HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-12-31 City Council (7)City of Palo Alto
City Manager’s Report
TO:HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL
FROM:CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT: PLANNING
DATE:JANUARY 31, 2000 CMR:115:00
SUBJECT:SUBMITTAL OF LIST OF BICYCLE PROJECTS FOR INCLUSION
IN THE BICYCLE ELEMENT OF THE SANTA CLARA VALLEY
TRANSPORTATION PLAN
RECOMMENDATION ¯
Staff recommends that Council endorse the attached list (Attachment A) of bicycle
projects for consideration of the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) in
preparation of the Bicycle Element of the Valley Transportation Plan (VTP) 2020.
BACKGROUND
The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority is requesting assistance from member
agencies, including the City of Palo Alto, to develop a comprehensive list of bicycle
projects as part of the Bicycle Element of the VTP 2020 effort. The VTP 2020 will be
the countywide long-range transportation plan and will drive the overall planning and
future programming efforts of the VTA for the next 20 years. The Bicycle Element of
the VTP 2020 will include a 10-year Bicycle Expenditure Program funded by various
federal and state funding sources, including: (1) 1996 Measure A/B Bicycle Fund, (2) the
Transportation Fund for Clean Air (TFCA) 40 percent Program Manager Fund, (3) the
Transportation Development Act (TDA) Article 3 funds, and (4) the Transportation
Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) Enhancements Program.
DISCUSSION
The projects included on the attached recommended list of projects represent important
facility improvements that already have Council approval, or have been identified as
needed to improve safety, provide better connectivity, or~eliminate barriers to bicycle
travel. Several of the projects are major improvements that could be difficult to
implement with local funds alone. The projects are listed in priority order. Some
projects are long-term in nature and will require study to further define the scope and
feasibility before they are ready to implement, and thus are shown as lower priority.
Unfortunately, the City’s bicycle plan study is still in progress and will not be completed
until late Spring. Staff has included a placeholder project on the list to fund bikeway
improvements that emerge from that study.
CMR: 115:00 Page 1 of 3
On January 11, the proposed bicycle projects list was reviewed by the Palo Alto Bicycle
Advisory Committee (PABAC). PABAC recommended submission of the project list to
the xL’I’A with one change, an increase in funding for one project (No. 5, Bicycle Plan
Implementation). This change has been incorporated into the attached final list. A
memorandum from PABAC is included as Attachment B.
RESOURCE IMPACT
-The-VTP 2020 Bicycle Element expenditure ~lanproject list is a ten-year planning
document. At this stage of the planning process, proposing projects to include on the list
¯ does not constitute a grant application or grant agreement. Specific grant applications
would ~need to be submitted for projects included in the plan over the next ten years, as
calls for projects are issued.
The VTP program guidelines indicate that local sponsoring agency may be required (or at
least strongly encouraged) to provide a local match of.20 percent. The potential total
match for each project is indicated on the attached table. Further clarification Of this
policy~will be forthcoming as the VTA process proceeds. ; ~
~POLICY IMPLICATIONS~ - ~ ~
The recommended actions in this report are consistent with a number of Comprehensive
Plan Transportation policies, including Program T-18: develop and periodically update a
comprehensive bicycle p.lan, Program T- 19: develop, periodically update, and implement,
a bicycle facilities improvement programs and a pedestrian facilities improvement
program that identify and prioritize critical pedestrian and bicycle links to parks, schools,
retail centers, and civic facilities; Program T-21: study project to depress bikeways and
pedestrian walkways under Alma Street and the Caltrain tracks and implement if feasible,
and Program T-23: develop public sidewalks and bicycle facilities in Stanford Research
Park and other employment areas.
TIMELINE
The VTA is requesting submittal of prioritized lists approved by the local governing
bodies of member agencies by the end of January. The VTA Board is expected to
approve the VTP 2020 project list by the end of March 2000.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
A request for funds is not considered a project under the California Environmental
Quality Act (CEQA); therefore, no environmental assessment is needed at this time. An
Environmental Impact Report will be required for the VTP 2020. Individual projects will
also require environmental review before they are implemented.
CMR: 115:00 Page 2 of 3
ATTACHMENTS
A. Bicycle Project List
B. Memorandum from the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority
C. Memorandum from the Palo Alt~ Bicycle Advisory Committee
PREPARED BY: Gayle Likens, Senior Planner
DEPARTMENT HEAD:
CITY MANAGER APPROVAL:
G. EDWARD
Director of Planning and
Co~m~n~i g’!~vironment
J ~,~City Manager ~.~
Palo Alto Bicycle Advisory Committee
CMR:115:00 Page 3 of 3
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ATTACHMENT B
REOEIVl D
t,N0V 2 3 1999
DIVISION OF’
T~ANSPORTATION
TO:
FROM:
Director, Congestion Management Program and Highway Programs
DATE:November 15, 1999
SUBJECT:Bicycle Element bf Valley Transportation Plan (VTP) 2020
- Development of Bicycle Expenditure Program
Bicycle Element of Valley Transportation Plan (VTP) 2020
The Santa Clara V~ey Transportation Authority (VTA) is requesting assistance from the
Member Agencies and the public to develop a comprehensive list of bicycle projects as part
of the Bicycle Element of the VTP 2020 effo~ The VTP 2020 will be the countywide long-
range transportation plan and will drive the overall planning and future programming efforts
of the VTA for the next 20 years. The Bicycle Element of the VTP 2020 will include a 10-year
Bicycle Expenditure Program funded by the following resources:
1) The 1996 Measure A/B Bicycle Fund
2)The Transportation Fund for Clean Air (TFCA) 4096
3)The Tmm~ortation Development Act (TDA) Article 3 Pedestrian & Bicycle
Fund ,..
