REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Action on an Agreement with the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority for 2016 Measure B Funding of the Bowers Avenue Class IV Bikeway Study and Related Budget Amendment
Report
COUNCIL PILLAR
Deliver and Enhance High Quality Efficient Services and Infrastructure
BACKGROUND
In 2016, Santa Clara County voters approved “Measure B,” a 30-year half-cent county-wide sales tax to fund improvements for nine transportation related program categories. The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) administers these funds, and the program categories are defined as: BART Silicon Valley Phase II, Caltrain Corridor Capacity Improvements, County of Santa Clara Expressways, Local Streets and Roads, Transit Operations, Bicycle & Pedestrian, Caltrain Grade Separations, Highway Interchanges and State Route 85 Corridor.
VTA requires a local agency to adopt a Complete Streets Resolution in order to receive Measure B funds. The City has met this requirement by adopting a Resolution establishing a Complete Streets Policy at the August 21, 2018 City Council meeting (Attachment 1). This resolution ensures that the City is committed to building streets that are designed for the safe travel of all roadway users including motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists.
The City’s adopted Bicycle Plan recommends locations for new Class IV bicycle facilities to create a comprehensive bicycling network and encourage bicycling as a safe and healthy alternative to driving. A Class IV bicycle facility is a protected bicycle lane with a buffer area and vertical features (i.e., reflectorized channelizers, barriers, or curbs). The plan also identifies specific corridors that require further study to determine alternate roadway configuration options to accommodate the installation of the recommended bicycle facilities (Attachment 2). Inclusion of the recommended bicycle facilities along these corridors may include options to reduce travel lanes or remove on-street parking.
DISCUSSION
The Bicycle & Pedestrian program category of Measure B includes funding for education programs, planning studies, and capital projects. In November 2022, VTA released a call for projects to award funding for the FY 2022/23 cycle of planning studies.
The VTA received six planning study applications, with the City submitting one for the Bowers Avenue Class IV Bikeway Study, which was identified in the Bicycle Plan as requiring further study. The project study area is Bowers Avenue from Walsh Avenue to El Camino Real (Attachment 3) and the City’s Bicycle Plan recommended installing a Class IV separated bikeway on the corridor. A Class IV bikeway, also known as a separated bikeway, is a facility for the exclusive use of bicycles and includes a physical separation barrier between the bikeway and through vehicular traffic. The barrier may include, but is not limited to, reflectorized channelizers, curbs, or on-street parking.
The City requested a total of $210,000 in Measure B grant funds for the project, but VTA indicated that only $154,000 in funds remained available for the award. Staff determined that it would be advantageous to accept the partial grant award and supplement it with local funds so the study can move forward. The Bowers Avenue Class IV Bikeway Study will complete public outreach, analyze traffic and parking conditions, and create conceptual designs to determine final options for the bicycle facilities.
The City is required to execute a funding agreement with the VTA (Attachment 4) to accept the grant funding. After approval of the funding agreement, staff will release a Request for Proposal to procure a consultant to complete the planning study. Upon completion of the study, staff will present recommendations to Council for future consideration.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The action being considered does not constitute a “project” within the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15378(a) as it has no potential for resulting in a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment.
FISCAL IMPACT
The Bowers Avenue Class IV Bikeway Study has a total project cost estimate of $300,000. VTA has awarded $154,000 of funds and the City must contribute the remaining funding of $146,000 as a local match requirement.
The recommended budget action recognizes and allocates Measure B grant funding in the amount of $154,000 and establishes a new Bowers Avenue Class IV Bikeway Study project in the Streets and Highways Capital Fund. In addition, the recommended action reallocates $146,000 from the existing Pedestrian and Bicycle Enhancement Facilities project in the same fund. The Pedestrian and Bicycle Enhancement Facilities project supplements funding for the local match related to grant funds for pedestrian and bicycle projects.
The table below summarizes the recommended budget action needed for the Project.
Budget Amendment
FY 2023/24
|
|
Current |
Increase/ (Decrease) |
Revised |
|
Streets and Highways Capital Fund (533) |
|
|
|
|
Revenue |
|
|
|
|
Other Agencies Revenue (VTA Measure B Grant) |
$32,086,022 |
$154,000 |
$32,240,022 |
|
Expenditures |
|
|
|
|
Bowers Avenue Class IV Bikeway Study (New Project) |
$0 |
$300,000 |
$300,000 |
|
Pedestrian and Bicycle Enhancement Facilities Project (533-1220) |
$623,066 |
($146,000) |
$477,066 |
COORDINATION
This report has been coordinated with the Finance Department and the 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> or at the public information desk at any City of Santa Clara public library.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
1. Approve and authorize the City Manager to execute the funding agreement between the City of Santa Clara and Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority for the Bowers Avenue Class IV Bikeway Study in final form approved by the City Attorney; and
2. Approve a FY 2023/24 budget amendment in the Streets and Highways Capital Fund to increase the Other Agencies revenue estimate in the amount of $154,000 to recognize Measure B grant funding, decrease the Pedestrian and Bicycle Enhancement Facilities Project in the amount of $146,000, and establish an appropriation for the new Project - Bowers Avenue Class IV Bikeway Study in the amount of $300,000 (five affirmative Council votes required to appropriate additional revenue).
Staff
Reviewed by: Craig Mobeck, Director of Public Works
Approved by: Jovan D. Grogan, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
1. Resolution No. 18-8593, Complete Streets Policy
2. Bicycle Plan Update 2018, Figure D-1 Future Design Considerations
3. Bowers Avenue Class IV Bikeway Study Project Map
4. Bowers Avenue Class IV Bikeway Study Funding Agreement