CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
Meeting: June 6, 2023
Subject
Consider adoption of a Resolution to request the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) allocate Fiscal Year (FY) 2023/2024 Transportation Development Act Article 3 (TDA 3) Pedestrian/Bicycle Project funding for the De Anza Boulevard Buffered Bike Lanes Project.
Recommended Action
Adopt Resolution No. 23-XXXX (Attachment A) requesting the MTC allocate $166,259 from FY 2023/2024 TDA 3 Pedestrian/Bicycle Project funding to the City of Cupertino’s De Anza Boulevard Buffered Bike Lanes Capital Improvement Programs (CIP) Project.
Reasons for Recommendation
The Transportation Development Act (TDA) has long been a cornerstone of California State (State) transit funding. The State TDA funding allows counties to establish a quarter-cent sales tax to finance a wide variety of transportation projects. Specifically, TDA 3 provides funding annually for bicycle and pedestrian projects.
Santa Clara County’s (County) “Guarantee” is a share of MTC’s TDA 3 funds, which are distributed to jurisdictions based on 2022 California Department of Finance population figures. These funds may be saved for up to four years, plus one year for the programing of funds. The City has accumulated a total of $414,955, which includes saved funds and rescinded funding requests from prior years.
Proposed TDA 3 projects must be ready to implement within one year of their submittal in the application cycle. The following project types are eligible for TDA 3 funding:
Construction and/or engineering of bicycle or pedestrian projects.
Maintenance of a Class I shared-use path and Class IV separated bikeways.
Bicycle safety education programs (no more than 5% of County total).
Development of comprehensive bicycle or pedestrian facilities plans (allocations to a claimant for this purpose may not be made more than once every five years).
Restriping of Class II bicycle lanes and buffered bicycle lanes.
In 2019, the Public Works Department requested $166,259 to help fund a Bike Boulevards Project but rescinded the funding request in February 2022 because the scope of the project had changed. Since TDA 3 funds may only be saved for up to four years, the City must program the rescinded funds, at the latest, in FY 2023/2024 to avoid having the funds revert to the Countywide pool in the next cycle.
The Department of Public Works recommends $166,259 of FY 2023/2024 TDA 3 Pedestrian/Bicycle Project funding be allocated to the De Anza Boulevard Buffered Bike Lanes Project. The project was initiated in FY 2022/2023 as part of the approved CIP project fund and is currently funded by the City at $525,000.
The TDA program requires each participating jurisdiction to have a Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee review and prioritize TDA 3 bicycle and pedestrian projects and plans. On April 19, 2023, Cupertino’s Bicycle Pedestrian Commission recommended that the City Council approve Cupertino’s TDA 3 allocation request for use on the De Anza Boulevard Buffered Bike Lanes Project.
In accordance with MTC Resolution 875, all claimants that have received an allocation of TDA 3 funds are required to submit an annual fiscal and compliance audit to MTC and to the Secretary of the Business and Transportation Agency within 180 days after the close of each fiscal year. All TDA audits are due to MTC by December 31 of each year.
Sustainability Impact
The recommended improvements are intended to encourage bicycle use, which will reduce single occupancy vehicle trips and lead to reduced vehicle emissions. This will help the City achieve air quality and greenhouse gas emission reduction goals.
Fiscal Impact
The approval of this Resolution satisfies the MTC/TDA requirement, resulting in the City receiving TDA 3 funds in the amount of $166,259. These funds will be appropriated to the De Anza Boulevard Buffered Bike Lanes CIP Project (420-99-262 440-438). The project’s current City-funded appropriation ($525,000, explained above) can be offset by the amount of the grant funds received. The balance of the TDA 3 funds are targeted to complete an update and consolidation of the City’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plans.
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
This project was found to be categorically exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section number 15301, existing facilities, as bicycle lanes previously existed within the same right-of-way of the project. _____________________________________
Prepared by: Marlon Aumentado, Assistant Civil Engineer Reviewed by: David Stillman, Transportation Manager
Reviewed by: Susan Michael, Capital Improvement Programs Manager Reviewed by: Chad Mosley, Interim Director of Public Works Reviewed by: Matt Morley, Assistant City Manager
Approved for Submission by: Pamela Wu, City Manager
Attachments:
A – Draft Resolution and Application