HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-01-25 City Council (13)City of Palo Alto
City Manager’s Report
TO:HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT: Planning
DATE:
SUBJECT:
January 25, 1999 CMR:129:99
ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY
MANAGER TO FILE AN APPLICATION FOR 1999/00
TRANSPORTATION DEVELOPMENT ACT (TDA) FUNDS FOR
BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the Council adopt the attached Resolution (Attachment A)
authorizing submittal of TDA grant application documents for the 1999/00 fiscal year for
the following projects:
(1)Replacement of Sand HilL/San Mateo Drive
and Willow/Waverley Bicycle Bridges
County. TDA Fund
Guarantee
Amount
$30,000
(2) Arastradero Road Bike Lane -Guarantee/
(Phase 2: Construction)Discretionary
$ 4,324
$76,000
$80,324
(3)Wilkie Way Bridge Renovation
Project (Phase 2: Construction)
Discretionary $30,000
(4) Bicycle Plan and Map Revision Rescind/Reallocate $22,423
BACKGROUND
In December 1998, the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Agency (VTA) advised member
agencies of the Opportunity to apply for State TDA Article 3 funds for bicycle and pedestrian
projects in fiscal year 1999/00 (Attachment B). Applications must be submitted by January 29,
1999 concun’enfly to the VTA and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission. At the Santa
Clara County (County) level, the project proposals will be reviewed by the County Bicycle
Advisory Committee and VTA staff. A countywide priority list of projects will be developed
for review and approval of the VTA Boaxd of Directors, whose recommendations will be
forward to the MTC for approval.
MTC staff’s preliminary 1999/00 TDA funding estimate for the County is $1,369,689. Under
the policy guidelines adopted by the VTA, 70 percent of the available funds ($958,782) will be
assigned to the "Guarantee Fund," and distributed to local jurisdictions on a population-based
apportionment formula. Palo Alto’s guaranteed amount is $34,324 based on the City’s 3.58
percent of the County population. The remaining 30 percent of the funds ($410,907) will be
reserved in the "Discretionary Fund" and allocated on a countywide competitive basis according
to project merit.
DISCUSSION
This year staffis recommending that the City submit TDA applications for additional funds for
four active projects which have already received prior year TDA funds. Three of the projects
are important bicycle/pedestrian infrastructure projects: (1) the San Mateo D1ive/Sand Hill and
Willow/Waverley bicycle bridge replacement projects, which are joint projects with the City
of Menlo Park; (2) the Arastradero Road Bike Lane Improvements project, a safety
improvement benefitting students and commuter cyclists; and (3) the Wilkie Way Bridge
Renovation Project, a long-planned infi’astructure project. In addition, it is proposed that the
City request rescission/reallocation of an existing grant for the Bicycle Plan and Map project
which will begin this spring, to preserve funding beyond the grant expiration date of June 1999.
When the City completes the Bicycle Plan later this year, the plan will include a priority list of
improvements that will guide the City in establishing TDA application priorities in future years.
The following is a brief overview of the recommended projects:
Replacement of Sand Hill/San Mateo Drive and Willow/Waverley Bicycle Bridges
(CIP#19909)
This project involves the replacement of the Sand Hill/San Mateo Drive and Willow/Waverley
bicycle bridges over San Francisquito Creek, between Palo Alto and Menlo Park. The existing
structures, which were built in the mid-1970s, are in need of significant rehabilitation. They
will be replaced with prefabricated steel structures similar to the new Alma Street Bicycle
Bridge. The project will also include new bridge lighting and improved approach paths.
The City of Menlo Park will act as lead agency for the project. Menlo Park has secured
$340,000 in TDA funds to cover construction costs. Last year, Menlo Park indicated that a
local match of approximately $48,000 was need, but the cost subsequently increased by
$128,000, due to a San Mateo County Bike Advisory Committee requirement increasing the
width of the bridges.
