HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 3774 City of Palo Alto (ID # 3774)
City Council Informational Report
Report Type: Consent Calendar Meeting Date: 5/20/2013
May 20, 2013 Page 1 of 4
(ID # 3774)
Title: TDA Resolution for Charleston Pathway Grant Funds
Subject: Adoption of a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to File an
Application for 2013/2014 Transportation Development Act Article 3 (TDA3) in
the Amount of $82,712; Charleston Road Corridor Pathway Improvement
Project
From: City Manager
Lead Department: Public Works
Recommendation
Staff recommends that Council adopt the attached Resolution (Attachment A)
authorizing submittal of Transportation Development Act Article 3 (TDA3) grant
application documents for FY 2014 requesting $82,712 for the Charleston Road
Corridor Pathway Improvement Project in the City of Palo Alto.
Background
The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) issued a call for bicycle and
pedestrian projects on March 12, 2013 for the FY 2014 TDA3 funding program.
The deadline to submit project applications to VTA was on April 12, 2013 (with
which staff complied). A Resolution adopted by the City Council supporting the
project submittals is due to VTA on May 31, 2013. VTA staff will review the project
proposals for eligibility, completeness and compliance. The resulting countywide
list of projects will be reviewed by the VTA Advisory Committees before adoption
by the Board of Directors in June. The countywide list will be forwarded to the
Metropolitan Transportation Commission and MTC will issue funding allocations
in the fall.
There are two components to the TDA Article 3 program in Santa Clara County
(Attachment B):
May 20, 2013 Page 2 of 4
(ID # 3774)
1. Bicycle Expenditure Program
Per VTA Board policy, approximately 25% of Santa Clara County’s TDA fund is
dedicated for projects that are on the Valley Transportation Plan 2030
Countywide Bicycle Plan Bicycle Expenditure Program (BEP) list. There is
$614,090 available for BEP3 projects this year. Palo Alto is not requesting
funds under the Bicycle Expenditure Program for this fiscal year.
2. Guarantee Funds
The remaining 75% of this year’s TDA3 funds ($2,576,616) will be assigned to
the Guarantee Fund. The monies in the Guarantee Fund are distributed to
local jurisdictions on a population-based apportionment formula. These
monies are available to local jurisdictions exclusively for eligible projects of
their choosing as per TDA guidelines. There is no competition amongst local
jurisdiction to acquire these funds for eligible projects. Palo Alto’s total
guaranteed amount for this fiscal year is $81,712.
Discussion
Staff proposes to request an allocation of $81,712 in TDA funds this year from the
City’s Guarantee share for the Charleston Road Corridor Pathway Improvement
(Corridor) Project. The Corridor starts at the shared driveway and pathway
entrance adjacent to Charleston Road and ends in Mitchell Park at the existing
Adobe Creek pedestrian/bike bridge. The City has a 10 feet wide access easement
with the County of Santa Clara along the segment from Charleston Road to
Mitchell Park. This easement provides access to many users and serves as a
school commute route for Fairmeadow Elementary School, Hoover Elementary
School, and JLS Middle School.
This Corridor project provides pathway improvements totaling $133,000 includes
paving, base repair, new signage, and a new 15 feet wide realigned asphalt multi-
use bicycle/pedestrian pathway. The proposed 10 feet wide path will widen to 15
feet at the bend near the southern entrance into Mitchell Park (Attachment C).
The improvements include re-furbishing of the existing 5 feet wide Adobe Creek
Pedestrian/Bike Bridge and new accessible ramps with hand railings on each side
of the bridge to meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements.
Project Coordination
May 20, 2013 Page 3 of 4
(ID # 3774)
The improvements will be coordinated with the Charleston/Arastradero Corridor
and the Magical Bridge Playground projects. Staff met with the Friends of the
Magical Bridge (Friends) to discuss use of the Magical Bridge project funding and
scope of the project. The ADA improvements are located adjacent to the
proposed Magical Bridge site, and the Friends expressed their support towards
this project. Final design of the project will begin in FY 2014, and construction is
anticipated to begin summer 2014 when school is not in session. The Corridor
project requires close coordination with the Magical Bridge Project during
construction.
Palo Alto Bicycle Advisory Committee Review
As required by the MTC grant application policies, the project was reviewed by
PABAC at the March 2013 meeting and the Committee supports this project and
funding for its implementation.
TDA Grant Requirements
The TDA grant funds are allocated on a three-year term and the funds are
received by the City on a reimbursement basis. MTC requires that City Council
adopt a Resolution authorizing staff to submit applications requesting TDA
funding. Since 2002, the MTC has attached findings to the resolution authorizing
submittal of the TDA grant application. Staff has provided sufficient information in
this staff report to support the required findings and is not aware of any issues
that would preclude the Council from adopting the findings for this grant request.
