Title
Adoption of Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Submit a Request to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission for the Allocation of $222,279 in Fiscal Year 2017-2018 for the Cross Alameda Trail Project Between Main Street and Constitution Way per Transportation Development Act Article 3 for Pedestrian/Bicycle Project Funding and to Execute All Necessary Documents (Transportation 91402)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Jill Keimach, City Manager
Re: Adoption of Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Submit a Request to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission for the Allocation of $222,279 in Fiscal Year 2017-2018 for the Cross Alameda Trail Project Between Main Street and Constitution Way per Transportation Development Act Article 3 for Pedestrian/Bicycle Project Funding and to Execute All Necessary Documents
BACKGROUND
The Transportation Development Act (TDA), Public Utilities Code Sections 99233.3 and 99234, makes funds available in the nine-county Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) region for pedestrian/bicycle purposes. MTC makes annual allocations of TDA Article 3 funds to eligible claimants after review of applications submitted by counties or congestion management agencies. All cities and counties in the Bay Area are eligible for funds under TDA Article 3. Funds are allocated and apportioned by population, and are submitted as part of a countywide coordinated TDA Article 3 application. MTC has estimated funds for TDA Article 3 pedestrian/bicycle projects for Fiscal Year (FY) 2017/18, which total $74,757 for the City of Alameda. In addition, the City has unallocated funds leftover from the last fiscal year, and is allowed to borrow up to one year of future expected funds.
DISCUSSION
For the FY 2017/18 TDA Article 3 funding cycle, City staff requests approval to submit an application for funding the Cross Alameda Trail (CAT): Main Street to Constitution Way project. Staff is recommending that a total of $222,279 be allocated to the CAT project, as follows: current year funds (FY 2017/18) of $74,757, previous year funds (FY 2016/17) of $72,765 which were not allocated to a project, and a “loan” of next year’s (FY 2018/19) funds of $74,757.
The CAT project from Main Street to Constitution Way will construct a continuous 0.9 mile bicycling and walking facility with Class I bicycling and walking paths and separated bicycle lanes in the former railroad right-of-way along Ralph Appezzato Memorial Parkway and Atlantic Avenue. This section of the CAT, which includes the CAT Atlantic Gap section (Webster Street to Constitution Way), is partially funded with several grants and staff is assembling additional funding in order to complete the project.
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 two 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.
• Increased costs associated with the CAT Gap section (Webster Street to Constitution Way), which has not received any grant funds to date.
• More realistic costs for the entire project, as the project design has become more detailed.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
For TDA Article 3, Staff is requesting that $222,279 be used for the Cross Alameda Trail: Main to Constitution project. The current cost estimate for constructing the CAT from Main Street to Constitution Way is $4.8 million. The City has almost $2.0 million in secured grants and Measure B/BB funding, and the remaining funding will be from the Urban Greening grant, if it is secured, or from a mix of discretionary City sources (Measure B and Development Impact Fees). A proposed allocation for the CAT project will be included in the 2017-2019 Capital Improvement Program budget, which will be brought to the City Council for approval in June.
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). The City prepared an assessment of the project related traffic and safety impacts, and recommends a concept that alleviates potential vehicular traffic impacts and bicycle and pedestrian safety impacts. No further environmental review is required because the project fits within the above categorical and statutory exemptions that are specifically designed for these types of bicycle infrastructure projects in urban areas.
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
Adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager to submit a request to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission for the allocation of $222,279 in Fiscal Year 2017/2018 for the Cross Alameda Trail Project between Main Street and Constitution Way per Transportation Development Act Article 3 for Pedestrian/Bicycle project funding and to execute all necessary documents.
Respectfully submitted,
Jennifer Ott, Transportation Planning Director
By,
Rochelle Wheeler, Transportation Planner
Financial Impact section reviewed,
Elena Adair, Finance Director