HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-12-31 City CouncilCity of Palo Alto
City Manager’s Report
TO:HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL
FROM:CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT: PLANNING
DATE:JANUARY 31, 1999 CMR:114:00
SUBJECT:ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CiTY
MANAGER TO FILE AN APPLICATION FOR 2000/01
TRANSPORTATION DEVELOPMENT ACT FUNDS FOR
BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN PROJECTS
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the Council adopt the attached Resolution (Attachment A)’
authorizing, submittal of Transportation Development Act (TDA)grant application
documents for Fiscal Year 2000/01 for the following projects:
TDA Guarantee Fund Projects
1. Replacement barriers in California Avenue
Undercrossing and Highway 101 Bicycle Overpass
2. Lighted Crosswalk Waming System Installation
Funding Request
$15,993
$20,000
II.TDA Discretionary Fund Projects
1.Stanford Avenue Off-Road Pedestrian/Bike Path
2.Preparation of Pedestrian Plan
3.Installation of Pedestrian Signals in Downtown
FundingRequest
$160,000
$50,000
$150,000
BACKGROUND
In early December 1999, the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Agency (VTA) issued a
call for projects for the Fiscal Year 2000/01 Transportation Developmerit Act Article 3
program for bicycle and pedestrian projects (Attachment B). Applications are submitted
concurrently to the VTA and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC). At
the Santa Clara County (Coumy) level, the VTA Bicycle Advisory Committee and VTA
staff will review the project proposals. A countywide priority list of projects will be
developed for review and approval of the VTA Board of Directors, whose
recommendations will be forward to the MTC for approval.
The 2000/01 TDA funding estimate for the Santa Clara County is $1,441,182. Under the
policy guidelines adopted by the VTA, 70 percent of the available funds ($1,008,827)
will be assigned to the "Guarantee Fund," and distributed to local jurisdictions on a
population-based apportionment formula. Palo Alto’s guaranteed amount is $35,993,
CMR:114:00 Page 1 of 5
based on the City’s 3.57 percent of the.County population. The remaining 30 percent of
the funds ($432,355) will be reserved in the "Discretionary Fund" and allocated on a
countywide competitive basis according to project merit.
DISCUSSION
Staff is recommending that the City’s 2000/01 TDA grant application focus on
pedestrian-related needs, due to the merit of the recommended projects and the fact that
the City’s bicycle plan study is still in process and will not be completed until Spring
2000. When the bicycle plan is completed later this year, it will include a priority list of
specific improvements for Council consideration. Upon adoption by the Council, the
bicycle plan will be used as the guide in establishing TDA application priorities in future
years. ~
Staff is recommending that the City submit TDA applications for two relatively small
operational and safety projects from the Guarantee Fund. Staff has also identified three
additional projects .that could be considered for funding from the Discretionary Fund.
The folliswing is a brief overview .of the recommended projects:
Guarantee Fund Projects
1. Replacement of Bicycle Barriers in California Avenue Pedestrian/Bicycle
Underpass and Highway 101 Pedestrian/Bicycle Overpass ($15,993)
This project involves the replacement of the existing bicycle barriers (baffles) in
these two bike grade separations to accommodate bicycles with trailers. The
existing barriers are designed to force bicyclists to walk their bikes in these joint-
use facilities. The barriers are particularly important safety features at the
California Avenue underpass where pedestrian and bicycle traffic is very high.
However, the existing barriers make it extremely difficult for bicyclists with
trailers for children to get through. Staff has received many complaints over the
years from parents of small children in trailers who must make circuitous detours
to cross the railroad tracks and Highway 101. A few years ago, staff designed
replacement barriers for the Bol Park bike path to accommodate bikes with
trailers, which were installed by the Santa Clara Valley Water District during the
Matadero Creek Flood Control Project. The same design would be adapted for use
on these facilities.
Lighted Crosswalk Installation ($20,000)
The State Department of Transportation has authorized the use of new pedestrian
crosswalk warning systems using in-roadway amber LED strobe lighting to alert
motorists that they are approaching an occupied crosswalk. Both sides of the
crosswalk are lined with encased lights placed in the roadway facing oncoming
traffic. The lights are activated manually by pedestrians using a pushbutton, or
automatically by an electronic sensor on the sidewalk.
CMR: 114:00 Page 2 of 5
Staff has identified three potential locations for the lighted crosswalk installation:
Park Blvd. at Page Hill Road (adjacent to Agilent Technologies)
Fabian Way between Charleston Road and Meadow Drive (adjacent to Loral
Systems)
Homer Avenue between Emerson and High Streets (adjacent to Whole Foods)
Staff will work with businesses in these locations and return t6 Council with a
recommendation for the specific location for the first lighted crosswalk installation. Staff
is also pursuing funding for a second installation through other grant sources.