Staff is requesting Council’s approval to apply for the TDA grant for the Charleston
Road Corridor Pathway Improvement project. Staff would like to take advantage
of the guarantee TDA grant funding for the proposed construction budget. The
increased funding would allow for pathway improvements adjacent to the
Magical Bridge playground.
Resource Impact
When the grant is awarded to the City, a Budget Amendment Ordinance would be
required to add the grant funds to the project budget. The grant requires the City
to expend its own funds prior to seeking reimbursement by the State. Staff will
administer the grant and submit for reimbursements during the project as
required by the grant conditions
May 20, 2013 Page 4 of 4
(ID # 3774)
TDA funds are necessary to supplement the project’s construction budget. The
total project funding allocation breakdown is as follows: Magical Bridge Project
CIP (PE-12013) in the amount of $48,000, $12, 000 from Benches, Signage &
Walkway CIP (PG-06003), both of which have been previously approved by
Council, and $82,712 from the proposed ADA improvements being requested for
the Charleston Road Corridor Pathway Improvement for a total project budget of
$142,712.
Policy Implications
The recommended actions in this report are consistent with Comprehensive Plan
transportation policies and Bicycle & Pedestrian Transportation Plan 2012.
Environmental Review
Pursuant to the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA),
this project is Categorically Exempt under CEQA Guidelines Section 15302
(Replacement and Reconstruction). (App #13PLN-00173)
Attachments:
A - Resolution for 2013-2014 TDA Funds (PDF)
B - Memorandum from Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (PDF)
C - Charelston Corridor Connection Pathway Plan (PDF)
*Not Yet Approved*
Resolution No. __ _
Resolution of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Authorizing the
City Manager to File an Application for 2013/2014 Transportation
Development Act Funds for Bicycle and Pedestrian Projects
RECITALS
A. Article 3 of the Transportation Development Act (TDA), Public Utilities
Code (PUC) Section 99200 et seq., authorizes the submission of claims to a regional
transportation planning agency for the funding of projects exclusively for the benefit and/or use
of pedestrians and bicyclists.
B. The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), as the regional
transportation planning agency for the San Francisco Bay region, has adopted MTC Resolution
No. 875, Revised, 'entitled "Transportation Development Act, Article 3, Pedestrian/Bicycle
Projects," which delineates procedures and criteria for submission of requests for the allocation
of "TDA Article 3" funding.
C. MTC Resolution No. 875, Revised requires that requests for the allocation
of TDA Article 3 funding be submitted as part of a single, countywide coordinated claim from
each county in the San Francisco Bay region.
D. The City of Palo Alto desires to submit a request to MTC for the allocation
of TDA Article 3 funds to support the p'roject described in Attachment B to this resolution,
which is for the exclusive benefit and/or use of pedestrians and/or bicyclists.
The Council of the City of Palo RESOLVES as follows:
SECTION 1. The City of Palo Alto declares it is eligible to request an allocation of
TDA Article 3 funds pursuant to Section 99234 of the Public Utilities Code.
SECTION 2. There is no pending or threatened litigation that might adversely
affect the project described in "Attachment B" to this resolution, or that might impair the
ability of the City of Palo Alto to carry out the project.
SECTION 3. The City of Palo Alto attests to the accuracy of and approves the
findings set forth in "Attachment A" to this resolution.
SECTION 4. A certified copy of this resolution and its attachments, and any
accompanying supporting r:naterials shall be forwarded to the congestion management
agency, countywide transportation planning agency, or county association of governments, as
the case may be, of County of Santa Clara for submission to MTC as part of the countywide
coordinated TDA Article 3 claim.
130429 jb 0131072
*Not Yet Approved*
SECTION 5. An exemption for the proposed project was prepared and approved
pursuant to the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act
("CEQA"), and the Council considered it prior to adopting this resolution.
INTRODUCED AND PASSED:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTENTIONS:
ATTEST:
City Clerk Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM: APPROVED:
Senior Assistant City Attorney City Manager
Director of Public Works
Director of Administrative Services
130429 jb 0131072
*Not Yet Approved*
Attachment A
The Council of the City of Palo Alto hereby makes the following findings:
1. That the City of Palo Alto is not legally impeded from submitting a request to the
Metropolitan Transportation Commission for the allocation of Transportation
Development Act (TDA) Article 3 funds, nor is the City of Palo Alto legally impeded
from undertaking the project described in "Attachment B" of this resolution.
2. That the City of Palo Alto has committed adequate staffing resources to complete the
project described in "Attach ment B".
