Title
Adoption of Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a Second Amendment to a Project Funding Agreement with the Alameda County Transportation Commission for an Amount Not-to-Exceed $6,376,000 to Complete the Construction Phase of the Clement Avenue/Tilden Way Project and to Extend the Expiration Date to December 31, 2026; and Authorizing Submittal of the Safe Routes to Bay Area Rapid Transit Grant Application to Fund the Full Build-Out of the Clement Avenue/Tilden Way Project, which Primarily Improves the Broadway/Tilden Way Intersection, for an Amount Not-to-Exceed $3,000,000.
These actions are exempt from environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Sections 15061(b)(3) (common sense exemption), 15308 (actions by regulatory agencies for protection of the environment) and 15183 (projects consistent with a community plan, general plan or zoning). (Transportation 20962743)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Jennifer Ott, City Manager
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City Council-approved Clement Avenue/Tilden Way (Clement/Tilden) project uses the abandoned railroad right-of-way at Clement Avenue and Tilden Way to extend the Cross Alameda Trail between Broadway and the Miller-Sweeney/Fruitvale Bridge and to improve the truck and bus routes in this area. The purpose of this agenda item is two-fold: 1) to authorize the City Manager to execute a second amendment to a project funding agreement with the Alameda County Transportation Commission (ACTC) for an amount not-to-exceed $6,376,000 to complete the construction phase of the Clement/Tilden project and to extend the expiration date to December 31, 2026; and 2) to authorize submittal of the Safe Routes to Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) grant application to fund the full build-out of the Clement/Tilden project, which primarily improves the Broadway/Tilden Way intersection, for an amount not-to-exceed $3,000,000. These funds are necessary to complete funding for the construction of the project anticipated to begin in July 2024.
BACKGROUND
Over the last 20 years, the City of Alameda (City) has been planning and constructing the Cross Alameda Trail on former railroad right-of-way, spanning four miles from the Seaplane Lagoon at Alameda Point to the Miller-Sweeney/Fruitvale Bridge. Upon completion, this cross island, low-stress bicycle and pedestrian facility will provide a safe, comfortable and convenient facility for bicyclists and pedestrians across the City. Three of the four miles have been constructed, and three “gaps” in the Cross Alameda Trail still need to be closed. In late-2023, construction will start on Clement Avenue to build the segment between Willow Street and Broadway, closing the first “gap.” The new residential project on the former Pennzoil site, which includes construction of the Clement Avenue extension and the Cross Alameda Trail between Hibbard Street and Grand Street, will close the second “gap” when the private development is ready to start construction. The third and final section to be constructed is the section from Broadway to the Miller-Sweeney/Fruitvale Bridge, which is included in this Clement/Tilden project. The Clement/Tilden project also includes transportation safety and access improvements in the project area, a dog park, and an expansion of park space for the adjacent “Wedge” and Fernside neighborhoods. A separate community planning process to design and program the future dog park and park space is being led by the Recreation and Parks Department (ARPD).
