Title
Adoption of Resolution Authorizing the Submission of an Allocation Request to Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), Committing to Comply with the Provisions of MTC’s Regional Measure 3 Policies and Procedures for the Willie Stargell Safety Improvements Project.
City Council previously found the project categorically exempt pursuant to California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines section 15301(c) Existing Facilities (Minor alterations to existing facilities including bicycle facilities) and Section 15304(h) Minor Alterations to Land and the creation of bicycle lanes on existing public rights of way. Under the National Environmental Policy Act, this project is a Categorical Exclusion under 23 Code of Federal Regulations 771.117(c): activity (c) (3) Construction of bicycle and pedestrian lanes, paths and facilities. (Planning Building and Transportation 24462742)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Adam W. Politzer, Interim City Manager
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Willie Stargell Avenue Complete Street Project Phase I has been awarded multiple grants and is now fully funded. In February 2025, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) awarded the City of Alameda (City) $4.9 million for the Stargell Avenue Safety Improvements Project with funds from Regional Measure 3 (RM3) Safe Routes to Transit and Bay Trail Program. For this program, MTC requires allocation requests by project phase with a sponsor agency Resolution of Project Compliance for each request. The City will advance the project to the Plans, Specifications, and Estimates (PS&E) phase starting in May 2026, for which the current allocation request to MTC will be $200,000.
Staff recommends that City Council adopt a Resolution of Project Compliance authorizing the submission of an allocation request to MTC for the Stargell Ave Corridor Project PS&E phase.
BACKGROUND
The Willie Stargell Avenue Complete Street Project will construct safety and transit improvements between Main Street and Mariner Square Loop by improving school crossings, providing active transportation facilities, slowing traffic, improving the safety of major intersections, installing landscape and green infrastructure, and adding new bus stops for AC Transit’s Line 19. The City Council endorsed the design concept in April 2025. Phase 1 of the project is under design and includes all scope elements except the roundabout at Mariner Square Loop, which is planned as a future phase. More information about the project is available at alamedaca.gov/Stargell <http://www.alamedaca.gov/stargell>.
In 2025, Phase 1 of the project was awarded five grants for design and construction, including $4.9 million from MTC RM3 Safe Routes to Transit and Bay Trail Program. Other funding awarded in 2025 includes the Alameda CTC Comprehensive Investment Program, the California Active Transportation Program, MTC’s Active Transportation Design Technical Assistance program, and most recently, the California Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities grant in partnership with Stardust Gardens.
The project is currently in the preliminary engineering and environmental phase, which is on schedule for completion in April 2026.
DISCUSSION
The next phase of work for the project is Plans, Specifications, and Estimates (PS&E), which is scheduled to begin in May 2026. The overall budget for this phase is $800,000 and is fully funded. Funding for this phase will come from two grants:
• Alameda CTC 2026 Comprehensive Investment Program ($600,000)
• MTC RM3 Safe Routes to Transit and Bay Trail ($200,000)
Both grant funds are already included in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025-26 Capital Budget. The resolution commits that the City will comply with the provisions of MTC’s Regional Measure 3 Policies and Procedures and approves the Initial Project Report (Exhibit 1) and allocation request of $200,000 for PS&E (Exhibit 2). MTC is scheduled to consider the allocation request at their April 22, 2026 meeting. Staff will return to City Council for a similar allocation request for the construction phase once PS&E is complete. This is scheduled for Spring 2027.
ALTERNATIVES
• Adopt the resolution as described herein.
• Do not adopt the resolution (not recommended).
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The action has no financial impact. The funding in the allocation request to MTC is already included in the FY 2025-26 Capital Budget.
MUNICIPAL CODE/POLICY DOCUMENT CROSS REFERENCE
The 2040 General Plan Mobility Element policy ME-7 prioritizes projects on High Injury Corridors, traffic calming, speed reduction, and the use of roundabouts to improve street safety. The 2023 Strategic Plan includes Project #TIE11 to “Plan, Design and Construct Stargell Avenue bicycle and pedestrian improvements.” The 2022 Active Transportation Plan recommends a multi-use trail along Stargell Avenue. The 2018 Transportation Choices Plan establishes the “Stargell Avenue” project to install “separated bikeway, walkway and bus lanes” as a priority project.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
City Council previously found the proposed project is categorically exempt pursuant to California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines section 15301(c) Existing Facilities (Minor alterations to existing facilities including bicycle facilities) and Section 15304(h) Minor Alterations to Land and the creation of bicycle lanes on existing public rights of way. Under the National Environmental Policy Act, this project is a Categorical Exclusion under 23 Code of Federal Regulations 771.117(c): activity (c) (3) Construction of bicycle and pedestrian lanes, paths and facilities.
CLIMATE IMPACT
The Climate Action and Resiliency Plan Update (2025) found that transportation accounts for 54% of the City’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and that moving people out of automobiles is paramount to reducing transportation-related emissions. Creating a new safe, separated bikeway and additional space for walking will reduce GHG emissions by allowing people to bicycle and walk to local schools and to major destinations like the College of Alameda, the Alameda Landing Shopping Center and the Webster Street transit corridor.
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt a resolution of Project Compliance authorizing the submission of an allocation request to MTC, committing to comply with the provisions of MTC’s Regional Measure 3 Policies and Procedures.
Respectfully submitted,
Allen Tai, Planning, Building, and Transportation Director
By,
Susie Hufstader, Senior Transportation Coordinator
Financial Impact section reviewed,
Ross McCarthy, Finance Director
Exhibits:
1. Regional Measure 3 Initial Project Report
2. Regional Measure 3 Allocation Request
cc: Scott Wikstrom, City Engineer