HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 8076
City of Palo Alto (ID # 8076)
City Council Staff Report
Report Type: Informational Report Meeting Date: 5/15/2017
City of Palo Alto Page 1
Summary Title: Info Report on SB1
Title: Informational Report on State of California Road Repair and
Accountability Act of 2017 and its Relation to Palo Alto's Street Maintenance
Program
From: City Manager
Lead Department: Public Works
Recommendation
This is an information item and no action by Council is required.
Background/Discussion
On April 6, SB 1, formally known as the Road Repair and Accountability Act
(RMRA) of 2017, received the required two-thirds majority from the California
Legislature and was signed into law by Governor Brown on April 28, 2017. SB1
establishes the Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Program (RMRP) to address
deferred maintenance on the state highway and local street and road systems.
The bill provides that funds shall be used for projects that include, but are not
limited to, the following:
Road maintenance and rehabilitation
Safety projects
Railroad grade separations
Complete street component, including active transportation purposes,
pedestrian and bicycle safety projects, transit facilities, and drainage and
stormwater capture projects in conjunction with any other allowable
project
Traffic control devices
City of Palo Alto Page 2
The RMRP is anticipated to receive approximately $5.2 billion annually once all
new revenue streams take effect. The four sources of new revenue are:
A 12-cent per gallon gasoline excise tax, effective November 1, 2017
A 20-cent per gallon diesel excise tax increase, effective November 1, 2017
Vehicle registration surcharge, effective January 1, 2018
A new $100 per year zero-emission vehicle registration surcharge, effective
January 1, 2020
SB 1 specifies the annual allocation of funds for a number of transportation
programs listed in the bill. The remaining RMRA revenues, estimated to reach
$2.9 billion annually, will be split 50/50 between state highway and local streets
maintenance and rehabilitation. SB 1 continuously appropriates the RMRA
revenues to cities and counties using the same formula that applies to the existing
base 18-cent per gallon gasoline excise tax. The bill includes a “maintenance of
effort” requirement for local funds contributed to street and road repairs to help
ensure that the new funding augments existing budgets for road repairs.
Specifically it requires each city to spend no less than the annual average from its
general fund during FY 2010 through FY 2012. If a city has a pavement condition
index (PCI) score of 80 or higher, it may spend the funds on other transportation
priorities.
Palo Alto currently receives $1.3 Million in gas tax revenues annually. With the
passage of SB 1, the amount is expected to increase by $1.2 Million for a total of
$2.5 Million annually starting in FY 2019. A smaller increase in gas tax revenues is
expected for FY2018, due to the phasing in of new taxes.
The City has prioritized street maintenance and increased funding since 2011
from $1.7 Million to $6.0 Million. Since then, the average PCI score has increased
from 72 to 83 and we are on schedule to meet the city-wide goal of 85 by 2019.
The proposed five-year budget has a reduced funding amount of $3.2 Million
starting in FY 2021. The additional $1.2 Million in gas tax revenues will help to
ensure the PCI goal of 85 is maintained. Additionally, per the matching local
requirement of SB 1, the City is required to provide $3.1 Million in street
maintenance funding annually (inclusive of the current $1.3 Million Gas Tax Fund
contribution).
City of Palo Alto Page 3
Resource Impact
Once funding agreements are established for SB 1, staff will return to Council in
FY 2018 to recognize the revenue and appropriate the funding for Capital
Improvement Project PE-86070 Street Maintenance. Funding from SB 1 for PE-
86070 in future fiscal years will be recognized and appropriated as part of the
annual Capital Improvement Program budget process.