REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Action on a Budget Amendment funded by Fiscal Year 2021/22 Transportation Development Act Funds for the LED Traffic Signal & Safety Light Replacements Project
Report
COUNCIL PILLAR
Deliver and Enhance High Quality Efficient Services and Infrastructure
BACKGROUND
In February 2021, the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA), as the County of Santa Clara Congestion Management Agency, solicited project proposals from cities for Fiscal Year (FY) 2021/22 Transportation Development Act (TDA) Article 3 grant funding. TDA Article 3 funds may be used for bicycle or pedestrian related improvement projects and funding is derived from a quarter cent of the general sales tax collected statewide. The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) delegated authority to the VTA to coordinate how funds are spent within the County.
At the January 25, 2021 Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee meeting, the BPAC discussed and supported staff’s recommendation to apply for the use of $485,000 of TDA funds to upgrade traffic signal safety lighting to LED throughout the City (Attachment 1). On April 6, 2021, Council approved Resolution No. 21-8956 (Attachment 2), which authorized the filing of staff’s recommended project with the MTC.
DISCUSSION
The City has been notified that the MTC approved the funding request for the project (Attachment 3) which will upgrade traffic signal safety lighting to LED throughout the City. Using recent contractor bids from the 2021 Request for Bid for Traffic Signal Maintenance, Repair, and Support Services, staff estimates the project will potentially upgrade the lighting at all 144 traffic signals throughout the City. This project will implement the Pedestrian Master Plan 2019 recommendation to “expand LED Streetlight Retrofit Program to priority pedestrian zones and other areas outside of these zones, as opportunity arises.”
To utilize the TDA funding, a budget amendment is required to allocate the grant funds. Staff recommends allocating the grant funds to the existing LED Traffic Signal & Safety Light Replacements Project (Project No. 1212) in the Streets and Highways Capital Fund. If the budget amendment is approved by Council, staff will move forward with the design phase of the project. Staff is estimating that construction will be completed by 2023. The TDA funds must be expended prior to September 30, 2024.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The action being considered is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15301, “Existing Facilities,” subdivision (c), as the activity consists of replacing existing signals and street lights, which is a minor alteration to existing highways and streets.
FISCAL IMPACT
The budget amendment below recognizes TDA Article 3 grant funding in the amount of $485,000 and allocates these additional funds to the existing LED Traffic Signal & Safety Light Replacements Project (Project No. 1212) in the Streets and Highways Capital Fund. There are no local match related funds required for this grant funding.
Budget Amendment
FY 2021/22
|
Streets and Highways Fund (533) |
Current |
Increase/ (Decrease) |
Revised |
|
Revenue |
|
|
|
|
Transportation Development Act Article 3 grant (LED Traffic Signal & Safety Light Replacements Project) |
$0 |
$485,000 |
$485,000 |
|
Expenditures |
|
|
|
|
LED Traffic Signal & Safety Light Replacements Project (Project No. 1212) |
$806,692 |
$485,000 |
$1,291,692 |
COORDINATION
This report has been coordinated with the Finance Department and City Attorney’s Office.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Council agenda on the City’s official-notice bulletin board outside City Hall Council Chambers. A complete agenda packet is available on the City’s website and in the City Clerk’s Office at least 72 hours prior to a Regular Meeting and 24 hours prior to a Special Meeting. A hard copy of any agenda report may be requested by contacting the City Clerk’s Office at (408) 615-2220, email clerk@santaclaraca.gov <mailto:clerk@santaclaraca.gov>.
At the BPAC meeting on January 25, 2021, the BPAC discussed and supported staff’s recommendation to upgrade crosswalk lighting to LED lights at traffic signals using TDA funds.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Consistent with City Charter Section 1305, “At any meeting after the adoption of the budget, the City Council may amend or supplement the budget by motion adopted by the affirmative votes of at least five members so as to authorize the transfer of unused balances appropriated for one purpose to another purpose, or to appropriate available revenue not included in the budget,” approve a FY 2021/22 budget amendment in the Streets and Highways Capital Fund to recognize grant revenue in the amount of $485,000 and increase the LED Traffic Signal & Safety Light Replacements Project by $485,000 (five affirmative Council votes required to appropriate additional revenue).
Staff
Reviewed by: Craig Mobeck, Director of Public Works
Approved by: Deanna J. Santana, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
1. Location Map
2. Resolution No. 21-8956, dated April 6, 2021
3. MTC Allocation Letter, dated September 22, 2021