Palo Alto’s share of the local match is now $50,000. In 1998/99 Palo Alto secured $20,000 in
TDA funds for this project. Staff recommends applying for the remaining $30,000 from the
Guarantee Fund in 1999/00.
CMR:Page 2 of 5
Arastradero Road Bike Lanes (CIP# 19803)
This project involves the replacement of the existing sidewalk bike paths with on-street bike
lanes on Arastradero Road from just east of Gunn High School to Foothill Expressway, to
improve bicycle commuting to Gunn High School and the Stanford Research Park. This project
will eliminate a major gap in the on-street bicycle lanes on Arastradero Road, which extend
from Deer Creek to just west of E1 Camino Real. The project will require widening of the
roadway for approximately 300 feet in advance of the Arastradero/Miranda intersection, to
accommodate the installation of a westbound bike lane and relocation of the right-turn lane,
landscaped strip and sidewalk.
This project was included in the 1996/98 CIP budget, with funding of the design phase
programmed in 1997/98 and construction projected to occur in 1999/00. The total cost of design
and construction is $455,000. Palo Alto submitted and received two previous TDA grants
totaling $75,000 for this project: $35,000 in 1997/98 for the design phase and $40,000 in
1998/99 for the construction phase, with the expectation that staff would apply for additional
TDA funds for construction in 1999/00.
Staff recommends that the City seek an additional $80,324 for this project, using the balance
of the City’s Guarantee Fund monies ($4,324) and an additional $76,000 in Discretionary Fund.
Staffbelieves this project is a strong candidate for funding with discretionary funds, since it will
complete a missing link in the local bike lane system, provide direct linkage to the longer bike
lane network on the County expressway, and enhance safety for commuter bicyclists.
In addition to these TDA funds, staff will continue to pursue additional grant funding
opporttmities for this project, to reimburse City funds for the balance of the project cost.
Wilkie Way Bridge Renovation Project (CIP#19708)
The purpose of this project is to renovate and upgrade the Wilkie Way Pedestrian Bicycle
Bridge over Adobe Creek, including replacement of the existing wood deck, structural repairs
and ADA improvements. The Public Works Department has retained a consultant who will
submit final plans for the project later this spring.
The total cost of construction is estimated to be $175,000. A TDA grant of $33,602 was
awarded to Palo Alto-in 1997/98, to offset a portion of the construction costs of this project.
Staffrecommends applying for an additional $30,000 in discretiona~2 funds for this project to
supplement City funds. While this is a long-awaited and much needed infrastructure project,
it is more of a local project, which may not be as competitive in the countywide context, and
is, therefore, considered the third priority.
Bicycle Plan and New Bicycle Route Mal~
The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) requires that cities applying for TDA
funds have a detailed bicycle circulation element or plan in their general plan or adopt a
comprehensive bicycle plan in conformance with the requirements of the Streets and Highways
Code.
ClVIR:Page 3 of 5
In 1996/97, a TDA application for funding this project at a level of $40,000 was submitted to
the MTC and County, as the second of three priority projects. However, during the County
review process, the City’s two other projects scored higher and were fully funded, and this
project received only partial funding of $22,423. This grant was awarded for three years and
is due to expire on June 30, 1999. The City subsequently applied for and received an additional
$20,345 in 1998/99 to restore the funding level needed to the level required to prepare a
comprehensive and complete plan and map.
This project was delayed pending the review and adoption of the 1996-2010 Comprehensive
Plan, in order to have the transportation and bicycle goals, policies, and programs in place
before initiating this study. Staffis ready to initiate this project and award a consultant contract
in Spring 1999. However, it is not expected that the current 1996/97 TDA grant funds can be
fully expended by the June 30 deadline. In order to preserve funding for the project, staff
recommends that the City make a formal request to have this grant reauthorized for another
three year period, through the process of rescinding the current grant and having the funds
reallocated to the same project in 1999/00. This action must be taken prior to the funding
expiration date or the monies will revert to unallocated status with the local transportation fund.