3. A review of the project described in "Attachment B" has resulted in the consideration of
all pertinent matters, including those related to environmental and right-of-way permits
and clearances, attendant to the successful completion of the project.
4. Issues attendant to securing environmen"tal and right-of-way permits and clearances for
the project described in "Attachment B" will be reviewed in a manner and on a schedule
that will not jeopardize the deadline for the use of the TDA funds being requested.
5. That the project described in "Attachment B" complies with the requirements of the
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA, Public Resources Code Sections 21000 et
seq.); an exemption was approved by the Director of Planning and Community • Environment.
6. That as portrayed in the budgetary description ofthe project in "Attachment B", the
sources of funding other than TDA are assured and adequate for completion of the
project(s). No sources of funding other than this grant are required for completion of
this project.
7. That the project described in "Attachment B" is for capital construction and/or design
engineering; and/or for the maintenance of a Class I bikeway which is closed to
motorized traffic; and/or for the purposes of restriping Class II bicycle lanes; and/or for
the development or support of a bicycle safety education program; and/or for the
development of a comprehensive bicycle and/or pedestrian facilities plan, and an
allocation of TDA Article 3 funding for such a plan has not been received by the City of
Palo Alto within the prior five fiscal years.
8. That the project described in "Attachment B" which is a bicycle project has been
included in a detail~d bicycle circulation element included in an adopted general plan, or
inCluded in an adopted comprehensive bikeway plan (such as outlined in Section 2377 of
the California Bikeways Act, Streets and Highways Code section 2370 et seq.).
130429 jb 0131072
*Not Yet Approved*
9. That any project described in "Attachment B" that is a "Class I Bikeway," meets the
mandatory minimum safety design criteria published in Chapter 1000 ofthe California
Highway Design Manual.
10. That the project described in "Attachment B" is ready to commence implementation
during the fiscal year of the requested allocation.
11. That the City of Palo Alto agrees to maintain, or provide for the maintenance of, the
project(s) and facilities described in "Attachment B", for the benefit of and use by the
public.
130429 jb 0131072
Resolution No. -----Attachment B
page 1 of 1
TDA Article 3 Project Application Form
Fiscal Year of this Claim: 2013/14 Applicant: City of Palo Alto
Contact person: Elizabeth Ames
Mailing Address:250 Hamilton Ave., Palo Alto CA 94303 6th floor
E-Mail Address:Elizabeth.ames@cityofpaloalto.org Telephone:650-329-2502
Secondary Contact (in event primary not available) Peter Jensen
E-Mail Address:peter.jensen@cityofpaloalto.org Telephone:650-617 -3183
Short Title Description of Project: Charleston Connection Corridor Pathway Improvement Project
Amount of claim: $82,712
Functional Description of Project:
To provide improvements along the Class I bike and pedestrian pathway from Charleston Road to the Adobe Creek Bridge at Mitchell Park. Improvements
include new paving & striping, signage, installation of a new decking on the existing bridge as well as American with Disability Act (ADA) improvements.
Financial Plan:
List the project elements for which TDA funding is being requested (e.g., planning, environmental, engineering, right-of-way, construction,
inspection, contingency, audit). Use the table below to show the project budget. Include prior and proposed future funding of the project. If the
project is a segment of a larger project, include prior and proposed funding sources for the other segments.
Project Elements:
Fundin~ Source All Prior FYs Application FY Next FY Followin~ FYs Totals
TDA Article 3 $82,712 $82,712
list all other sources: ';,i<', .' .. ,.: ...... < •... ;. 1:.':> >1.· •. < .,·'i'" ......' ~L .·,.·.-'::j~>.k .<: · .• 'i;~.>~:,;.} E:~~::J;i:;;i:·' .• :.·J;;····.··.:,;~ji; ··.·"P,;.
1, Capital Improvement $49,965 $49,965
Funds
2.
3.
4.
Totals $132,677
Project Eligibility: YES?/NO?
A. Has the project been approved by the claimant's governing body? (If "NO," provide the approximate date approval is No
anticipated) , May 13,2013
B. Has this project previously received TDA Article 3 funding? If "YES," provide an explanation on a separate page, No
C. For "bikeways," does the project meet Caltrans minimum safety design criteria pursuant to Chapter 1000 of the California Yes
Highway Design Manual? (Available on the internet via: http://www,dot.ca,gov),
D. Has the project been reviewed by a Bicycle Advisory Committee? (If "NO," provide an explanation), Yes
E. Has the public availability of the environmental compliance documentation for the project (pursuant to CEQA) been No
evidenced by the dated stamping of the document by the county clerk or county recorder? (required only for projects that May 30,2013
include construction).
