Title
Approve Letter of Support to the California Transportation Commission for the Cross Alameda Trail Project Through Jean Sweeney Open Space Park.
Body
To: Honorable Chair and Members of the Recreation and Park Commission
From: Amy Wooldridge, Recreation and Parks Director
Re: Approve Letter of Support to the California Transportation Commission for the Cross Alameda Trail Project Through Jean Sweeney Open Space Park.
BACKGROUND
The Cross Alameda Trail is a 4 mile long path that spans the length of the City of Alameda, from the former Alameda Naval Base to the Miller Sweeney Bridge, connecting to the City of Oakland. The section of the Cross Alameda Trail runs through the Jean Sweeney Open Space Park, which is a 27-acre park that is being developed on former railroad property and has tremendous community and political support. This trail section will connect with two other trail sections now in development and provide off-street bicycle/pedestrian access for Alameda residents, commuters, families, children who need safe routes to school, people accessing a major transportation hub at one end of the trail, and people connecting with valuable services at the adjacent Alameda Food Bank. This trail project is the first phase of the Jean Sweeney Open Space Park development and a cornerstone upon which the remaining park development is built.
DISCUSSION
Although the Cross Alameda Trail project is ready to go out to bid, the project was inadvertently left off the 2017 federal transportation budget (TIP) project list. The project is halted until the TIP budget amendment is approved, which will be in mid-April. A 6-month extension was originally requested because the project design required a soil remediation work plan approved by the Dept. of Toxic Substance Control (DTSC) and it took significantly longer than originally anticipated to secure those approvals from DTSC. The 6-month extension leaves the City only 5 weeks to formally bid the project, finalize the terms, and have the City Council officially award the contract. This compressed timeline for a public procurement process would jeopardize the funding to build the Cross Alameda Trail. The six months was originally requested and feasible until it was realized that the project was left out of the TIP budget. A longer 9-month extension will provide enough time for the City to complete the appropriate public bid process after the TIP is approved and help to ensure this community-loved project is completed.
The City is requesting that the California Transportation Commission grant a 9-month extension for the Cross Alameda Trail Project [ATPL 5014 (042)] at its March 16, 2017 meeting. The Recreation and Parks Director and Mayor are attending this CTC meeting to advocate for the 9-month extension.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The construction portion of the grant funding for the Cross Alameda Trail, from the Active Transportation Program, is in jeopardy with possible loss of funding if the City only receives a 6-month extension and is unable to complete the public bid process and Council contract approval in a five-week time period.
RECOMMENDATION
Approve the included letter of support to the California Transportation Commission for the Cross Alameda Trail project through Jean Sweeney Open Space Park.
Respectfully submitted,
Amy Wooldridge, Recreation and Parks Director
Exhibits:
1. Letter of Support to CTC Commissioners