38-418 General Fund FY21-22 $600,000
150-38-451 BAAQMD Grant FY21-22 $220,000
Total Existing Appropriation: $5,220,000
Appropriations requested by this action:
Source Account No. Amount
Grant Funds 150-38-423-5240 $1,479,000
Total Appropriation Requested: $1,479,000
Attachment to Staff Report
• None
Attachment to Related Legislative Files
• Draft Funding Grant Agreement
PREPARED BY: Nicole Noronha Castelino, Associate Engineer, Engineering and Transportation Department