HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/21/2002, C8 - CALIFORNIA BICYCLE TRANSPORTATION ACCOUNT (BTA) GRANT APPLICATIONS Da
council M��
May 21,2002
acEnaa REpont °C86�
C I T Y O F S A N L U I S O B I S P O
FROM: Mike McCluskey,Director of Public Works
Prepared By: Terry Sanville,Principal Transportation Planner ]
SUBJECT: CALIFORNIA BICYCLE TRANSPORTATION ACCOUNT(BTA)
GRANT APPLICATIONS
CAO RECOMMENDATION: As recommended by the Bicycle Advisory Committee (BAC), adopt a
resolution directing the CAO to submit BTA Grant Applications to Caltrans and enter into any required
subsequent agreements for:
1. The installation of a traffic signal at the Santa Barbara-Morro Street intersection; and
2. The implementation of a citywide bicycle parking retrofit program.
DISCUSSION
A. Background and Description of Projects. In 2001, the Bicycle Advisory Committee (BAC)
expressed a desire to submit applications to the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) for
funding bicycle projects under the Bicycle Transportation Account (BTA) program. At its March 21,
2002 meeting, the BAC considered a short list of eligible projects (see Attachment 1), considered the
opportunities and limitations of the BTA program, and has recommended that applications be
submitted for two projects:
1. A traffic signal at the Santa Barbara-Monro Street intersection: install a traffic signal with video
detection (for both vehicles and bicycles) at the intersection of Santa Barbara Avenue and Morro
Street. The traffic signal will enable safe bicycle access to the "Morro Street Bicycle Boulevard"—
a dedicated bikeway that will connect the southern and eastern quadrants of San Luis Obispo with
the community's Central Business District (CBD). The traffic signal is needed to enable bicycles
and pedestrians to safely cross Santa Barbara Avenue which is a heavily trafficked (15,500
vehicles per day) and relatively high speed corridor (40 mph 85% speed) that is used by private
motorists, delivery vehicles, local and regional buses, and emergency vehicles alike. By providing
safe access to Morro Street, bicyclists can avoid the use of the Santa Barbara-Osos Street corridor
and select a quiet residential street that provides as direct an access to the CBD as the current route
along Osos Street.
2. A Citywide bicycle parking retrofit,program: with property owner consultation and permission,
the City would hire contractors to install bicycle racks and/or lockers (that meet City standards)
at existing origins and destinations that are attractive to bicycle commuters and where parking is
absent, obsolete, or in some other way deficient. This program would be implemented
throughout the City of San Luis Obispo and its urban reserve. The BAC would establish criteria
for selecting retrofit sites, and all installations would meet Bicycle Transportation Plan and
Architectural Review Commission (ARC) standards. The purpose of this program is to install
bike parking at land uses that were established years.before the City began to require the
installation of bike racks. ](�� 1
C8-1
Council Agenda Report: 2002 Bicycle Transportation Account Grant Program
Page 2
B. Description of the BTA Program. This program provides annual funding for bicycle projects
throughout California. The following are key program elements:
1. Purpose: projects that receive BTA funding must "...improve the safety and convenience for
bicycle commuters." The State of California defines bicycle commuting as anv trip taken by
bicycle that is not for the purpose of recreation or exercise.
2. Proaram Budget and Project Limits: the.BTA program provides $7.2 million for bicycle projects.
Local agencies compete on a statewide basis for these funds, with the maximum grant received by
any agency capped at 25% of the total amount available, or $1.8 million. In 2001, the State
received over $29,000,000 in grant applications. The State was able to approve 34 grants ranging
in amount from $9,000 to $600,000 and the average being about$200,000.
3. Local Funding Matcht BTA funds will cover ninety percent (90%) of the estimated cost of the
project. The City Council must adopt a resolution certifying that it will cover the remaining ten
percent(10%)of the total project cost.
4. Application Deadline: BTA Grant Applications must be submitted to local Caltrans District 5
Offices no later than June 1, 2002 to be eligible for this funding cycle.
5. Types of Elieible Projects: eligible BTA project categories include:
a. New bikeways serving major transportation corridors
b. New bikeways removing travel barriers to potential bicycle commuters
c. Secure bicycle parking at employment centers, park-and-ride lots, rail and transit terminals, and
ferry docks and landings.
d. Bicycle-carrying facilities on public transit
e. Installation of traffic control devices to improve the safety and efficiency of bicycle travel.
f. Elimination of hazardous conditions on existing bikeways.
g. Planning
h. Improvement and maintenance of bikeways.
6. Planning Requirements: to apply for BTA funding, agencies must have adopted a Bicycle
Transportation Plan that meets content requirements of the Streets and Highways Code and has
been certified by the Regional Transportation Planning Agency (in our case, the San Luis Obispo
Council of Governments or"SLOCOG") and by the State's Bicycle Facilities Unit.
