Title
Recommend Transportation Projects in Alameda’s 2019-2021 Capital Budget to the City Council.
Body
To: Members of the Transportation Commission
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Staff will present the proposed Transportation Projects in Alameda’s 2019-2021 Capital Budget to the Transportation Commission. Comments and recommendations will be brought before the City Council for approval.
BACKGROUND
The purpose of Alameda’s Capital Budget and Capital Improvement Program (CIP) is to best maintain and improve the City’s public infrastructure given limited resources. On June 18, 2019, staff will request the City Council approve the 2019-2021 Capital Budget. The City Manager’s Office will finalize the Capital Budget and operating budget in May after soliciting input from the Planning Board, Transportation Commission, Recreation and Park Commission, and the City’s Executive Management Team. Staff requests the Transportation Commission’s support for the transportation projects in the proposed 2019-2021 Capital Budget. The 2-year Capital Budget spending plan and transportation related one-page project descriptions is included in exhibit 1.
DISCUSSION
The 2019-2021 Capital Budget proposes $79 million to maintain the City’s sewers, storm drains, buildings, parks, transportation system. Of this total, approximately $23 million will be spent on transportation projects with an additional $28 million to for infrastructure renewal within Alameda Point. In summary, these transportation projects will:
• maintain and rehabilitate approximately 8 miles of street per year, keeping the City’s streets in “good” condition according to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission;
• make 6+ miles of sidewalk repairs;
• plant approximately 200 new and trim an estimated 10,000 street trees;
• convert the City’s streetlights to LED, saving energy and improving reliability;
• fully fund the initial phase of traffic calming and safety measures on Otis Drive between Grand Street and Westline Drive;
• fund a dedicated Traffic Calming program identifying;
• maintain and upgrade the City’s traffic signal equipment and operation;
• finish complete design on several grant funded corridor improvements including Central Avenue, Clement Avenue, and Appezzato Parkway;
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Transportation CIPs are typically funded from one or more of the following sources:
• Measure B/BB, which is the countywide one-cent sales tax dedicated to transportation, including local streets and roads, bicycle and pedestrian, transit and paratransit;
• Gas Tax, which is collected at the pump and can only be spent on transportation projects;
• Development impact fees, through which developers contribute to the transportation and other facility costs attributable to new development; and
• Federal, state, regional and county grants.
Approval of the 2019-2021 Capital Budget is only advisory; no funding allocations are made as a result of its approval.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This activity is not a project and is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to section 15378 (b)(4) of the CEQA Guidelines, because it involves governmental fiscal activities and does not involve any commitment to any specific project that may result in a potentially significant physical impact on the environment. Individual projects identified within the CIP budget and approved by City Council will be reviewed in accordance with CEQA - and if needed NEPA - requirements prior to their implementation.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the Transportation Commission approve the transportation projects in Alameda’s 2019-2021 Capital Budget and provide input on 2021-2024 transportation projects in the CIP.
Respectfully submitted,
Liam Garland, Public Works Director
By,
Scott Wikstrom, City Engineer
Exhibits
1: Capital Budget Spending Plan and Transportation Related Project Descriptions