Discretionary__ Fund Projects
1. Pedestrian Plain ($50,000)
The pedestrian plan would be a companion to, and modeled after the bicycle plan,
which is currently in development. The pedestrian plan would inventory and
evaluate the City’s existing pedestrian facilities, identify gaps and deficiencies,
and recommend a complete set of action elements to improve walking conditions
and facilities in the city.
Stanford Avenue Off-Road Path between E1 Camino Real and Escondido Road
($160,000)
This project was recommended in the Citywide School Commute Safety Study to
improve walking and bicycling conditions for students in route to Escondido
Elementary School and Jordan Middle School from the Stanford and College
Terrace neighborhoods. The project would be developed in coordination with
Stanford University, and has been included in the Capital Improvement Program,
with funding of $85,000 identified in FY 2000/01.
Pedestrian Signals in the Downtown ($150,000)
This project would result in the purchase and installation of pedestrian signal
heads (with text or international symbols for "Walk" and "Don’t Walk") at the 30
traffic signals in downtown Palo Alto along University Avenue, Hamilton Avenue
and Lytton Avenue. The traffic signals downtown operate in a fixed-time mode
and it is difficult for pedestrians to gauge when it is safe to enter the street to cross
during the green signal indication for vehicles. As a result, many pedestrians start
crossing the street towards the end of the green phase and get stuck in the middle
of streets when cross traffic starts moving.
Palo Alto Bicycle Adviso~ 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.
The Committee supported four of the five projects recommended by staff. The majority
CMR:114:00 Page 3 of 5
of the Committee did not support submittal of the pedestrian signals project. Based on
observations about pedestrian behavior, staff continues to support this project as a safety
enhancement. A memorandum from PABAC is included as Attachment D.
RESOURCE IMPACT
There is no local match requirement for TDA funds. However, because TDA funds are
disbursed on a reimbursement basis, if these grants are secured, City funds need to be
appropriated for the project expenditures, which then would be reimbursed by TDA
funds. If these grant applications are successful, staff will return to Council with a
Budget Amendment Ordinance indicating there would be no fiscal impact,
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 and Policy T-20: improve maintenance of
bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure.
TIMELINE ~
The TDA grant applications submitted by all of the jurisdictions 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 (CEQA); therefore, no environmental assessment is needed at this time.
However, the California Avenue Undercrossing/Highway 101 Overcrossing barrier
replacement project, the Lighted Crosswalk project, and Pedestrian Signals project are
each minor alterations to existing facilities and are exempt from environmental review
requirements under section 15301 of CEQA. The preparation of a pedestrian plan is a
planning study, which consists of basic data collection, research and evaluation activities,
and is exempt from environmental review requirements under Section 15306 of CEQA.
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
CMR: 114:00 Page 4 of 5
PREPARED BY: Gayle Likens, Senior Planner
DEPARTMENT HEAD:
Director of Planning and
Community Environment
CITY MANAGER APPROVAL:(
Palo Alto Bicycle Advisory Committee
City/School Traffic Safety Committee
CMR:114:00 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 2000-2001
WHEREAS, the Transportation Development Act ("TDA"), as
amended (Pubiic 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 e!ig~ble 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
Cai~ Code .of Regula[!ons~Lsection 660~ et seq.), a prospective
claimant Wishin~ to receive an -alloc’ation from the Local
Transportation Fund shall file its claim with the Metropolitan
Transportation Commission) and
~~ WHEREAS, the’City of~Pal~’Al~o is 9n eligible ~claimant for
TDA funds pursuant to Publi~ Utilities Code section 99234, as
expressed in the City of Palo Alto’s opihion of counsel, dated
January 19, 2000; and
WHEREAS, TDA funds from the Local Transportation Fund of
Santa Clara County will be required in fiscal year 2000-2001 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:
SECTION i.The Council hereby approves and authorizes
th@ Ci~ty Manager to execute and file an appropriate claim, together
with all necessary supporting documents, with the Metropolitan
Transportation Commission for an allocation of Three Hundred
Ninety-five Thousand Nine Hundred Ninety-three Dollars
($395,993.00) in TDA funds in fiscal year 2000-2001 for the purpose
of providing the following pedestrian and bicycle projects in Palo
Alto:
Project
i. Replacement Barriers in
California Avenue Under-
Crossing and Highway i01
Bicycle Overpass
County TDA Fund
Guarantee
Amount
$ 15,993
1
00119 sdl 0032297
Project
2. Lighted Crosswalk Warning
System Installation
3. Stanford Avenue Off-Road
Pedestrian/Bike Path
4. Preparation of Pedestrian
Plan
5.Installation Qf Pedestrian
Signals in Downtown
-County TDA Fund
Guarantee
Discretionary
Discretionary
Discretionary
Total:
Amount
$ 2O,OOO
$160,000
$ 50,000
$150,000
$395,993
SECTION 2. The ~ity Clerk is hereby directed to
transmit a copy Of this resolution to the Metropolitan
Transportation Commission in conjunctionwith the filing of the
claim, and the Metropol.itan 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 Director of
Administrative Services
Director of Planning and
Community Environment
Chief Transportation
Official
2
00119 sdl 0032297
City of Palo Alto
Office of the City Attorney
January 19] 2000
TO:
FROM:
SUBJECT:
Metropolitan Transportation Commission
City of Palo Alto
Eligibility for Transportation Development Act’Funds
This communication will serve as the requisite opinion of
Counsel in tonne~tio~n with the application of the City of Palo Alto
for an allocation~of Transportation Development Act (TDA) funds.