7. Environmental Clearances: agencies must document the completion of environmental clearances
needed to satisfy the California Environmental Quality Act (e.g. an issued Categorical Exemption,
Negative Declaration, Mitigated Negative Declaration, or certified Environmental Impact Report
(EIR)•
C. Evaluating Alternative Projects. The Public Works staff reviewed Appendix K of the recently
adopted Bicycle Transportation Plan to identify high-priority candidate projects. Only those that are
primarily directed toward serving the needs of bicycle commuters (the Category 1 projects) were
considered since the BTA program limits its support to these types of projects. In identifying the
projects described on Attachment 2, staff considered the following factors:
C8-2 2
Council Agenda Report: 2002 Bicycle Transportation Account Grant Progratr,
Page 3
1. Funding Considerations` while the State will support a project up to a maximum of$1.8 million,
given the competition for state funds, it is unlikely that San Luis Obispo would receive an award
that large. Therefore, staff targeted projects in the $200,000 to $400,000 range, which is still above
the grant average for the last funding cycle.
Also, while the BTA program will cover 90%of the project costs, the City will be required to provide
a 10% funding match using local funds. Given the current state of funding for capital projects,
providing the required funding match could be an issue, depending on the size of the project.
Finally, the amount of funding provided by the BTA program is generally out of scale with some of
the City's larger Class I bike path projects, such as the Railroad Bicycle Path. While San Luis Obispo
is eligible to apply for BTA funding, the City would have to use local funds to make up the difference
between the amount of funding provided by the BTA program and the project's total cost.
2. Environmental Clearances: the BTA program requires documentation of completed environmental
clearance be submitted with the application. In essence, the State does not want to consider
projects that might get delayed in the environmental assessment process. Therefore, complicated
projects outside of public street rights-of-way that may require extensive environmental documents
(focused EIRs or Mitigated Negative Declarations) were excluded from staff consideration. Only
projects within street rights-of-way for which a "categorical exemption" or "negative declaration"
can be easily prepared, projects that have already received their environmental clearance (e.g. the
Railroad Safety Trail), or simple Class I projects for which Negative Declarations can be approved
by the City Council without extensive staff work, were considered.
3. Ability to Meet State Funding Criteria: the BTA application must describe how our City's project
fully satisfies six (6) criteria identified below.. Many projects listed in the City's Bicycle
Transportation Plan (updated version) may not be able to easily satisfy all of this program's
criteria.
a. Primarily bicycle commuters will use project.
b. Project has the potential to increase bicycle commuting.
c. Project is the best alternative for the situation.
d. Project will improve continuity with existing bikeways.
e. Project will provide a direct route to activity centers such as schools, employment centers,
shopping, etc.
f. Project is consistent with the Bicycle Transportation Plan.
CONCURRENCES
At its March 21, 2002 meeting, the BAC reviewed Attachment 1 and the discussion provided above
and selected two projects to recommend to the Council. An excerpt of the BAC's minutes of that
meeting is provided as Attachment 2.
FISCAL IMPACT
As previously indicated, the BTA program requires a minimum local ten percent (10%) funding match.
For these projects, staff estimates that fiscal impacts will be as follows:
C8-3 3
I.
Council Agenda Report: 2002 Bicycle Transportation Account Grant.Program -
Page 4
Project BTA F>tindin 90% City Local Match 10% Total,Cost,
Morro-Santa Barbara $108,000 $12,000 $12 ,000
Traffic Signal
Citywide Bike Parking $90,000 $10,000 $1001000
Retrofit Program
TOTALS $1989000 $22,000. $220,000
If the City were successful with both grant applications (a very low probability), its fiscal
responsibility (using Transportation Impact Fee (TIF) Funds or CIP reserve funds) would be $22,000.
The Council resolution approving the submittal of these grant applications (Attachment 3) must
certify that the City is prepared to provide the local funding match.
The 2001-03 Financial Plan currently includes the installation of the Morro-Santa Barbara Street
traffic signal in FY 2001-02, at an estimated cost of $120,000 using revenues from the TIF (re pages
200 and 201 of Appendix B). If the City receives a BTA Grant, the need for TIF Funds would be
reduced from $120,000 to $12,000.
Normally, it will take up to nine months for the State to act on submitted grant applications (Spring of
2003). Therefore, the City would need to budget for these required local funding matches as part of its
upcoming 2003-2005 Financial Plan update.
ALTERNATIVES
The City Council may:
1. Defer action and request additional information or analysis. Comment: the result of this
alternative is that the City would not be able to meet the June 1, 2002 deadline for submittal of
BTA grant applications.
2. Direct Staff to submit.BTA grant applications for other projects or programs. Comment: the
feasibility of successfully submitting grant applications by the June Isr deadline will depend on
the alternative project's selected. For example, projects that require anything but the lowest
level of environmental review (e.g. a Categorical Exemption) could not be completed in time.
Staff can provide feedback to the City Council, if this action alternative is attractive to the
Council majority.
3. Decide not to apply for BTA funding at this time. Comment: applications for funding under
the next BTA funding cycle are due December 1, 2002, and then every December thereafter.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment 1: Short List of BTA-Eligible Projects Considered by the Bicycle Advisory Committee
Attachment 2: Excerpt of Minutes from the March 21, 2002 Bicycle Advisory Committee Meeting
Attachment 3: Resolution authorizing submittal of two BTA Grant Applications to Caltrans.