The Clement/Tilden project is made possible by a series of important City Council decisions including:
• In 2009, City Council approved the Transportation Element of the General Plan policy that directs staff to "Pursue opportunities to utilize the corridor of the former Alameda Belt Line railroad for transit, bicycle and pedestrian transportation." The 2009 General Plan also listed Clement (East) between Broadway and Tilden Way as a future new street, and listed both Clement Avenue and Tilden Way as truck routes and regional arterials;
• In 2017, City Council appropriated $2 million in Alameda CTC Measure BB grant funds and $707,000 of local match for fiscal years 2017 to 2019 as shown in the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) for the Clement/Tilden project;
• In 2018, City Council authorized the pre-construction grant funding agreement with the Alameda CTC totaling $2 million in Measure BB funds and $445,000 in local match, and also approved taking action to acquire the Union Pacific property via eminent domain for the Clement /Tilden project;
• In 2019, City Council appropriated an additional $2 million in Measure BB grant funds and $470,000 of local match for fiscal years 2019 to 2021 as shown in the CIP for the Clement/Tilden project;
• In 2021, after several years of real estate negotiations, City Council finalized the purchase of the Clement/Tilden property from Union Pacific via eminent domain for approximately $1.54 million. City Council also approved the Second Amendment of the Agreement for Kittelson & Associates, Inc. that included planning and community engagement for the Clement/Tilden project in 2022;
• In March 2023, City Council endorsed the roundabout design concept for the Clement/Tilden project (Exhibit 1), and also approved the Third Amendment of the Agreement for Kittelson & Associates, Inc. to prepare the design drawings for construction;
• On September 5, 2023, City Council authorized the DTSC agreement to allow DTSC to obtain reimbursement for their oversight costs incurred on the Clement/Tilden project’s environmental clean-up work that the City is leading; and
• On September 19, 2023, City Council authorized the Terraphase Engineering Inc. agreement to provide environmental services related to the Clement/Tilden project.
Construction is expected to begin in summer 2024 and be completed in mid-2025. Information regarding the Clement/Tilden project is available on the project webpage: www.alamedaca.gov/ClementTilden <http://www.alamedaca.gov/ClementTilden>.
The purpose of this agenda item is two-fold:
1) To authorize the City Manager to execute a second amendment to a project funding agreement with ACTC for an amount not-to-exceed $6,376,000 to complete the construction phase of the Clement/Tilden project and to extend the expiration date to December 31, 2026; and
2) To authorize submittal of the Safe Routes to BART grant application to fund the full build-out of the Clement/Tilden project, which primarily improves the Broadway/Tilden Way intersection, for an amount not-to-exceed $3,000,000.
DISCUSSION
The Clement/Tilden project is estimated to cost $11.7 million. Costs include right-of-way acquisition (completed), planning and design (in process), hazardous materials remediation (in process) and construction. The City received an $8.4 million ACTC Measure BB grant, and is contributing $3.3 million in local matching funds. The purpose of this agenda item is to accept the remaining amount from the Measure BB grant for the construction phase, which totals $6,376,000. The City staff/consultant team is finalizing the design with expected completion by March 2024, which will incorporate required soil remediation. The City expects to release the request for construction proposals/bid package in April 2024, award the construction contract at a City Council meeting in June 2024, and start construction in July 2024.
Concurrently, the City staff/consultant team is working on a Safe Routes to BART grant application to fund the full build-out of the Clement/Tilden project, which is mainly improvements to the Broadway/Tilden Way intersection, for an amount not-to-exceed $3 million. The Broadway/Tilden Way improvements focus on extending the bicycling network through this intersection as well as enhancing pedestrian access, closing the eastbound right-turn slip lane on Tilden Way to Broadway, and adding bike lanes, curb extensions, road diet and modernized traffic signals. At Broadway/Tilden Way, the project condition shows negligible changes to queue lengths with the lane reductions due to a more efficient signal phasing and the elimination of a turn movement. City Council approved these improvements as part of the Clement/Tilden project concept at the March 21, 2023 City Council meeting; however, the existing Measure BB grant does not cover the costs of the full concept build-out (Exhibit 1). Thus, City staff requests City Council to authorize submittal of the Safe Routes to BART grant application to BART as part of this agenda item. If awarded this grant, the City would incorporate the Broadway/Tilden Way improvements into the Clement/Tilden project construction for next year.
ALTERNATIVES
City Council may consider a range of alternatives:
• Authorize Amendment No. 2 to the Project Funding Agreement and submittal of the Safe Routes to BART grant application.
• Direct staff to make specific changes to the amendment and grant application.