Palo Alto Bicycle Advisory Committee Review
As required by the MTC grant application policies, the TDA project proposals were reviewed
by the Palo Alto Bicycle Advisory Committee (PABAC) earlier this month. PABAC voted
unanimous approval of the three new project priorities recommended in this report. PABAC’s
recommendations vary slightly from the recommendations in this report because the decision
to request a recission/reallocation of the bicycle plan funding and the final amount of the grant
proposal for the Arastradero Road Bike Lanes project were determined after the PABAC
meeting. A memorandum from PABAC is included as Attachment D.
RESOURCE IMPACT
Since TDA funds are disbursed on a reimbursement basis, if these grants are applied for and
secured, City funds need to be appropriated for the project expenditures and then reimbursed
by TDA funds. Therefore, funding is being requested for the Capital projects in the 1999/01
Capital Improvement Program budget. Iffund’.mg is not approved from the Discretionary Fund
for the Arastradero Road Bike Lanes or Wilkie Way Bridge projects, staff would propose that
these costs be covered by the Street Improvement Fund.
POLICY IMPLICATIONS
The recommended actions in this report are consistent with a number of Comprehensive Plan
Transportation policies, including Policy T-14: improve pedestrian and bicycle access to and
between local destinations; Policy T-20: improve maintenance of bicycle and pedestrian
infrastructure, and Program T-18: develop and periodically update a comprehensive bicycle
plan.
Page 4 of 5
TIMELINE
The TDA grant applications submitted by all of the jm’isdictions in the County will be reviewed
and prioritized by the VTA staff and County Bicycle Advisory Committee, and referred to the
VTA Board in the Spring. The VTA Board’s recommendations will be forwarded to the
Metropolitan Transportation Commission for approval in June.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This request for funds is not considered a project under the California Environmental Quality
Act (CEOA); therefore, no environmental assessment is needed at this time. However, an
environmental assessment was prepared for the Arastradero Road Bike Lane project pursuant
to the provisions of CEQA, with a Mitigated Negative Declaration finding that the proposed
project would not result in any significant environmental impact. The Wilkie Way Bridge
Renovation project is a minor alteration to an existing facility, and under the provisions of
CEQA Section 15301, is exempt from the environmental review requirements of CEQA. The
City of Menlo Park, as lead agency for the Sand Hill/San Mateo Drive and Willow/Waverley
bike bridge projects, has determined that the projects are categorically exempt under Section
15302 of CEQA, in that the projects are to replace existing structures and the new structures
will have, substantially, the same purpose and capacity as the structures being replaced.
ATTACHMENTS
A.Resolution Authorizing the Filing of Application for TDA Funds
B.Memorandum from Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority
C.Project Location Map
D.Memorandum from Palo Alto Bicycle Advisory Committee
PREPARED BY: Gayle Likens, Senior Planner
DEPARTMENT HEAD:
Director of Planning and
Community Environment
CITY MANAGER APPROVAL:
co:Palo Alto Bicycle Advisory Committee
Rosemarie Bednar, PAUSD
Don Dey, City of Menlo Park
HARRISON
Assistant City Manager
CMR:Page 5 of 5
ATTACHMENT A
RESOLUTION NO.
RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THECITY OF PALO ALTO
AUTHORIZING THE FILING OF A CLAIM WITH THE
METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION FOR
ALLOCATION OF TRANSPORTATION DEVELOPMENT ACT FUNDS
FOR FISCAL YEAR 1999-2000
WHEREAS, the Transportation Development Act ("TDA"), as
amended (Public Utilities Code section 99200 et seq.), provides for
the disbursement of funds from the Local Transportation Fund of the
County of Santa Clara for use by eligible claimants for the purpose
of providing pedestrian and bicycle facilities; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to the provisions of the TDA, as amended,
and pursuant to the applicable rules and regulations thereunder (21
Cal. Code of Regulations section 6600 et seq.), a prospective
claimant wishing to receive an allocation from the Local
T~ansportation Fund shall ~file° its claim with the Metropolitan
~Transportation Commission; and
WHEREAS, the City of Palo Alto is an eligible claimant for
TDA funds pursuant to Public Utilities Code section 99234, as
expressed in the City of Palo Alto’s opinion of counsel, dated
January 20, 1999; and
WHEREAS, TDA funds from the Local Transportation Fund of
Santa Clara County will be required in fiscal year 1999-2000 for
the purpose of improving pedestrian and bicycle facilities in Palo
Alto; and
WHEREAS, this claim is in accordance with the policy in the
Palo Alto Comprehensive Plan to promote bicycle use;
NOW, THEREFORE, the Council of the City of Palo Alto does
hereby RESOLVE as follows:
SF~?~!~I~. The Council hereby approves and authorizes the
City Manager to execute and file an appropriate claim, together
with all necessary supporting documents, with the Metropolitan
Transportation Commission for an allocation of One Hundred Sixty-
Two Thousand Seven Hundred Forty-Seven Dollars ($162,747) in TDA
funds in fiscal year 1999-2000 for the purpose of providing the
following pedestrian and bicycle projects in Palo Alto:
//
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990120 iac: 0032101
Proj ~ct
i.Bicycle Bridge Replace-
ment Project
2.Arastradero Road Bike
Lane Project
3.Wilkie Way Bicycle
~Bridge Renovation
4.Bicycle Plan/Map
Revision
County TDA Fund
Guarantee
Amount
30,000
Guarantee/
Discretionary
Discretionary
$ 80,324
$ 30,000
Rescind/Reallocate ~
$162,747
SECTION 2. The City Clerk is hereby directed to transmit
a copy of this resolution to the Metropolitan Transportation
Commission in conjunction with the filing of the claim, and the
Metropolitan Transportation Commission is requested to concur in
.these findings and grant the allocations of funds as specified
herein.
SECTION 3. This request for funds is not considered a
project under the California Environmental Quality Act, and
therefore, no environmental assessment is needed.
INTRODUCED AND PASSED:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTENTIONS:
ATTEST:APPROVED :
City Clerk Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM:City Manager
Senior Asst. City Attorney Acting Director of
Administrative Services
Director of Planning and
Community Environment
Acting Chief Transportation
Official
990120 lao 0032101
2
ATTACHMENT B
~~IIA H ! A C i A ! A
lley Trunsporlution Authority
TO:
FROM:
TDA Article 3 Bicycle and Pedestrian Program Grant Applicants
Technical Advisory Committee Members
Marcella M. Rensi, Transportation Planner III ~
DATE:December 17, 1998
SUBJECT:Call for Projects, TDA Article 3 FY 1999/00 Program
TDA Article 3 Funds Available
A chart detailing each member agency’s "Guarantee" share of MTC’s initial TDA
Article 3 estimate is attached. This guarantee share is based on 1998 California
Department ofFinance (DOF) population projections. Seventy percent (70%) of
MTC’s initial TDA 3 Fund Estimate is guaranteed to jurisdictions based on 1998
California Department of Finance (DOF) estimates. Any future adjustments to
the county’s overall projected fund estimate may resul~ in changes to the amount
of funds available for discretionary projects. However, based on adopted VTA
policy, the guarantee amounts will remain constant.
Approximately $410,000 is projected to be available to fund discretionary projects.
Project EHgibility and Scoring Criteria
The VTA Board of Directors approved local criteria for establishing project
priorities for the TDA Article 3 Bicycle and Pedestrian Program at its August 7,
1997 meeting. These criteria are attached.
When preparing project applications, please remember:
TDA funding guidelines require that cities and counties establish bicycle
advisory committees (BAC) and adopt comprehensive bicycle plans to be
eligible for funds for bicycle projects. This requirement does not apply to
pedestrian only projects.
There are several jurisdictions that are in various stages of preparing
bicycle plans. MTC may waive the plan requirement if a jurisdiction can
demonstrate progress toward completion of a plan for this year’s cycle. If
you have recently completed a plan or wish to demonstrate progress and
have the requirement waived, please let me know by January 15, 1999 and
mail a copy of your current bike plan to me.
