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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/20/2007, C8 - SUBMITTAL OF GRANT APPLICATIONS FOR PROPOSITION 1B DISCRETIONARY FUNDS council M November 20,2007 acenba uepoin �N CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO FROM: Jay Walter, Public Works Director Prepared by: John Webster, Sr. Transit Manager Timothy Scott Bochum, Deputy Director SUBJECT: SUBMITTAL OF GRANT APPLICATIONS FOR PROPOSITION 1B DISCRETIONARY FUNDS CAO RECOMMENDATION Adopt a resolution, authorizing submission of applications to the San Luis Obispo Council of Governments for 2007-08 Proposition lb Transit Capital Grants to fund: 1) transit vehicle replacements; and 2)bus rapid transit—a demonstration Program. DISCUSSION Background As part of the November 2006 election, the public approved the passage of approximately $20 billion in transportation and public infrastructure bond financing for public improvements. Proposition lb (the transportation bonding initiative) created various new fund sources to be spent on public infrastructure improvements. The transit component of Proposition lb funding ..• has been debated at the State level and guidelines for grant allocation have recently been finalized and submitted to the regional planning and programming agencies (SLOCOG in San Luis Obispo County) to solicit applications and make recommendations for funding of projects. Countywide, the Proposition lb transit discretionary grant money available over the next five years is estimated to be between $10 and 12.5 million. For FY 2007-08 funds, the State established a very aggressive timeframe for application submittal, review and recommendation. Applications are due to Caltrans on November 30"', 2007 and so SLOCOG has requested a very quick application submittal from the City. The State has also established the criteria for use in determining discretionary priorities of applications. Attachment 2 is a listing of the project criteria established by the State for processing of Proposition lb applications. In reviewing these criteria staff has determined that two applications fit the State criteria well. The two applications proposed by staff are: 1) an acceleration of our transit vehicle replacement program (with a goal of one year earlier than anticipated in the FY 2007-09 Financial Plan), and 2) a demonstration project for Bus Rapid Transit Signal Priority. Because the due date for applications in response to SLOCOG's "call for projects" applications was November 2, 2007, prior to the November 7th, 2007 MTC meeting, staff had to prepare . applications in accordance with the grant program without review by the MTC. However, MTC has previously reviewed and recommended both the transit vehicle replacements and the Bus Rapid Transit applications as part of the 2007-09 Financial Plan process and the STA � I �0 l I i Council Agenda Report—STA Grant Applications Page 2 discretionary grant submittal requests earlier this calendar year. Application41 —Transit Vehicle replacement The first application for Proposition lb funding proposes to accelerate the City's vehicle replacement program by one year from funding expectations established in the FY 2007-09 Financial Plan. The Proposition lb guidelines require a minimum 12% match from local other transit funding. Fund Type Total Prior 07/08 08/09 09/10 : 10/11 11/12 1. Prbp 1 B 2,644,400 638,000 1,003,200 1,003,200 2.-Other 360,600 87,000 136,800 136,800 ;Not allowed this cycle 3.- `s 4.- L TOTAL 3,005,000 725,000 1,140,000 1;140,000 Table 1 —Bus Replacement Grant Request The grant request proposes replacement of two buses in the current fleet with clean diesel buses in FY 07-08 and (if possible) two hybrid or high capacity buses in FY 08-09. The current update to the Short Range Transit Plan is analyzing if hybrid technology.makes sense for SLO Transit in the next five year period. The local match amounts will be funded using existing transit funding (Transportation Development Act or possibly Federal Transit Administration (5307) funds. Application.#2''—Bus Rapid Transit Demonstration Proiect The second application for Proposition lb funding proposes a small scale Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project within the SLO Transit service area. The demonstration project would be to implement and analyze priority bus treatment along a couple of major bus routes within the City .and determine if signal priority will assist in on-time performance for the SLO Transit system. While BRT can take many forms, the City is in a unique position that its traffic signal system, with the addition of more secure signal preemption equipment, is capable of providing better transit priority treatment in signal timing. In essence receivers are placed at the signal locations that allow buses to communicate with the signal system and allow small extensions of the green times so that the buses can continue traveling the route when they would normally be stopped. These types of systems are now being used to help transit systems with their on-time performance and to increase headways. The City's signal system already has some locations with preemption devices, although exclusively for emergency purposes. Because these systems are older and