F. Will the project be completed before the allocation expires? Enter the anticipated completion date of project (month and Yes
year) Anticipated Completion Date Summer 2015
G. Have provisions been made by the claimant to maintain the project or facility, or has the claimant arranged for such Yes
maintenance by another agency? (If an agency other than the Claimant is to maintain the facility provide its name:
}
MTC Programming and Allocations Section April 2005 TDA Article 3 Model Resolution
Page 1 of 5
MEMORANDUM
TO: TDA Article 3 Bicycle and Pedestrian Program Grant Applicants
Technical Advisory Committee Members
FROM: Bill Hough, Transportation Planner III
DATE: February 26, 2013 (revised March 12, 2013)
SUBJECT: Call for Projects, Transportation Development Act Article 3
FY 2013/14 Program
TDA Article 3 Funds Available
This memorandum serves as the General Call-for-Projects for the FY 2013/14
Transportation Development Act (TDA) Article 3 Program funding cycle. There are two
components to the TDA Article 3 program:
1. Bicycle Expenditure Program
The VTA Board of Directors took action on December 9, 2004 to dedicate 25% of Santa
Clara County’s TDA Article 3 funds to projects on the countywide Bicycle Expenditure
Program (BEP) list through 2030. On November 5, 2009, the Board committed $150,000
of the TDA3 BEP set-aside to County Expressway Pedestrian Projects.
There is $614,090 available for BEP projects this year. Projects must be on the current
Board-adopted BEP project list and applications should refer to the BEP project
number. BEP project sponsors must submit MTC’s TDA Article 3 Project Application
Form and must include a transmittal letter that states when they expect the project
begin construction. In the event that BEP applications are oversubscribed,
preference will be given to projects that are ready for construction and/or have
other funding sources that could be jeopardized if the project is not delivered in a
timely manner.
2. Guarantee Funds
Table 1 below shows each city and the County’s “Guarantee” share of MTC’s TDA
Article 3 Fund Estimate. There is $2,576,616 available for “Guarantee” projects this year.
The guarantee share is based on 2012 California Department of Finance (DOF)
population projections and funds banked or rescinded from previous years, where
applicable. An agency’s total applications cannot exceed its guarantee share listed in
the following table:
Page 2 of 5
Table 1
2013/14 TDA ARTICLE 3 ESTIMATE FOR SANTA CLARA COUNTY
Agency
Guarantee Amount
(Includes banked and rescinded funds
from prior years.)
Campbell $50,328
Cupertino $113,703
Gilroy $121,166
Los Altos $37,176
Los Altos Hills $23,134
Los Gatos $37,689
Milpitas $84,506
Monte Sereno $6,502
Morgan Hill $49,375
Mountain View $99,477
Palo Alto $82,712
San Jose $1,225,799
Santa Clara $149,933
Saratoga $38,316
Sunnyvale $180,324
Santa Clara County $276,473
Total $2,576,616
Rescind/Reallocation Requests
Agencies may only allocate up to their estimate in any given year. Sponsors may rescind
prior year projects, but VTA cannot reallocate them until the next TDA funding cycle.
Funds rescinded in 2013 will be added to the sponsor’s guarantee in 2014.
It is the responsibility of the project sponsor 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. Agencies must inform VTA of intent to
rescind/reallocate, and failure to do so means that the funds revert to the countywide
pool in the next cycle.
Banking Funds
TDA Article 3 funds may be banked for up to two years plus one year to program funds.
To bank TDA funds, project sponsors must submit a letter or email stating that funds will
be banked. If banked funds are not programmed by the end of the 3rd Year, they will be
redistributed to the countywide TDA Article 3 pool for the following fiscal year. If you
are planning to bank funds, please send a letter or email to that effect to Bill Hough at the
address below. A member agency must inform VTA in writing of its intent to either
claim or bank its TDA3 guarantee funds; failure to do so means that the funds
revert to the countywide pool in the next cycle.
Page 3 of 5
Project Types and Guidelines
Your TDA Article 3 project must be ready to implement within ONE year of the
application cycle.
Eligible Project Types
The following project types are eligible for TDA Article 3 Funding:
Design & construction of on and off-street bicycle facility projects – including but not
limited to bicycle parking.
Design & construction of on and off-street pedestrian facility projects
Maintenance of Class I bikeways (unlimited)
Maintenance of Class II bikeways. Countywide, the total funds allocated to Class II
bikeway maintenance cannot exceed 20% of the total countywide TDA estimate. Call
Bill Hough at (408) 321-5735 if you plan to exceed 20% of your agency’s guarantee
amount.
