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Adoption of Resolution Approving the Application for Grant Funds for California Climate Investments Urban Greening Program for 0.9 Miles of the Cross Alameda Trail between Main Street and Constitution Way; and Authorizing the City Manager to Execute Documents Necessary to Accept the Funding, Should the City be Awarded the Grant; and
Adoption of Resolution Approving the Application for Grant Funds for Bay Area Air Quality Management District’s Bicycle Facilities Grant Program for 0.9 Miles of the Cross Alameda Trail between Main Street and Constitution Way; and Authorizing the City Manager to Execute Documents Necessary to Accept the Funding, Should the City be Awarded the Grant. (Transportation 91402)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Jill Keimach, City Manager
Re: Adoption of Resolution Approving the Application for Grant Funds for California Climate Investments Urban Greening Program for 0.9 Miles of the Cross Alameda Trail between Main Street and Constitution Way; and Authorizing the City Manager to Execute Documents Necessary to Accept the Funding, Should the City be Awarded the Grant; and
Adoption of Resolution Approving the Application for Grant Funds for Bay Area Air Quality Management District’s Bicycle Facilities Grant Program for 0.9 Miles of the Cross Alameda Trail between Main Street and Constitution Way; and Authorizing the City Manager to Execute Documents Necessary to Accept the Funding, Should the City be Awarded the Grant
BACKGROUND
The City Council began enacting policies to develop a multi-use trail on the old Alameda Beltline property in 1991. Since then, the City has worked to implement what is now called the “Cross Alameda Trail” (CAT) along this corridor. Today, two sections of the CAT are under development by the City: (1) the Ralph Appezzato Memorial Parkway (RAMP)/Atlantic Avenue segment from Main Street to Constitution Way, and (2) the Jean Sweeney Park segment from Constitution Way to Sherman Street. Once completed, these two sections together will create a 1.5-mile trail from Main Street to Sherman Street that is completely separated from cars, except at several intersections. The entire CAT, when complete, will be a major east-west walking and bicycling corridor, stretching from the Seaplane Lagoon at Alameda Point to Tilden Way for a total of 4 miles.
Construction of the Jean Sweeney section of the trail is almost complete and expected to open this Fall. The section from Main Street to Constitution Way, which includes the CAT Atlantic Gap section (Webster Street to Constitution Way), is mostly funded with several grants and other City funding sources, and staff is assembling additional funding in order to bid the project in Fall 2018 and complete the project in 2019.
DISCUSSION
Since the original CAT project, from Main Street to Webster Street, was initiated, two major grants have been secured (Federal Transit Administration and Countywide Measure B Bicycle/Pedestrian Discretionary), plus several smaller grants. However, over the past three years, the cost estimates for the CAT from Main Street to Constitution Way have increased for a variety of reasons, and additional funds are needed to complete the project. The reasons for the rise in project costs includes:
• More extensive soil remediation needs than originally anticipated, on this former railroad right of way;
• Addition of the CAT Gap section (Webster Street to Constitution Way), which has not received any grant funds to date, the costs of which are extensive;
• More realistic costs for the entire project, as the project design has become more detailed; and
• Capturing all soft costs, so full costs to City are included.
In January 2018, the City applied for $900,000 from the Affordable Housing Sustainable Communities grant program, with the Eden Family Housing project at Site A, and is waiting to hear if that grant was successful. If these funds become available, the City will add lighting to the project, which was not originally included due to budget limitations.
In mid-2017, City staff applied for funding from Round 1 of the Urban Greening Program, funded by the California Climate Investments and administered by the California Natural Resources Agency. Unfortunately, that grant application was not successful, primarily due to the high priority given to disadvantaged communities, which Alameda is not. However, the City received very positive feedback from the grant funding agency regarding the CAT project. For this reason, and because the funding criteria for the Round 2 grant program have changed, making the City’s project more competitive, City staff recommend applying for the Urban Greening Program, Round 2. A total of $25 million is available statewide. The grant application is due April 11, and requires an adopted authorizing resolution from the City, prior to a recommendation for funding from the Natural Resources Agency, which will occur in October 2018.
In addition, the City recommends applying for the Bay Area Air Quality Management District’s (BAAQMD) Bicycle Facilities Grant Program for the CAT project. The program favors projects serving transit and also colleges, both of which are true for the CAT project. Up to $5.0 million is available, and the City expects the project to be competitive, based on discussions with the Air District staff. The grant application deadline is March 19 and an adopted resolution authorizing the submittal of an application, and confirming matching funds are secured and that the applicant will comply with the program policies and guidelines, must be received by April 2.
For both grant funding sources, City staff is also recommending that the City Manager be authorized to execute the funding agreements and any other necessary documents to accept the funding, should one or both grant applications be successful. Sample agreements for both grant programs are attached as Exhibits 1 and 2.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The current total cost estimate for designing and constructing the CAT from Main Street to Constitution Way is $7.0 million. City staff is seeking an additional $1.3 million in funding, which is needed to fully fund and complete the project. The City anticipates having the funding to award a construction contract this Fall by using a combination of funds from this Urban Greening Grant and/or the BAAQMD Bikeways Facilities Grant, if successful; or the Development Impact Fee (DIF) funds from the Del Monte project, should it move forward before this Fall. If the aforementioned sources do not provide the necessary funding, then staff would look to other available sources, including Measure B, Measure BB, Gas Tax, and/or the Construction Improvement Tax to fund the project.
MUNICIPAL CODE/POLICY DOCUMENT CROSS REFERENCE
Policy 4.1.7.d from the Transportation Element of the City of Alameda’s General Plan (2009) states: "Pursue opportunities to utilize the corridor of the former Alameda Belt Line railroad for transit, bicycle and pedestrian transportation.” Both the City’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plans include the CAT as planned pedestrian/bicycle pathways along Atlantic, connecting to the planned facilities to the east and west. This CAT project will also assist in meeting the goals of the City of Alameda's Local Action Plan for Climate Protection.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
In accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), this project is Categorically Exempt under the 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.) On a separate and independent basis, the project is also statutorily exempt from CEQA pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 21080.20.5 (restriping of streets and highways for bike lanes in an urbanized area that is consistent with a bike plan). In accordance with 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.
RECOMMENDATION
Approve the applications for grant funds to two grant funding sources: (1) the California Climate Investments Urban Greening Program, and (2) the Bay Area Air Quality Management District’s Bicycle Facilities Grant Program, to construct the Cross Alameda Trail Project between Main Street and Constitution Way; and to authorize the City Manager to execute documents necessary to accept the funding, should the City be awarded the grants.
Respectfully submitted,
Jennifer Ott, Transportation Planning Director
By,
Rochelle Wheeler, Senior Transportation Coordinator
Financial Impact section reviewed,
Edwin Gato, Acting Finance Director
Exhibits:
1. Sample Agreement - Urban Greening Program
2. Sample Agreement - Bicycle Facilities Grant Program