Io The City of Pal~ Altq,_is authorized to provide and
assist~public transportation, by acquisition, construction and
operation of existing or additional transit facilities, including
facilities provided for exclusive use by pedestrians and bicycles.
This assistance may be provided directly or by contractual
arrangements with other parties.
2. The City of Palo Alto is an eligible claimant for
TDA funds pursuant to Public Utilities Code section 99234.
3. I have reviewed the pertinent State and local laws,
and I am of the opinion that there is nolegal impediment to the
City of Palo Alto making application for TDA funds. Furthermore,
as a result of my examinations, I find that there is no pending or
threatened litigation which might in any way adversely affect the
proposed projects, or the ability of the City of Palo Alto to carry
out such projects.
Sincerely,
SUSAN W. CASE
Senior Asst. City Attorney
SWC:sdl
000119 sdl 0032298
P.O. Box 10250
Palo Alto, CA 94303
650.329.2171
650.329.2646 fax
~S A H T A C L A R A
Volley Transportation Authority
ATTACHMENT B
DEC 0 8 1999
DIVISION OF’
TRANSPORTATION
TO:,TDA Article 3 Bicycle and Pedestrian Program Grant Applicants
Technical Advisory Committee Members
FROM:Marcella M. Rensi, Transportation Planner
DATE:December 1, 1999
SUBJECT: Call for Projects, Transportation Development Act (Article 3)
’ FY 2000/01 Program .,, : :
TDA Article 3 Funds Available
VTA is delighted to issue this Call for Projects for the Fiscal Year 2000/2001
Transportation Development Act Article 3 Program. A chart detailing each
member agency’s "Guarantee" share of MTC’s Initial TDA Article 3 Estimate is
included as Attachment A. This guarantee share is based on 1999 California
Department of Finance (DOF) population projections. Seventy percent (70%) of
this year’s projected allocation is guaranteed to jurisdictions based on population.
Attachment A details each jurisdiction’s guarantee amount and any adjustments
that have been made to date.
The figure in the Adjusted Guarantee Amount column is your jurisdiction’s
guarantee amount for FY 2000/01. Any future adjustments to the county’s overall
projected fund estimate may result in changes to the amount of funds available for~
discretionary projects. However, based on adopted VTA policy, the guarantee
amounts will remain constant~
Approximately $432,355 will be available to fund discretionary projects this year.
Project EHgibility and Scoring Criteria
The VTA Board of Directors approved the VTA Bicycle Technical Guidelines on
October 7, 1999. The purpose of the Guidelines is to provide consistency in the
design, construction and maintenance of bicycle facilities that are a part of the
countywide bicycle system. Bicycle projects funded by TDA Article 3 funds
should be consistent with the Guidelines. For a copy of this document, please
contact Sylvia Star-Lack at (408) 321-5719 or Sylvia.Star-Lack(~,vta.org.
333! Horlh Firs! Slreel. San Jose, CA 95134-1906. hdministralion 408.321.5555 ¯ Coslomer Service 408.321.2300
The VTA Board of Directors approved local criteria, for establishing project
priQ~f!~s:for~the TDA Article 3 Bicycle and Pedestrian Program at its August 7,
1997 meeting. These criteria are included as Attachment B.
Wlfen(prep~i~g~pr0ject applications, please remember:
MTC’s TDA funding requirements state that cities and counties must
establish bicycle advisory committees (BAC) and adopt comprehensive
bicycle plans in order 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 m~y 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 Sylvia Star-Lack lmow by January
3,°2000. Please mail a copy of your current bike’plan to Sylvia Star-Lack.