Sponsors should include all rescind/reallocation requests for
projects allocated in FY 1996/1997 and expiring on June 30, 1998,
as well as projects that have significantly changed their
workscopes. It is the responsibility of applicants to monitor project
expiration deadlines and to apply for rescind/reallocation of funds in a
timely manner. Failure to do so will result in the sponsor losing the funds.
Claimants who have received disbursements or obligated Article 3 funds
during FY 1997/98 must submit a certified f’Lscal audit to MTC and the State
Controller by December 31, 1998. Claimants who did not receive or
obligate Article 3 funds during FY 1997/98 are required to submit a letter to
MTC stating that no expenses were incurred. These documents must be
received by MTC prior, to the allocation of FY 1999/00 TDA funds.
Additional information on the TDA Article 3 procedures and criteria can be
found in the MTC Fund Application Manual or in the Attachment A of MTC
Resolution No. 875 (TDA Article 3, Pedestrian/Bicycle Projects: Procedures
and Project Evaluation Criteria).
Copies of MTC’s Procedures and Project Evaluation Criteria and Bicycle Plan
Requirements are attached for your information. Also attached is the most recent
status of city and County compliance prepared by the VTA Congestion
Management Program.
Evaluation Process
CMP staff will review all applications for eligibility, completeness, and
compliance. Discretionary projects will be evaluated and ranked by a Scoring
Taskforce selected by the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC). The resulting
Discretionary project priorities will be reviewed by the Capital Improvement
Subcommittee (CIP), the Bicycle Advisory Committee (BAC), the Citizen’s
Advisory Committee (CAC), the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), the Policy
Advisory Committee (CAC). The VTA Board of Directors will adopt the priorities
in their April 1999 meeting. Adopted project priorities will be forwarded to MTG
on April 1, 1999.
Application Submittals
One copy of each completed project application should be submitted to VTA/CMP
by January 29, 1999. Please send applications to Marcella Rensi, Santa Clara
Valley Transportation Authority, Congestion Management Program, 3331 North
First St., Bldg. B, San Jose, CA 95134
You need to submit the following for each project:
1. MTC’s TDA Article 3 Application (copy attached)
2. Santa Clara Supplemental Information Sheet (copy attached - available in
electronic formaO
3.A map showing the project’s location in your jurisdiction
4.A detail map showing projectvicinity and phases where applicable
5.Legal Counsel Opinion certifying that your jurisdiction is (a) authorized to
provide an assist public transportation and (b) is eligible for TDA funds in
accordance with the provisions of PUC section 99233.3 and 99234
6.Documentation of Environmental Clearance
7.Council Resolution supporting the project
Please complete one application for each project. Please indicate clearly whether
a project is for guarantee funding or for discretionary consideration. Discretionary
projects must be prioritized (l-n). Your priorities will affect the scoring.process!
If you have any questions about the criteria, application, or process, please feel
free to call me at (408) 321-5717.
INITIAL 1999/00 TDA ARTICLE 3 ESTIMATE
FOR SANTA CLARA COUNTY
ESTABLISHES CITY/COUNTY 1999/00 GUARANTEE ALLOCATIONS
ESTIMATES 1999/00 COMPETETIVE DISCRETIONARY FUND
$1,369,689 Initial 1999/00 TDA 3 Estimate
$958,782 Guarantee (70%) Fund
$410,907 Estimated Discretionary (30%) Fund
SANTA CLARA
POP*POP
Percent
1,689,945
Campbell 39,700 2.35%
Cupertino 46,700 2.76%
Gilroy 37,450 2.22%
Los Altos 28,400 1.68%
Los Altos Hills 8,175 0.48%
Los Gatos 30,100 1.78%
Milpitas 62,600 3.7’0%
Monte Sereno 3,420 0.20%
Morgan Hill 30,800 1.82%
Mountain View 74,700 4.42%
Palo Alto 60,500 3.58%
San Jose 894,000 52.90%
Santa Clara 101,900 6.03%
Saratoga 31,100 1.84%
Sunnyvale 131,100 7.76%
Unincorporated 109,300 6.47%
(County of Santa Clara)
Guarantee Amt:
100.00%
$22,524
$26,495
$21,247
$16,113
$4,638
$17,077
$35,516
$1,940
$17,474
$42,381
$34,324
$507,207
$57,8t2
$17,644
$74,379
$62,011
$958,782
TOTALS MAY NOT EQUAL SUM DUE TO INDEPENDENT ROUNDING.