unsecured, we have experienced a recent surge in illegal preemption activity. This has caused both the City and Caltrans to disconnect them due to the disruption to the signal system. Until the security issue is resolved, BRT is not possible in the SLO Transit service area. The Public Works Department and the Fire Department are considering a secure system alternative and may be implementing a pilot project in the near future which would reestablish preemption capabilities. The application proposes to retrofit and install new traffic signal preemption devices along major C O �� f _ Council Agenda Report—STA Grant Applications Page 3 SLO Transit corridors and on SLO Transit buses. Depending on final funding levels, these corridors could include: Johnson Santa Rosa Marsh California Foothill Broad Street Los Osos Valley Road Madonna The project would also provide new signal system program timings to implement bus priority treatment in the City. The priority treatment should help in improving on-time performance particularly for current routes that are running at capacity and without recovery times at the bus stops. Fundi a Total Prior 07/08_ 08/09 09/10 C 10/11 11/12 1. Prop 1 B 220,000- 176,000 44,000 0 1 2.-Other' 30,000 24,000 6,000 0 1Not allowed this cycle 3.- i 4.- I TOTAL 250,000 200,000 50,000 0 Tablet—Bus Rapid Transit Grant Request Note 1) Local match is anticipated to come from an existing State Highway Assistance grant for signal system improvements already acquired by the City. Depending on final,grant levels, the project can be modified to include more or less travel corridors as part of the demonstration project. FISCAL IMPACT There is no anticipated impact to the City's General Fund as a result of submitting these grant requests. However, because transit funding has historically been unstable or, more importantly, if the City can take better advantage of this one time only money, the use of the General Fund to assist in meeting local match requirements may be necessary. Depending upon SLOCOG final funding recommendations, staff may need to return to Council with additional funding requests if we are able to take better advantage of the unique funding opportunity. ALTERNATIVES Council could modify the grant applications or choose not to submit any applications. This is not recommended since this is a funding opportunity that may not be repeated. ATTACHMENTS 1. Resolution 2. Proposition 1B Criteria G:\Staff-Reports-Agendas-Minutes\_CAR\2007\Ttansit\2007 Prop Ib Grants\Transit Proposition Ib Grant-PRODUCTION.doc Cg-3 I RESOLUTION NO. (2007 Series) Attachment 1 RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO APPROVING THE SUBMITTAL OF PROPOSITION 1B GRANTS TO SLOCOG WHEREAS, the City of San Luis Obispo (referred hereinafter as the City) operates SLO Transit; and . WHEREAS, the San Luis Obispo Council of Governments (SLOCOG) has requested applications for discretionary Proposition 1 B (Prop 1 B) fund; and WHEREAS, City Council seeks to utilize all available funding sources to provide transit services. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of San Luis Obispo: SECTION 1. Approves the submittal of applications for 2007-08 Prop 1 B Grants for: 1. Transit Vehicle Replacements 2. Bus Rapid Transit - Demonstration Program SECTION 2. Agrees that, as part of any grant awards, the City will provide a of local match for the grant projects at a minimum of 12% of total grant award. SECTION 3. Authorizes the City Administrative Officer, or his designee, to negotiate all necessary paperwork should the grants be funded by SLOCOG. On motion of seconded by and on the following roll call vote: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: The foregoing resolution was passed and adopted this day of , 2007. Dave Romero, Mayor ATTEST: Audrey Hooper, City Clerk Jonathan P. Lowell, City Attorney G:\Staff-Reports-Agendas-Minutes\_CAR\2007\Tlansit\2007Prop Ib Gmts\Ttansit STA Grant(Resolution)-PRODUCTION.doc Attachment 2 CA Government Code General Obligation Bonds Chapter 4,Section 16727 16727. Proceeds from the sale of any bonds issued pursuant to this chapter shall be used only for the following purposes: (a) The costs of construction or acquisition of capital assets. 1) "Capital assets" mean tangible physical property with an expected useful life of 15 years or more. 2) "Capital assets" also means tangible physical property with an expected useful life of 10 to 15 years,but these costs may not exceed 10 percent of the bond proceeds net of all issuance costs. 3) "Capital assets" include maior maintenance,reconstruction, demolition for purposes of reconstruction of facilities, and retrofitting work that is ordinarily done no more often than once every 5 to 15 years or expenditures that continue or enhance the useful life of the capital asset. 4) "Capital assets" also include equipment with an expected useful life of two years or more. Costs allowable under this section include costs incidentally but directly related to construction or acquisition, including,but not limited to, planning, engineering,construction management, architectural,and other design work, environmental impact reports and assessments, required mitigation expenses, appraisals, legal expenses, site acquisitions,and necessary easements.