Bicycle Safety Education Programs (not more than 50% of the project’s budget and
not more 5% of the countywide TDA Article 3 funds)
Comprehensive Bicycle & Pedestrian Facilities Plans (not more than once per
jurisdiction every 5 years)
Projects identified in a recent (within 5 years) comprehensive local bicycle or
pedestrian plan
Annual TDA Article 3 Audits
Other Eligibility & Procedural Issues
Environmental clearance is required for construction projects only. If you are submitting
an application for design, you are not required to submit a County stamped notice.
Additional information on the TDA Article 3 procedures and criteria can be found in the
MTC TDA Article 3 Rules and Procedures, which is available on the Metropolitan
Transportation Commission website at:
http://www.mtc.ca.gov/funding/sta-tda/res-0875.doc
Bicycle Advisory Committee and Bicycle Plan Requirement
Cities and counties may not receive TDA Article 3 funds for bicycle projects unless the
jurisdiction has established a Bicycle Advisory Committee (BAC) and the project is
included in an adopted plan as stipulated in the MTC TDA Article 3 Rules and
Procedures. This requirement does not apply to pedestrian projects.
VTA Bicycle Technical Guidelines
The VTA Board of Directors adopted the revised VTA Bicycle Technical Guidelines on
December 13, 2012. The purpose of the Guidelines is to provide a uniform set of
optimum standards for the planning, design, and construction of bicycle facilities that are
part of the countywide bicycle system. Bicycle projects funded by TDA Article 3 funds
Page 4 of 5
must comply with the Guidelines. For a copy of this document, please contact Michelle
DeRobertis at (408) 321-5716 or Michelle.DeRobertis@vta. org. It is also available on
the VTA website at:
http://www.vta.org/bike_information/bicycle_technical_guidelines.html
Application Submittals
MTC’s TDA Article 3 Project Application Form and resolution boilerplate is located at:
http://www.mtc.ca.gov/funding/STA-TDA/TDA_Article_3_Claim_Forms.doc
Project sponsors must use this form to submit applications. Late applications will
not be accepted.
Complete one application for each project. PLEASE NOTE: VTA should receive 2
copies of each project application. .
2013/14 TDA Article 3 Detailed New Project Submittal Requirements
Number of Copies Item
1 per agency Cover letter that indicates whether application is for guarantee
and/or BEP funding. The cover letter must include a statement
that the project must be ready to implement within ONE year
of the application cycle.
2 per agency Governing body resolution wording and Council Resolution
supporting the project(s) (due on May 31, 2013). The sample
is on the Metropolitan Transportation Commission website at
link above.
2 per project MTC’s TDA Article 3 Application (See Application Form at
link above.)
2 per project A vicinity map showing the project’s general location in your
jurisdiction
2 per project A detail map showing the project and phases where applicable
2 per project Documentation of environmental clearance (for applicable
projects). The county clerk must stamp the environmental
document.
Completed project applications should be submitted to VTA by 4:00 p.m. on Friday,
April 12, 2013.
Please send applications to:
Bill Hough, Transportation Planner III
Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority
Programming & Grants
3331 North 1st St., Bldg. B2
San Jose, CA 95134-1906
Page 5 of 5
Evaluation Process, Programming and Drawing Programmed Funds
VTA staff will review project applications. The resulting countywide program will be
reviewed by the VTA advisory committees before adoption by the VTA Board of
Directors at its June 2013 meeting.
The VTA Board-adopted project priorities will be forwarded to MTC for review and
adoption. Once MTC has adopted the program, MTC’s Finance Section will issue
allocation instructions to your agency. Please read these instructions carefully, they will
provide your agency with guidance on invoicing and annual audit and reporting
requirements. All project invoicing goes directly to MTC. All work must be completed
by June 30, 2016 and MTC needs to receive reimbursement requests by August 1,
2016.
TDA Audit Information
In accordance with MTC Resolution 875, all claimants that have received an allocation of
TDA funds are required to submit an annual fiscal and compliance audit to MTC and to
the Secretary of Business and Transportation Agency within 180 days after the close of
the fiscal year. Your audits are due to MTC by December 31 of each year. Failure to
submit the audit will prohibit MTC from making a new TDA allocation. If no TDA funds
were expended during the fiscal year, the applicant should file a statement to that effect
with MTC. Please contact MTC’s TDA program manager Cheryl Chi, at 510-817-5939
or cchi@mtc.ca.gov, for additional information on audit requirements.
PATH
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I~,.....--~----+--PATHWAY PORTION
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CITY OF
CHARELSTON CONNECTION CORRIDOR
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SCALE: 1" = 30'