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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-18-2016 Item 16 Highway Bridge Program Grant Applications Meeting Date: 10/18/2016 FROM: Daryl Grigsby, Public Works Director Prepared By: David Athey, Supervising Civil Engineer, CIP Design SUBJECT: HIGHWAY BRIDGE PROGRAM GRANT APPLICATIONS RECOMMENDATION Adopt a resolution authorizing the Director of Public Works, or his designee, to submit grant applications to the Federal Highway Administration Bridge Program administered by the California State Department of Transportation for funding to upgrade the Madonna Road, Chorro Street, and Nipomo/Peach Bridges. DISCUSSION The Federal Highway Administration’s Bridge Program (Bridge Program) provides matching and non-matching grant funding for bridge upgrades or replacement. City bridges must either be functionally obsolete or structurally deficient in order to qualify for grant funding. An example of a functionally obsolete bridge would be one that is narrow and does not include sidewalks or bike lanes. An example of a structurally deficient bridge is one where the structure has degraded to the point where it is necessary to replace the bridge in-lieu of repair. The Madonna Road, Chorro Street and Nipomo/Peach Street Bridges are classified by the California State Department of Transportation (Caltrans) as functionally obsolete due to width and other non-structural components. Therefore, these bridges are currently eligible for Bridge Program funding. However, the State recently announced that the grant eligibility criteria would change on October 1, 2016. Caltrans notified City staff that they will no longer accept grant applications for upgrading or replacement of functionally obsolete bridges as of October 1, 2016. Caltrans also indicated they would continue to accept functionally obsolete bridge applications up to October 1, 2016. Therefore, staff submitted placeholder applications (Attachments A, B, and C) in September in order to maintain Bridge Program eligibility. This ensured that the three bridges can be authorized for future funding as it becomes available in the Bridge Program. Council may determine that funding bridge upgrades through the Bridge Program grant funds is not a currently a City priority, in which case the applications may be withdrawn. Future Bridge Program grant funding eligibility would likely be available when the bridges h ave structurally decayed to the point the bridges are considered structurally deficient. The City has 27 bridges that are reviewed and inspected by the State. In addition, the City has seven pedestrian bridges and three vehicle bridges that do not qualify for State review and inspection. The State does not review and inspect non-vehicular bridges off the road system, and the three vehicular bridges are not inspected because of their size. The three bridges that are the subject of this report are reviewed and inspected by the State. 16 Packet Pg. 188 CONCURRENCES Public Works Transportation concurs with this action and the recommendation to submit the grant application paperwork. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW This action is not subject to the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act as it is not a project as defined by that statute. However, the City will comply with both State and Federal requirements for environmental review during the design and permitting phase and prior to construction of a future project. FISCAL IMPACT There are no future General Fund impacts associated with the submission of the three Bridge Program grant applications. If the grants are funded by the Bridge Program, the City’s share of the bridge upgrade cost is estimated at approximate $625,000 over several fiscal years. Staff will return to Council to appropriate funds during the 2017-19 Financial Plan process. This will enable Council the ability to accept or reject the grant funding, if awarded, as the City is not obligated to accept the grant funding. ALTERNATIVES The Council could direct staff to withdraw up to all three bridge placeholder grant applications. This would mean that the City would not be able to benefit from the Bridge Program funding. Staff believes it will be some time before the opportunity to apply for these funds is available to the City and does not recommend this action. Attachments: a - Resolution HBR Grant b - Council Reading File - Madonna Road Bridge c - Council Reading File - Chorro Street Bridge d - Council Reading File - Nipomo-Peach Bridge 16 Packet Pg. 189 R ______ RESOLUTION NO. XXXX (2016 SERIES) A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO, CALIFORNIA, AUTHORIZING THREE APPLICATIONS TO THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR BRIDGE PROGRAM FUNDING FOR THE MADONNA ROAD, CHORRO, AND NIPOMO/PEACH BRIDGES WHEREAS, the City of San Luis Obispo, a charter city and political subdivision of the State of California, wishes to apply for and receive an allocation of funds through the Highway Bridge Program (HBP); and WHEREAS, the California Department of Transportation (hereinafter referred to as “Caltrans”) has notified the City of changes to its Local Highway Bridge Program (HBP) Guidelines that will affect the eligibilities of certain bridge projects for federal funding under the HBP program; and, WHEREAS, the City of San Luis Obispo wishes to submit three bridge grant applications to obtain from Caltrans an allocation of HBP funds; and WHEREAS, the funding criteria for replacement of Functionally Obsolete bridges due to bridge deck geometrics changed as of October 1, 2016; and, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of San Luis Obispo does hereby: 1. Approve the submittal the HBP applications for the Madonna Road, Chorro Street and Nipomo/Peach Street bridges to Caltrans in order to maintain eligibility with the HBP program requirements. 2. The City of San Luis Obispo authorizes the Public Works Director, or his designee, to execute in the name of the City of San Luis Obispo, the application and all other documents required by Caltrans for participation in the HBP program, and any amendments thereto. In addition, the City of San Luis Obispo authorizes the Director of Public works or his designee to submit payment requests, provide status updates and provide program/project closeout documents to facilitate grant award. Upon motion of , seconded by , and on the following roll call vote: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: The foregoing resolution was adopted this _____ day of _____________________ 2016. 16.a Packet Pg. 190 Attachment: a - Resolution HBR Grant (1472 : Highway Bridge Program Grant Applications) Resolution No. XXXX (2016 Series) Page 2 ____________________________________ Mayor Jan Marx ATTEST: ____________________________________ Carrie Gallagher City Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM: _____________________________________ J. Christine Dietrick City Attorney IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the official seal of the City of San Luis Obispo, California, this ______ day of ______________, _________. ____________________________________ Carrie Gallagher City Clerk 16.a Packet Pg. 191 Attachment: a - Resolution HBR Grant (1472 : Highway Bridge Program Grant Applications)