• Do not authorize one or both of the amendment and grant application. Note that the Clement/Tilden project only can move forward with the Measure BB construction phase monies. For full build-out of the Clement/Tilden project, the Broadway/Tilden Way intersection improvements need additional grant monies.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The Clement/Tilden project (C65300) has a budget of $11.7 million (Table 1). Costs include right-of-way acquisition (completed), planning and design (in process), hazardous materials remediation (in process) and construction. The City was awarded an $8.4 million Measure BB grant, and allocated $3.3 million in local monies for this project. No additional budget is needed for the Clement/Tilden project.
Table 1: Clement/Tilden Project Budget
|
|
Total |
Grant |
Local |
|
Right-of-Way |
$1,615,391 |
$1,068,743 |
$546,648 |
|
Planning/Scoping |
$275,609 |
$244,000 |
$31,609 |
|
Prelim. Engineering/Environmental |
$400,000 |
$244,000 |
$156,000 |
|
Final Design |
$600,000 |
$434,000 |
$166,000 |
|
Environmental Clean-Up |
$1,000,000 |
$885,312 |
$114,688 |
|
Construction Bid |
$6,807,000 |
$5,518,945 |
$1,288,055 |
|
Construction Support |
$1,000,000 |
$0 |
$1,000,000 |
|
Total |
$11,698,000 |
$8,395,000 |
$3,303,000 |
If the Safe Routes to BART grant is awarded, staff will return to City Council to request authority to establish the budget for the Broadway/Tilden portion of the project. The Safe Routes to BART grant requires local matching funds of at least 30% of project costs, not including staff time.
MUNICIPAL CODE/POLICY DOCUMENT CROSS REFERENCE
This action is consistent with the Alameda Municipal Code and with the City's Mobility Element of the Alameda 2040 General Plan (2021) main goals of equity, safety, choices and sustainability. The Parks + Open Space Element specifically mentions the Cross Alameda Trail to promote its completion. The Active Transportation Plan (2022) includes the Clement/Tilden project as part of the City’s Low-stress Backbone Network to allow people of all ages and abilities to bicycle. The Clement/Tilden project is consistent with the Vision Zero Action Plan (2021), which focuses on eliminating fatal and severe injury collisions, and is the citywide guiding principle for transportation planning, the design of streets and sidewalks, and the maintenance of the public rights-of-way making safety as the highest priority when balancing competing needs and demands for space within the public right-of-way. The Transportation Choices Plan (2018) lists the Clement/Tilden project as a Vision Zero Safety Improvements and Traffic Calming priority. The project is currently listed on the City Council's Draft Strategy Plan project list as item TIE14.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
These actions are exempt from environmental review under CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3), the general rule that CEQA only applies to actions that have the potential to cause a significant impact on the environment. As a separate and independent basis, these actions are also exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Sections 15308 (actions by regulatory agencies for protection of the environment) and 15183 (projects consistent with a community plan, general plan or zoning). None of the exceptions in CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2 apply.
CLIMATE IMPACT
Since vehicle miles traveled in Alameda is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in Alameda, City staff is expecting that the Cross Alameda Trail extension between Clement Avenue and the Miller-Sweeney/Fruitvale Bridge and a roundabout at Blanding/Tilden/Fernside would have a positive climate impact. The concept was developed to make it safer and more convenient to bicycle, walk and ride the bus and to reduce congestion and idling motor vehicles.
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a Second Amendment to a Project Funding Agreement with ACTC for an amount not-to-exceed $6,376,000 to complete the construction phase of the Clement Avenue/Tilden Way Project and to extend the expiration date to December 31, 2026; and authorizing submittal of the Safe Routes to BART Grant Application to fund the full build-out of the Clement Avenue/Tilden Way Project, which primarily improves the Broadway/Tilden Way intersection, for an amount not-to-exceed $3,000,000.
Respectfully submitted,
Allen Tai, Director of Planning, Building and Transportation
By,
Gail Payne, Project Manager
Financial Impact section reviewed,
Margaret O’Brien, Finance Director
Exhibits:
1. Concept
2. 2nd Amendment to Project Funding Agreement
3. First Amendment
4. Original Agreement
cc: Erin Smith, Public Works Director