~Sponsoi~s should include all rescind/reall0cation requests for -i~
projects allocated in FY 1996/1997 and expiring on June 30, 1999, ~
as well as l~rojects that have significantly changed their
workscopes. It is the responsibility of project sponsores 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
Claimants who have received disbursements or obligated TDA Article 3
funds during FY 1998/99 must submit a certified fiscal audit to MTC and the
State Controller by December 28, 1999. Claimants who did not receive or
obligate TDA Article 3 funds during FY 1998/99 are required to submit a
letter to MTC by December 28, 1999 stating that no expenses were
incurred.
Additional information on the TDA Article 3 procedures and criteria can be
found in Attachment C, MTC Resolution No. 875 (TDA Article 3,
Pedestrian/Bicycle Projects: Procedures and Project Evaluation Criteria),
or in the MTC Fund Application Manual.
Also included as Attachment D is the most recent status of city and County
compliance prepared by the VTA Congestion Management Program. If this
information should be updated, please notify Sylvia Star-Lack as soon as possible.
Evaluation Process
CMP staff will review both the guarantee and discretionary project applications
for eligibility, completeness, and compliance. Discretionary project applications
will undergo further evaluation and ranking by a Scoring Taskforce selected by
the VTA Technical Advisory Committee (TAC). The resulting Discretionary
Attachment A
INITIAL 2000/01 TDA ARTICLE 3 ESTIMATE
FOR SANTA CLARA COUNTY
ESTABLISHES CITY/COUNTY 2000/01 GUARANTEE ALLOCATIONS
ESTIMATES 2000/01 COMPETETIVE DISCRETIONARY FUND
$1,441,182 Initial 2000/01 TDA 3 Estimate
$1,008,827 Guarantee (70%) Fund
$432,355 Estimated Discretionary (30%) Fund
Population*Population Guarantee
SANTA CLARA Percent Amount
1,715,340
Campbell 39,850 2.32%$23,437
Cupertino 47,650 2.78%$28,024
Gilr0y _ .39,050 2.28%$22,966
Los Altos 28,500 1.66%$16,761
Los Altos Hills 8,250 0.48%$4,852
Los Gatos 30,250 1.76%$17,791
Milpitas 64,300 3.75%$37,816
Monte Sereno 3,440 0.20%$2,023
Morgan Hill 31,900 1.86%$18,761
Mountain View 75,200 4.38%$44,227
Palo Alto 61,200 3.57%$35,993
San Jose 909,100 53.00%$534,661
Santa Clare 102,700 5.99%$60,400
Saratoga 31,250 1.82%$18,379
Sunnyvale ,132,900 7.75%. $78,161
Unincorporated 109,800 6.40%$64,576
(County of Santa Clare)
100.00%$1,008,827
TOTALS MAY NOT EQUAL SUM DUE TO INDEPENDENT ROUNDING.
Source: California Department of Finance, Report 99 E-1
Page A-I
EAS~’PALOALTO
, ATTACHMENT C
CITY OF PALO ALTO
TDA PrOjects:
Guarantee List
1. Replacement of Barriers
2. Lighted Crosswalk Warning System (not shown)
Discretionary Projects
1. Stanford Avenue Off-Road Path
2. Pedestrian Plan (not shown)
3. Pedestrian Signals in Downtown Not to Scale
City of Palo Alto
Transportation Division
TDA Project Map
Palo Alto Bicycle Adviso~’y CommittN
ATTACHMENT D
January 18, 2000
Mayor Kniss and members of the Council:
On Tuesday, January 11, 2000, the Palo Alto-Bicycle Advisory Committee (PABAC)
reviewed the proposed list of five ’projects submitted by staff for the annual application
to the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority and the Metropolitan Transportation
Commission for Transportation Development Act (TDA) Article 3 funds for pedestrian
and bicycle projects.
PABAC forwards the proposed list of TDA projects as recommended by staff with the
following comments:
1. PABAC recommends deletion of the Discretionary Fund project to install pedestrian
signals in the downtown. It was the sense of the committee that the pedestrian signals
would add to visual clutter and are unnecessary because the streets are narrow with
only a single lane in each direction, and observed pedestrian behavior is to cross against
the red light. (Motion passed 6-0-2)
2. PABAC recommends as an alternative to the pedestrian signals project, it would be
to the advantage of pedestrians and bicyclists to replace the existing small pedestrian
pushbuttons at signalized intersections with larger buttons now available. (Motion
passed 6-0-2).
Sincerely,
Ellen Fletcher
Chair