*Source: California Department of Finance, Report 98 E-1
Attachment B
TDA Article 3." Local Criteria
1999/00 TDA Article 3 Project Criteria
Santa Clara County
The following policies were adopted by the VTA Board of Directors on August 7, 1997.
The TDA Article 3 Bicycle and Pedestrian Program shall emphasize projects that enhance safety,
are multi-purpose, provide a missing link, implement the Countywide Bicycle System and/or
City General Plans and/or City Bicycle Plans and mitigate traffic problems.
2.The annual allocation of TDA Article 3 funds shall be as follows:
Seventy percent of the annual allocation shall be guaranteed to Member Agencies based on
population.
Thirty percent of the funds shall be allocated to projects in competitive process based on
program policies.
3.Inter-jurisdictional projects will be encouraged.
A Member Agency is assured no more and no less than its Guarantee amount in a single fiscal
year. Ira Member Agency submits a request for more than that Guarantee amount, the project
will compete for additional Discretionary Funds on the merits of the entire project. If the project
is unsuccessful in obtaining Discretionary Funds, the project ,sponsor may "bank" Guarantee
Funds for future project implementation.
Local Guarantee Fund targets will be published at the time of the official call for projects.
Guarantee Fund targets are projections, there are sometimes gaps between the projected and
actual fund amount available to Member Agencies. Should the "actual" amount be lower than
the "projected amount", the first call on Discretionary Funds will be to cover the funding gap.
Conversely, should the "actual" amount be more than the "projected" amount, the overage shall
go to the Discretionary Fund and be available for competitive projects.
6.Guarantee Funds may be transferred between cooperating Member Agencies.
Member Agencies may bank Guarantee Funds for up to 3 years for large projects that meet
program policies. However, a Member Agency must identify a project and a project budget to
justify the banking of funds after denial of Discretionary funding, but prior to submission of the
prioritized list to the Metropolitan Transportation Commissior~
Large projects that meet program policies and have a phasing plan may be funded in phases or
segments in order to accommodate construction over several funding years. Projects will
compete for Discretionary funding in each phase based on the merits of the entire project.
However, the award of Discretionary Funds in one cycle does not guarantee award of
Discretionary Funds in the next.
Page B- 1
o
10.
Attachment B
TDA Article 3: Local Criteria
A project sponsor may make minor changes in project scope that does not impact the intent or
delivery schedule of the project.
The Rescind/Reallocate process shall be:
(A)A Member Agency may rescind a Guarantee Fund project and reallocate these funds to any
eligible project(s).
(B)Unless reallocated to the same project, unused Discretionary Funds will revert to the
Discretionary Fund for reallocation on a competitive basis in the next cycle.
Page B-2
__ ATTACHMENT D ’
PABAC
Commlttee~
January20, 1999
Mayor Fazzino and members of the Council:
The Palo Alto Bicycle Advisory Committee has endorsed having the City apply for
TDA funds for the following projects, in the following order:
1. Guarantee Funds
2. Discretionary Funds
3. Discretionary Funds
Sincerely,
$30K for San Mateo Drive/Sand Hill and Willow/Waverley
Bridge replacements
$40-50K for the Arastradero Road Bike Lanes
Undetermined Amount for Wilkie Way Bridge Renovation
Ellen Fletcher
PABAC Chair