To: Honorable Mayor and Members of City Council
From: Jacques R. LaRochelle, Public Works Director
Prepared By: Lorien Clark, Transportation Planner
TITLE:
Title
Active Transportation Program Funding for State Route 29 Bicycle and Pedestrian Undercrossing Project
LABEL
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Recommendationle
Adopt a resolution authorizing the filing of an application for funding assigned to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission and committing any necessary matching funds and stating assurance to complete the Project, and determine that the project was the subject of previous CEQA analysis.
Body
DISCUSSION:
In September 2013, the Governor signed Senate Bill 99 and Assembly Bill 101 into law, creating the Active Transportation Program (ATP). The Active Transportation Program consolidated a number of funding sources intended to promote active transportation into one program. The purpose of ATP is to encourage increased use of active modes of transportation by achieving the following goals: increase the proportion of trips accomplished by biking and walking; increase safety and mobility for non-motorized users; advance the active transportation efforts of regional agencies to achieve greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction goals; enhance public health; ensure that disadvantaged communities fully share in the benefits of the program; and provide a broad spectrum of projects to benefit many types of active transportation users.
The Active Transportation Program is separated into three main components, with funding distributed as follows: 50% to the state for a statewide competitive program; 10% to the small urban and rural area competitive program to be managed by the state; and 40% to the large urbanized area competitive program, with funding distributed by population and managed by the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) - hereinafter referred to as the “Regional Active Transportation Program”. The Regional Active Transportation Program that Napa County competes in is managed by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) which is the MPO for the nine Bay Area counties. MTC requires a resolution of local support to be submitted in order for a project to receive funds through the Regional Active Transportation Program.
In June 2016, the Public Works Department applied for $531,000 in funding for the State Route 29 Bicycle and Pedestrian Undercrossing Project from the Active Transportation Program Cycle 3 call for projects. On January 25, 2017, the Metropolitan Transportation Organization recommended this project for funding from the 2017 Regional Active Transportation Program. The California Transportation Commission (CTC) is scheduled to approve MTC’s list of recommended projects into the formal Regional ATP program on March 15-16, 2017.
The State Route 29 Bicycle and Pedestrian Undercrossing Project will provide a Class I multiuse trail along the north bank of Napa Creek just north of the First Street overpass over SR 29. This trail will provide a needed connection across SR 29 for both bicyclists and pedestrians that is safe and convenient to use, enhancing the connectivity of the overall active transportation network in the City of Napa. The two overcrossings in the vicinity (First Street to the south and Lincoln Avenue overcrossing to the north) do not provide for the most efficient route for bicyclists and pedestrians to cross SR 29. Both routes require bike riders and pedestrians to navigate a series of crosswalks and signals on either side of the freeway as well as utilize narrow sidewalks and shoulders to cross the overpass, making them less desirable routes. The State Route 29 Bicycle and Pedestrian Undercrossing Project is listed as a high priority project in the City of Napa Bicycle Plan.
This project has received grant funding from the state funded Bicycle Transportation Account (BTA), the Transportation Development Act Article 3 (TDA-3), and the Transportation Fund for Clean Air (TFCA) in the amount of $25,000, $72,000 and $114,000, respectively. These grants funded a project feasibility study, 35% plans, and California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) analysis. The funding requested from the Active Transportation Program will fund the construction phase of the project.
The adoption of the attached resolution will show support for the State Route 29 Bicycle and Pedestrian Undercrossing Project and fulfill MTC’s requirement for the adoption of a resolution of local support in order to receive grant funds from the Active Transportation Program.
FINANCIAL IMPACTS:
The State Route 29 Bicycle and Pedestrian Undercrossing Project will receive $531,000 in Regional ATP grant funds from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission pending the approval of MTC’s recommended funding list by the California Transportation Commission (CTC) in March 2017.
The Active Transportation Program requirement for matching funds (11.47% of project costs) has been waived as the State Route 29 Bicycle and Pedestrian Undercrossing Project is classified as a “Safe Routes to School” project, which removes the local match requirement. After approval by the CTC and notification of the grant award is received, further action by the Council will be scheduled to adjust the revenue and expenditure appropriation levels, confirm the total project budget for BP12PW01 (Highway 29 Class 1 Bikeway), and commit matching or additional funds if necessary.
CEQA:
City staff recommends that the City Council determine that the potential environmental effects of the Recommended Action described in this Agenda Report were adequately analyzed by the Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration for the State Route 29/Napa Creek Bicycle Path Project adopted by the City Council on June 2, 2015, by Resolution R2015-68, pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15162.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
1. Attachment 1: Resolution of Local Support
NOTIFICATION:
None.