I:\Everyone\CouncilAgendaReports\BTAGrantAppl ications(May2002)
C8-4 4
ATTACHMENT 1
O
w
a;
o
� o
>f •ry L L L
3
ao 'ro3 ao 'oh " c
= o
•fl, o
a+ O =
u
•-us o o Oo ti pq
p r O O O O E U
iel Ur4 M N c U
"" fA 69 6A 609 U
O _ a>
U
0
m
vo v ° aui y dlm N.
CL ° o°q n o •° L d oq
o z E Z d = a y :_ eq R N Z L to as = c o4
C U X. m E z y '� _°c Z aui °.y.
.. x E a
y U
W y p =N
O
y U A y0 O
V pq
.O+ y y C Cq a) = T y O. F .iC
c c u 3 aL> oc aj v as y = o r
v 9 = e en E r o r = 3 ,o o
Qn R o = = d = o E Y c a 3 m
an d o y . v Y E > c6 N c E E r oco _
L R y y U V U f0 •= ,� L
tj
= V
c o onY orb E g = > L o �
.. is 0
� m °� v � .L. •E � p^= i° vo o � •o n••o � � 4° �' 0 0] s •Lo
a c :a c m $ a dd u z i O m 7 0 i .� d
c. ° e off «?
ucz c_ s., .oi > $
>o
u_ s_ f17 y L u s m d E CO o = >, i E a a > r s
d a °' c d CC = a o U L t ` c v o
i V tC EL y � 1, y E' y..x
_
odo E
y O t :fl E •o = c- o 0 o Lm c . US = u .n
u d u
z c t .o .a .o •o •o o. o
>a C10 Y E T
O U O U m w tC O A y V O %� 0. 0. CL t
_ QCGUA �l �3
3t -� N
i
'ATTACHMENT 2
DRAFT MINUTE EXCERPT
BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE (BAC)
THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2002
2. BICYCLE PROJECT GRANT APPLICATION
Mr. Sanville discussed the background and parameters of the Bicycle Project Grant application.
Statewide, there are 7.2 million dollars of funding available for bicycle projects. Thirty-four
projects approved for funding last year. The staff report outlines the criteria for judging funding
requests. Staff identified four projects from the Bike Plan, which meet the requirements and
those that could qualify for matching funds from the City. Discussion concerning the merits of
each proposed project. Staff recommends that the Bicycle Committee forward recommendations
to the City Council to direct the preparation and submittal of BTA Program grant applications
for:
1. The Morro Street Bicycle Boulevard Traffic Signal; and
2. Citywide Bicycle Parking Retrofit.Program.
Discussion concerning the merits of each of the four proposed projects.
Motion by Wes Conner forward staff's recommendation as stated above to the City Council.
Second by Mark Grayson.
Chris Overby requested to amend the motion to include project # 3. Discussion of submitting
future grant proposals for projects#3 and.#4.
Original Motion stands. Motion Carried.
C8-6
- ATTACHMENT 3
RESOLUTION NO. (2002 Series)
A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO
DIRECTING THE CAO TO SUBMIT TWO FUNDING APPLICATIONS TO THE
CALIFORNIA BICYCLE TRANSPORATION ACCOUNT(BTA)PROGRAM FOR THE
MORRO-SANTA BARBARA INTERSECTION TRAFFIC SIGNAL AND THE CITY-
WIDE BICYCLE BARING RETROFIT PROGRAM
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 a Bicycle Boulevard on Morro Street, including installation of a traffic signal at the
Mono-Santa Barbara intersection, and the creation of a city-wide bicycle parking retrofit program;
and
WHEREAS, the San Luis Obispo Bicycle Advisory Committee (BAC) has reviewed the
BTA Grant Program Guidelines, considered alternative eligible projects, and has recommended that
the City Council pursue BTA.grant funding for the projects described herein-, and
WHEREAS, the Community Development Director has reviewed each project and has
granted each project a Categorical Exemption consistent with Article 19 of the California
Environmental Quality Act(CEQA) Guidelines; and
WHEREAS,the City Council finds that implementation of the two projects 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 as
follows:
Section 1. The City Council directs the City Administrative Officer (CAO) to submit BTA
grant applications to Caltrans and to enter into any subsequent cooperative agreements with that
agency for the following projects:
A. Mono Street- Santa Barbara Street Traffic Signal(E'stimated Total Cost=$120,000)
B. City-Wide Bicycle Parking Retrofit Program(Estimated Total Cost= $100,000)
Section 2. The City Council hereby certifies that it will provide a minimum ten percent.
(10%) local funding match for each of the two projects described in Section 1.
On motion of seconded by
and on the following roll call vote:
C8-7
ATTACHMENT 3
Page 2-Resolution No.
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
the following resolution was adopted this_day of ,2002.
Allen K. Settle, Mayor
ATTEST:
Lee Price, City Clerk
X/•
//ffy .J ge C' Attorney
C8-8