HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/17/2005, C12 - 2005 TRANSPORTATION GRANT SUBMITTALS councit M�D� May 17.N105
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CITY OF SAN LUIS 0BISP0
FROM:-- Jay Walter, P.E. —Public Works Director
Prepared By: Timothy Scott Bochum,RE' —Deputy Director
SUBJECT: 2005 TRANSPORTATION GRANT SUBMITTALS
CAO RECOMMENDATION
Adopt resolution authorizing the submittal of various grants for transportation purposes.
DISCUSSION
Each year various grants become available for transportation purposes. City policy requires that
the Council review grant submittals that are sought by the City for these purposes. During this
difficult fiscal time it is essential that the City take advantage of any outside funding source to
assist in delivering capital improvements. Unfortunately, current State financing problems have
lead to the delay in many State funding opportunities therefore most grants that will become
available will be from Federal grants sources and carry with them Federal requirements. At this
time there are three transportation grant sources that are available (one State and two Federal)
and will be pursued by the City. A description of these grants submittals and their fiscal impact
to the general fund are described below.
2005 California Office of Traffic Safety-Safety Grant
Each year the California Office of Traffic Safety solicits grants for public traffic safety programs.
The program usually targets specific areas of traffic safety each year(such as drunk driving). This
year one area the program is focusing on is traffic collision reporting systems. The City has
compiled a grant for submission to improve collision reporting by the Police Department and
using handheld computers for preparing and processing the reports. Currently most of the
reporting is done by hand and must be entered into the City's various computer systems by hand.
This is a very tedious, time consuming and repetitive process since more than one department
currently codes this data for their individual use. The proposed digital input system will greatly
enhance our ability to perform these duties and should reduce the time and effort to complete
these tasks for both the Police and Public Works Departments.
Fiscal Impact: The grant request is in the amount of$108,900 and does not require a local match
at this time. While it is difficult to identify any cost savings to the General Fund, implementation
of the new collision reporting system will significantly reduce the time that is necessary to
process collision reports for the Police and Public Works Departments. Therefore, some time
savings should occur that can then be redirected to other areas such as traffic enforcement.
2006 Hazard Elimination Safety Grant-Federal
Each year Caltrans administers the Federal Hazard Elimination Safety (HES) grant program and
solicits applications for safety improvements. The City has typically not applied for these funds
because they are Federal (requiring additional environmental review and processing). However,
this year there is an opportunity to use these funds for a project that is already"federalized"—the
2005 Transportation Grants Page 2
Orcutt Road Widening project. This project, which is underfunded at this point, is a high
collision location (Laurel at Orcutt) as identified in both the 2002 and 2003 Traffic Safety
Reports.
Fiscal Impact: The grant request is in the amount of $360,000 (the maximum grant amount
available).
2006 Transportation Enhancement Activity Grant-Federal
Each year SLOCOG solicits applications for the Federal Transportation Enhancement Activity
(TEA) program. This grant money is restricted to projects that enhance the transportation system
for projects such as bicycle and pedestrian improvements, landscaping and medians. Staff is
proposing to solicit TEA money for the Orcutt Road Widening project to assist in the bicycle,
pedestrian and median improvements included in that project. Currently there are no bicycle
lanes or sidewalks on Orcutt Road across the UPRR tracks and bicyclists and pedestrians using
the Railroad Trail cross Orcutt Road near Bullock where such crossings are not ideal. The Orcutt
Road widening project will improve both of these facilities and improve pedestrian and bicycle
access east and west of the track. This project, which is underfunded at this point, is a high
collision location (Laurel at Orcutt) as identified in both the 2002 and 2003 Traffic Safety
Reports and has been identified by the City's Bicycle Advisory Committee and County Bicycle
Coalition as an area that needs to be addressed.
Fiscal Impact: The grant request is in the amount of $600,000 (the maximum grant amount
available) and will require a 12.5% ($75,000) local match. The Orcutt Road Widening Project
has an existing grant from local sources in the amount of$202,000 that can be used as the local
match for this grant. Depending on the amount of grants that are secured for the project, the
remaining project budget shortfall will need to be filled using City Transportation Impact Fee
funds.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact to the General Fund as a result of these grant submittals.
ALTERNATIVES
Do not submit grants. Council could chose to not solicit grant funding for these projects.
However, since there is currently a limited funding ability to deliver these projects unless outside
funding is secured, the projects may not be completed or will be significantly delayed.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment 1 -Resolution
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ATTACHMENT 1
RESOLUTION NO. (2005 Series)
A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO
DIRECTING THE CAO TO SUBMIT GRANT FUNDING APPLICATIONS
FOR VARIOUS TRANSPORTATION FUNDING SOURCES
WHEREAS,the City Of San Luis Obispo actively pursues funding for programs and projects to
augment delivery of needed services to the community; and
WHEREAS, various grant sources become available during the year for miscellaneous purposes
including transportation safety and enhancement;and
WHEREAS, the City Council finds that implementation of this projects described below will
improve transportation in San Luis Obispo, consistent with the community's General Plan
Circulation.Element.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of San Luis Obispo as
follows:
Section 1. The City Council directs the City Administrative Officer(CAO)to submit an Office
of Traffic Safety (OTS) grant application to Caltrans and to enter into any
subsequent cooperative agreements with that agency for the following project:
Automated Collision Analysis and Tracking System Upgrade - GIS ($108,900 total
cost).
Section 2. The City Council hereby certifies that it will provide a minimum ten percent (10%)
local funding match for the project described in Section 1.
Section 3. The City Council directs the City Administrative Officer(CAO) to submit a Hazard
Elimination Safety (IES) grant application to Caltrans and to enter into any
subsequent cooperative agreements with that agency for the following project:
Orcutt Road Widening Project($360,000 total grant request).
Section 4. The City Council directs the City Administrative Officer (CAO) to submit a
Transportation Enhancement Activity (TEA) grant application to SLOCOG and to
enter into any subsequent cooperative agreements with that agency for the following
project:
Orcutt Road Widening Project($600,000 total grant request).
Section 5. The City Council hereby certifies that it will provide a minimum twelve and one
half percent (12.5%) local funding match for the requested grant amount of the.
project described in Section 4.
Na- 3
Page 2—Resolution No.
On motion of , seconded by
and on the following roll call vote
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
the following resolution was adopted this 17th day of May, 2005.
David F Romero,Mayor
ATTEST:
Audrey Hooper,City Clerk
J path well, City Attorney