Title
Adoption of Resolution Authorizing the Acting City Manager to Submit a Request to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission for the Allocation of $80,000 in Fiscal Year 2018/2019 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: Elizabeth D. Warmerdam, Acting City Manager
Re: Adoption of Resolution Authorizing the Acting City Manager to Submit a Request to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission for the Allocation of $80,000 in Fiscal Year 2018/2019 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 projects, programs and plans. 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 to claim funds under TDA Article 3. Funds are allocated and apportioned by population, and are submitted as part of a countywide coordinated TDA Article 3 claim. MTC has estimated the total funds for TDA Article 3 pedestrian/bicycle projects for Fiscal Year (FY) 2018/19, and the City of Alameda total is $78,801. The City already requested and allocated these anticipated funds last year, and is now allowed to borrow up to one year of future expected funds ($80,000).
Since 1991, the City has worked to implement the Cross Alameda Trail (CAT) project. 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 and opened, 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 complete and expected to open this Fall. The section from Main Street to Constitution Way is in the final design phase and staff expects to bid the project in Fall 2018 and complete the project in 2019.
DISCUSSION
For the FY 2018/19 TDA Article 3 funding cycle, City staff requests approval to submit an application for funding the CAT: Main Street to Constitution Way project for $80,000. To date, the City Council has authorized the allocation of $348,196 in TDA funds for the CAT project, over the previous four fiscal years. The additional $80,000 will support the completion of the CAT, and reduce the amount of other discretionary City funds expended on 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 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, and 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 pedestrian scale lighting to the project, which was not originally included due to budget limitations. Scaled lighting could also be added in the future, should other funds become available.
In March 2018, the City Council authorized staff to apply to the Bay Area Air Quality Management District’s Bicycle Facilities Grant Program. Staff submitted a grant application for $400,000 and is waiting to hear if the grant was successful.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
For TDA Article 3, staff is requesting that $80,000 be used for the CAT: Main to Constitution project. 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 up to 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 the BAAQMD Bikeways Facilities Grant and the Affordable Housing Sustainable Communities 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 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). As 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
Adopt a resolution authorizing the Acting City Manager to submit a request to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission for the allocation of $80,000 in Fiscal Year 2018/2019 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, Senior Transportation Coordinator
Financial Impact section reviewed,
Edwin Gato, Acting Finance Director