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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/19/2006, C5 - CALIFORNIA BICYCLE TRANSPORTATION ACCOUNT GRANT-RAILROAD SAFETY TRAIL PHASE 4 i council " Se September 19,2006 acenaa Report �N e� CITY OF SAN LUI $ OBISPO FROM: Jay D. Walter,Director of Public Works VIA: Tim Bochum, Deputy Director of Public Works Prepared By: Chris Overby,Engineer I SUBJECT: CALIFORNIA BICYCLE TRANSPORTATION ACCOUNT GRANT- RAILROAD SAFETY TRAIL PHASE 4 CAO RECOMMENDATION Adopt a resolution certifying that the City will provide a match of$60,200 (10%) for the recently . awarded California Department. of Transportation (Caltrans) Bicycle Transportation Account (BTA) grant in the amount of $541,800 (90%) for use in the construction of Phase 4 of the Railroad Safety Trail. DISCUSSION Background: In 2001, the Bicycle Advisory Committee (BAC) expressed a desire to submit applications to Caltrans for funding bicycle projects under the State BTA grant program. At its September 19, 2002 meeting, the BAC evaluated various projects and recommended that a grant application be submitted for the northern segment of the Railroad Safety Trail (RST Phase 4). RST Phase 4 involves the installation of a twelve-foot-wide asphalt path on City-controlled land between the railroad tracks and the palm trees along California Boulevard. This facility will serve the needs of both bicyclists and pedestrians, since there are no sidewalks on the west side of California Blvd. In the 2005-07 budget, $624,000 in Transportation Impact Fees were allocated to this project and the design is currently underway. The first grant submittal was unsuccessful, and staff continued to submit grant applications during three subsequent BTA grant periods. Each time, the project grant request was modified to reflect the cost increases anticipated by the City for the project, but no corresponding resolution was adopted by Council to update the 10% matching amount required for BTA grants. In 2006 staff was successful and the City was awarded.a 2006 BTA grant for RST Phase 4 in the amount of $602,000. The BTA program requires a minimum local funding match of ten percent (10%). The actual BTA grant paid out reflects 90% of the grant amount resulting in $541,800 in grant money to the City. At the time of the first grant application, the total cost for RST Phase 4 was estimated at $350,000, and the Council adopted a resolution certifying that it would match 10% of the total project cost if the grant submittal was successful. A new Council resolution is needed to certify that the City is prepared to provide the local funding match for the increased cost of the project. The total match amount is now $60,200 and can be funded by Transportation Impact Fees already budgeted for the project in the 2005-07 Financial Plan. e,C--/ Bicycle Transportation Account Grant Page 2 Due to escalating construction costs incurred in recent years, and conditions that have been proposed by Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) as part of the license agreement to build the remaining phases of the Railroad Safety Trail, staff is recommending that the $541,800 in new grant funding supplement the existing construction budget for Phase 4 of the RST. This is primarily due to UPRR's current request that the City construct fencing along the west side of the railroad right-of-way to deter pedestrian access. This fencing could be quite expensive and is not included in the current Financial Plan budget. If the fencing requirements are dropped byUPRR, the southern project boundary could be modified to include a bridge across the US 101 freeway. FISCAL IMPACT The 2005-07 Financial Plan has programmed $624,000 in Transportation Impact Fees for use on this project. Of this amount, $60,200 will be used as local match for the grant. Adding the grant money to the current project construction budget will increase the total project budget to $1,165,800. ALTERNATIVES The Council could elect to not match the grant funds and refuse the grant. Staff does not recommend this since the grant represents a high rate of return for a small City investment. ATTACHMENTS Resolution certifying local funding match of 10%. ¢gaff-repots`epandastri=w\-ca62006Wanwortadm\Ltf print-phase 4 railroad safety v2il.0oc �s -z i ATTACHMENT 1 RESOLUTION NO. (2006 Series) A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO CERTIFYING THAT IT WILL PROVIDE A MINIMUM OF TEN PERCENT OF THE TOTAL PROJECT COST FOR THE NORTHERN SEGMENT OF THE RAILROAD SAFETY TRAIL AS REQUIRED BY THE CALIFORNIA BICYCLE TRANSPORTATION ACCOUNT (BTA)PROGRAM GRANT WHEREAS, the City Council has adopted a Bicycle Transportation Plan that complies with the content requirements of Section 891.2 of the California Streets and Highways Code;and WHEREAS, San Luis Obispo's Bicycle Transportation Plan specifically recommends the creation of the Railroad Safety Trail and identifies the segment between Foothill Boulevard and Hathway Avenue as a segment of this trail system-, and WHEREAS, the City has been awarded a grant in the amount of $541, 800 which will contribute the needed funds to construct this section of the Railroad Safety Trail; and WHEREAS, as a condition of the BTA grant, the City must provide matching funds in the amount of$60,200; and WHEREAS, the Community Development Director has reviewed the Railroad Safety Trail project and its Initial Environmental Study and has granted the project a. Mitigated Negative Declaration consistent with the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and its guidelines; and WHEREAS, the City Council finds that implementation of this project described below will improve bicycle transportation in San Luis Obispo, consistent with the community's General Plan Circulation Element and Bicycle Transportation Plan. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of San Luis Obispo that: SECTION 1. The City Council hereby certifies that it will provide a minimum ten percent (10%) local funding match for the project to construct the northern segment of the Railroad Safety Trail paralleling the east side of the Union_ Pacific Railroad right-of-way between Foothill Boulevard and Hathway Avenue. C s-3 R Resolution No. (2006 Series) Page 4 Upon motion of , seconded by and on the following vote: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: The foregoing resolution was adopted this day of 2006. Mayor David F. Romero ATTEST: Audrey Hooper City Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM: Jonath Lowell City Attorney 911Vf0.6 �`pQE ONJy San Luis Obispo County Bicycle Coalition PO Box 14860 • San Luis Obispo, CA 93406.4860 m � l l Adam Fukushima, Executive Director Phone: 805-541-3875 oC'uGIE'COaIIrIOIL,; Email adamf@slobikelane.org September 21, 2006 City Council RECEIVED City of San Luis Obispo 6 205 c-o 990 Palm Street San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 _C) Clll' CLERK Dear Members of Council, On behalf of the San Luis Obispo County Bicycle Coalition, I would like to thank you for providing the $60,200 match for the recently awarded Caltrans Bicycle Transportation Account (BTA) grant of$541,800 for the construction of Phase 4 of the Railroad Safety Trail. The BTA is a competitive grant, and the Bicycle Coalition was glad to support the City's application. Peggy Mandeville of City Public Works did an excellent job in putting together a strong application and remained persistent even after several failed applications in the past. Her efforts should be commended. Thank you also for keeping the option of an easement for creek access at the Windermere Condominiums for a possible bridge. The good news is that the new federal SAFETEA-LU transportation funding includes over $500 million just for Safe Routes to School (SR2S). In fact, most of those funds are set aside just for infrastructural improvements. Since California already has a robust SR2S program in place, we are in a good position to apply for that funding. The Bicycle Coalition would be pleased to work with the City to acquire those funds. Thank you for your leadership not only for the bicycle community but also for being a strong advocate for physical activity, a livable community, and public safety. Kind regards, e�0 ACS U /4'77--y �/ rnAn.iOEtJiCC� The San Luis Obispo County Bicycle Coalition is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization working to transform SLO County into a safer and more livable community by promoting bicycling and walking for everyday transportation and recreation. Foi-more information, visit wim.slobikelane.org.