REPORT TO BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN ADVISORY COMMITTEE
SUBJECT
Title
Transportation Development Act Funding Recommendations (Yee)
Report
BACKGROUND
The Metropolitan Transportation Commission administers the Transportation Development Act Article 3 (TDA) program that is funded by a quarter-cent State sales tax. The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) is designated to administer the program allocated to local agencies in Santa Clara County.
This program is limited to the design and construction of improvements for bicycles or pedestrians. This includes bicycle lanes, signage, wheelchair ramps, crosswalk or pedestrian-scale lighting, and sidewalks.
DISCUSSION
The VTA is anticipated to release a Call-for-Projects in March 2021 for the FY 2021/22 funding cycle. The application deadline is anticipated to be April 2021 and the funding must be spent prior to June 2024.
In previous funding cycles, the TDA program consisted of two categories: (1) an amount reserved for projects in the 2013 VTA Bicycle Expenditure Program (BEP) and (2) an amount guaranteed for each local agency.
Similar to the Transportation Fund for Clean Air (TFCA) grant, many agencies (including Santa Clara) did not apply for TDA category 1 funds since many projects on the BEP are completed. For this funding cycle, the VTA board changed category 1 to be used for projects on the 2016 VTA Measure B Bicycle & Pedestrian Ten-Year Priority List. This list contains 39 bicycle and pedestrian projects and has $82 million of unfunded needs.
For category 2, the VTA will announce the amount of funds available in late February 2021, however staff anticipates approximately $550,000 of funds will be available to the City. This amount includes $485,000 of TDA funds “banked” from previous years.
In the past, staff has used TDA funds for bicycle projects, however funding has not been allocated to pedestrian projects. Therefore, staff recommends allocating TDA category 2 funding to implement a project recommended in the 2019 Pedestrian Master Plan (Attachment 1). Two potential projects are listed below:
1. Construct high priority curb ramps
a. Construct 40 curb ramps at various high priority locations listed in the Pedestrian Master Plan and draft ADA Transition Plan
b. Potential cost of $500,000
2. Install LED lights over crosswalks at traffic signals
a. Citywide Lighting recommendation to expand LED lights
b. Replace approximately 500 lamps at 150 intersections
c. Potential cost of $500,000
BPAC is encouraged to discuss these potential projects and provide comments on TDA funding priorities.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Approve staff recommendation to apply for the FY 2021/22 TDA funding cycle for one priority project: construct high priority curb ramps or install LED over crosswalks at traffic signals.
Staff
Written by: Jonathan Yee, Transportation Manager, Public Works
Reviewed by: Carol Shariat, Principal Transportation Planner, Public Works
Approved by: Michael Liw, Assistant Director/City Engineer, Public Works
ATTACHMENT
1. Pages from 2019 Pedestrian Master Plan