REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Action on a Resolution Adopting a Complete Streets Policy to Receive Measure B Funds
Report
BACKGROUND
In 2016, Santa Clara County voters approved "Measure B", a thirty-year half-cent countywide sales tax to enhance transit, highways, expressways, and active transportation projects. The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA), which administers these funds, requires that local jurisdictions adopt a Complete Streets Resolution that contains nine Complete Streets elements as outlined by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC). Complete Streets are generally defined as streets that are built for the safe travel of all roadway users including motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists. Each local agency within Santa Clara County must adopt a resolution to receive funding from the Measure B program.
In addition, the MTC, as the metropolitan planning organization for the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area (which includes Santa Clara County), administers the One Bay Area Grant (OBAG) Program. The OBAG program is federally funded and funds can be used to invest in local streets and roads maintenance, streetscape enhancements, bicycle and pedestrian improvements, safe routes to school projects, priority conservation areas, and transportation planning. To be eligible for an OBAG grant, the MTC requires that local jurisdictions comply with the California Complete Streets Act of 2008 (AB 1358) which requires local jurisdictions to include the complete streets policies as part of their general plans so that roadways are designed to safely accommodate all users including bicyclists, pedestrians, transit riders, children, senior citizens, disabled people, and motorists. Jurisdictions can meet this requirement by adopting either a Complete Streets Resolution or a General Plan Circulation Element which complies with the California Complete Streets Act of 2008. The City currently meets this requirement by having General Pl...
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