Title
RESOLUTION NO. 2014-072 OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA APPROVING THE APPLICATION FOR THE ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION GRANT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2014-15, CERTIFYING THAT MATCHING FUNDS WILL BE AVAILABLE THEREFOR, AND AUTHORIZING THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS OR HIS DESIGNEE TO EXECUTE IN THE NAME OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA ALL GRANT DOCUMENTS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, APPLICATIONS, AGREEMENTS, AMENDMENTS AND REQUESTS FOR PAYMENTS NECESSARY TO SECURE GRANT
Body
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Recommended Action
Council adopt the resolution
Body
SUMMARY
On September 26, 2013, the Governor signed legislation creating the Active Transportation program to encourage increased use of active modes of transportation such as bicycling and walking. This agenda statement is intended to inform Council that staff has prepared several grant applications and will submit them before the May 21, 2014 deadline. Should any grant funds be awarded, staff will return to Council for appropriation to an eligible project(s).
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The Development Services Director has reviewed the proposed activity for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and has determined that the activity is not a "Project" as defined under Section 15378 of the State CEQA Guidelines because the governmental administrative activity consists of a submittal of a grant application for transportation related projects that have not been fully defined and as such, this action would not result in a potentially significant physical impact on the environment. Therefore, pursuant to Section 15060(c)(3) of the State CEQA Guidelines the activity is not subject to CEQA. Thus, no environmental review is required. Although environmental review is not required at this time, once the scope of individual projects to be funded have been fully defined and the requested grant funding has been received, environmental review will be required for each project as may be needed and the appropriate environmental determination will be made.
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION
Not Applicable
DISCUSSION
On September 26, 2013, the Governor signed legislation creating the Active Transportation program (Senate Bill 99, Chapter 359 and Assembly Bill 101, Chapter 354) to encourage increased use of active modes of transportation such as bicycling and walking.
As a requirement of the new legislation, the California Transportation Commission (CTC) recently adopted guidelines and project selection criteria for its use in administering the program. The Active Transportation Program (ATP) consolidates existing federal and state transportation programs, including the Transportation Alternatives Program, Bicycle Transportation Account, and State Safe Routes to School (SR2S), into a single program and is funded from various federal and state funds appropriated in the annual Budget Act. The program is being administered by the CTC. Funding will be awarded in two stages, beginning with a statewide competition in March 2014, followed by a regional competition in August 2014. Approximately $360 million statewide has been budgeted for the program over three years, beginning with FY 2014. Fifty percent of the funding ($180 million total, or $60 million per year) will be competitively awarded for projects selected by the CTC on a statewide basis. From this portion of the program, a minimum of $24 million per year is available for SR2S projects, with at least $7.2 million for non-infrastructure grants, including funding for a state technical assistance resource center.
Forty percent of the funding ($144 million total, or $48 million per year) will be allocated for projects selected through a competitive regional process by large urban Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs). The funding distribution to MPOs is based on assumptions included in the approved CTC 2014 ATP Fund Estimate. The estimated funding available for the San Diego region is about $8.7 million in the first year of the program, and $4.3 million for the second year of the program. The remaining 10 percent of funds will be distributed competitively to small urban and rural regions. In addition, a minimum of 25 percent of the funds in both the statewide and MPO competitive programs must benefit disadvantaged communities.
This agenda statement is intended to inform Council that staff would like to apply for the grant funds before the May 21, 2014, deadline. It is also intended to authorize the Director of Public Works or his designee the power to execute in the name of the City of Chula Vista all grant documents, including but limited to, applications, agreements, amendments and requests for payments, necessary to secure grant funds and implement the approved grant project, if awarded.
The following infrastructure grant applications will be submitted:
1. Industrial Blvd bike lanes and sidewalk improvements.
2. Cook Elementary School Pedestrian Safety Improvements.
3. Kellogg Elementary School Pedestrian Safety Improvements.
4. Lauderbach Elementary School Pedestrian Safety Improvements.
For the Infrastructure Grant:
City staff will be submitting grant applications to complete missing street improvements on Industrial Blvd from Ada Street to Main Street ($800,000). Over the years, the city has received several grants that have helped complete the street improvements on Industrial Blvd. This grant will request funds for the existing infrastructure gaps. If this grant is approved, it will complete Industrial Blvd sidewalk, pedestrian ramps and bicycle lane improvements from Moss Street to Main Street.
For the Chula Vista Elementary School pedestrian improvements grant application, the following improvements are being proposed and their estimated costs:
Cook Elementary School ($400,000): raised medians along portion of school frontage on Cuyamaca Avenue, new crosswalks, sidewalk bulb-outs, improved signage and crosswalk markings and a replacement traffic signal at East L Street/Cuyamaca Avenue with pedestrian ramps. Bicycle routes will also be provided on nearby corridors to the school.
Kellogg Elementary School ($250,000): raised medians along portion of school frontage at parking lot driveway, new crosswalks, sidewalk bulb-outs, improved signage, crosswalk markings and pedestrian ramps. Bicycle routes will also be provided on nearby corridors to the school. Additional lighting will be funded out of existing CIP project TF345 "Traffic Calming Program" since it is not an eligible expense.
Lauderbach Elementary School ($600,000): along Palomar Street at several locations new sidewalk, crosswalk markings, improved signage, pavement markings and pedestrian ramps. Bicycle routes will also be provided on nearby corridors to the school.
For the Non-Infrastructure Grant:
F Street Promenade Study from Third Avenue to Bay Blvd ($518,000).
The grant application is to develop a Streetscape Master Plan for an approximately 1.25 mile long segment of F Street from Third Avenue to Bay Boulevard. The project will create a plan for a "Promenade" that will link the City's downtown Village District and Civic Center with the City's Bayfront. The Streetscape Plan would be a "complete street" with a full range of convenient and safe access linkages, by car; transit; bicycle; or on foot to accommodate residents, school children and visitors. The need for a Streetscape Plan along this segment of F Street is identified in both the City's General Plan and further described as an implementation project in the Urban Core Specific Plan.
The F Street Promenade Streetscape Master Plan estimate is $491,000 which will cover staff and consultant costs in preparing the Streetscape Master Plan and preliminary construction drawings. A local match of approximately $27,000 will cover supplies and materials for four community outreach meetings and production of preliminary construction drawings. The F Street Promenade Streetscape Master Plan will provide for street and sidewalk improvements along F Street, between Fourth Avenue and Interstate 5, including the addition of bike lanes, lighting, and a unified planting and Street Tree concept for the parkways.
DECISION-MAKER CONFLICT
Staff has reviewed the property holdings of the City Council and has found no property holdings within 500 feet of the boundaries of the property which is the subject of this action. Staff is not independently aware, and has not been informed by any Council member, of any other fact that may constitute a basis for a decision maker conflict of interest in this matter.
LINK TO STRATEGIC GOALS
The City's Strategic Plan has five major goals: Operational Excellence, Economic Vitality, Healthy Community, Strong and Secure Neighborhoods and a Connected Community. The grant applications support the Strong and Secure Neighborhood strategy in the City's Strategic Plan. It provides funding for planning for new infrastructure and for construction of rehabilitating and/or constructing new public infrastructure, which is a key City function in providing a safe and efficient transportation system for residents, businesses and visitors.
CURRENT YEAR FISCAL IMPACT
There is no impact to the General Fund. If a grant is awarded, staff will return to Council with a recommendation to accept and appropriate the grant funds. No local match is required for the infrastructure grants. For the non-infrastructure grant, the local match will be identified if the grant is awarded.
ONGOING FISCAL IMPACT
None