The Transportation Equity Act for the 21~ Century (TEA-21) Enhancement
Program
Submitting Candidate Bicycle Projects
The Expenditure Program for the Bicycle Element of VTP 2020 will include various types of
bicycle projects. In addition to the typical on-road bicycle lane or pathway projects, Member
Agencies may also submit proposals for smaller-scale or non-traditional projects, programs
or services, such as bicycle locker/rack programs. Therefore, we encourage you to distribute
this memo and the attached information to various departments within your Agency.
The following information provides guidance in submitting candidate bicycle projects:
3331 North First Street ¯ Son Jose, CA 95134-1906 ¯ Administration 408.321.5555 ¯ Cuslomer Service 408.321,2300
¯Bicycle Element of VTP 2020 -Bicycle Expenditure Program
~Page 2 of 4
Please use the attached form (Attachment A) to submit your candidate projects...Each
~ptbject !will require a separate form. -Do not submit projects that are currently
,pro~r~ed. A Member Agency can eider fill in the forms electronically using the
Microsoft Word file on the enclosed disk, or enter the data on the paper forms. Also,
if applicable, please provide a hand-sketch and/or location map for each proposed
project.
Please fill out the attached form, Evaluation Checklist, (Attachment B) to provide
additional information for each project. A Member Agency can either fill in the forms
electronically using the Microsoft Word file on the enclosed disk, Or enter the data on
the paper forms. If a question is does not apply to the project~ simply check the N/A
(not applicable) box.
Your agency may have submitted bicycle projec~ in previous calls for projects,
including the overall VTP 2020 Call for Projects or for inclusion in the proposed State
bond measure. However, in order for your bicycle project to be incorporated into the
Bicycle Element database of candidate bicycle projects, you must complete the
attached forms for each bicycle project. _,,
We have included a list of bicycle projects, primarily located within your jurisdiction,
from the VTP 2020 Call for Projects, the 1995 Santa Clara County Trails Master Plan
Update, and the proposed list of projects from the Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition.
You may use this as a starting point for developing your list of candidate projects.
Only those projects submitted with the appropriate forms completed (Attachments A
and B) will be considered in the Bicycle Element of VTP 2020.
Each Member Agency must prioritize the list of projects submitted to VTA.
As all bicycle projects will be implemented by the Member Agencies, projects
submitted by other interested groups will have to be approved by the appropriate
Member Agencies before they are included in the Bicycle Expenditure Program. All
projects that are to be included in the final version of the Bicycle Expenditure
Program must be reviewed and approved by the appropriate Member Agency
governing board to ensure Member Agency contribution, if appropriate, and timely
completion of the projects.
Contents of this Package
This packet contains the following attachments~ -
A)Attachment A: Project Form - This form provides an overview of the candidate
project and must be submitted for each project.
Bicycle Element of VTP 2020 - Bicycle Expenditure Program
Page 3 of 4
B)
C)
D)
E)
Attachment B: Evaluation Checklist - The checklist provides critical information
-regarding the characteristics and readiness of the project. The checklist must be
completed for each project.
List of Projects from the VTP 2020 Call for Projects - This is a paper copy of the list
of bicycle projects in your jurisdiction that were compiled as part of the overall VTP
2020 Call for Projects. We would like you to use this as a starting point for developing
your list of candidate bicycle projects.
List of Projects from the. 1995 Santa clara County 2Yails Master Plan Update - This is
a paper copy of the list of the high priority bicycle projects included in the Plan.
List of Projects from the Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition - This is a paper copy of the
list of suggested bicycle projects in your jurisdiction that was developed by the Silicon
Nalley Bicycle Coalition. We urge you to evaluate these proposed projects and
possibly sponsor them’by including them in your submittal of proposed bicycle
Preliminary Countywide Bicycle Network - Since some of the questions in the
Evaluation Criteria refers to the Countywide Bicycle Network, we have included
these preliminary bicycle network maps and the route descriptions for each corridor.
The Countywide Bicycle Network has been reviewed by the VTA Bicycle Advisory
Committee and will soon be submitted to the TAC for review and eommenV
Deadline and Contact Information
All candidate projects for the Bicycle Element of VTP 2020 must be submitted by the endof
the day Friday, January 7, 2000 to:
Carolyn Gonot
Manager, Congestion Management Program
Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority
3331 North First Street
San Jose, CA 95134-1906
Phone: (408) 321-5725
Fax: ~408) 321-5723
The final list of candidate projects that has been approved by the Member Agency’s
governing board is due to the VTA by Monday, January 31, 2000.
We look forward to your proposed bicycle projects in developing a bicycle expenditure plan
that will improve bicycle transportation in Santa Clara County. If you have any questions,
please do not hesitate to contact Carolyn Gonot or Celia Chung at (408) 321-5725.
Bicycle Element of VTP 2020 - Bicycle Expenditure Program
Page 4 of 4
Public Works Directors (with all attachments) "
Capital Improvement Program Subcommittee Members
Bicycle Advisory Committee (Att .ac. hments A & B only)
(Attachments A & B only)
Member Agency Liaison to Member Agency BAC (Attachments A & B only)
Policy Advisory Committee (without attachments)
Citizen Advisory Committee (without attachments)
ATTACHMENT C
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
10 year bicycle expenditure plan for the Santa Clara Valley Transportation
Plan (VTP 2020). By unanimous vote, the Committee approved the submittal
to the VTA proposed by staff, with one change: PABAC recommends that the
amount of funding for implementation of the Bicycle Plan be increased from
$500,000 to $1,000,000.
Sincerely,
Ellen Fletcher
Chair