CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
Meeting: December 3, 2024
Subject
Approval of a contract with Alta Planning + Design, Inc. for the Development of an Active Transportation Plan (ATP) in the amount of $300,000.
Recommended Action
Approve a contract services agreement with Alta Planning + Design, Inc. in the amount of $300,000 for the development of a citywide Active Transportation Plan.
Authorize the City Manager to execute the agreement and any necessary amendments within the approved budget of $330,000.
Authorize the City Manager to execute any change orders up to a project contingency amount of $30,000 (10%), for a total contract amount of $330,000.
Reasons for Recommendation
In April, the Council added the ATP to the City Work Program as one of the priority projects. With significant progress made in implementing the recommendations of the 2016 Bicycle Transportation Plan and the 2018 Pedestrian Transportation Plan, there was a need for a new, comprehensive ATP to build on these improvements and address evolving community needs. Additionally, there is a growing necessity for a unified approach in the form of a Citywide ATP, which will coordinate the goals and infrastructure projects of both bicycle and pedestrian initiatives, while also considering the ongoing needs of motorized vehicles. This integration will streamline the City of Cupertino’s approach to active transportation and ensure a more cohesive and efficient implementation of transportation infrastructure improvement projects. By developing a unified plan, the City can address overlapping areas of concern more effectively, align policies and goals across different transportation modes, and enhance the overall connectivity and safety of all roadway users.
The project will rely on data analysis, community engagement, and modern best practices to develop an ATP for the City of Cupertino. It will identify current gaps in the pedestrian and bicycle networks and examine traffic and collision data to propose infrastructure improvements that will increase safety and accessibility for all roadway users. Community input will shape the final recommendations, ensuring the ATP aligns with local needs and values. Key deliverables include implementation strategies, budget estimates, and a prioritized list of capital projects with a phased project delivery schedule. The project is anticipated to take fourteen months to complete.
Background
At the January 24, 2024, Bicycle Pedestrian Commission (BPC) meeting, the BPC recommended that the ATP be elevated to a 'High Priority' City Work Program item. Following this recommendation, the project was endorsed and recommended to the Council by multiple commissions (Teen Commission, BPC, and Planning Commission) for inclusion in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024-2025 Adopted Budget as a City Work Program project. The City Council approved the ATP project and included it as an item in the FY 2024-2025 Adopted Budget.
On June 18, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 24-063 authorizing staff to request that the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) allocate FY 2024-2025 Transportation Development Act Article 3 Pedestrian/Bicycle Project funding for the City of Cupertino. This action allowed MTC and the Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) to program $330,000 in TDA3 funds for Cupertino to use in the development of an Active Transportation Plan. TDA3 funds are distributed to jurisdictions based on population figures from the California Department of Finance.
The City conducted a competitive Request for Proposals (RFP) process in accordance with the City's procurement policies and guidelines for professional services. The RFP resulted in four proposals, each of which was evaluated based on established criteria. Alta Planning + Design was selected as the top proposer due to its strong scoring across all criteria and demonstrated knowledge of Cupertino's unique needs and priorities. The RFP issued by the City is available at https://apps.cupertino.org/details/720. The City does not make a practice of distributing RFP responses prior to the execution of the contract to protect the RFP and contract negotiation process.
Next Steps
If approved, the project will kick off in January 2025, initially focusing on setting up project management frameworks and stakeholder engagement. The project team will then proceed to deliver the tasks outlined in the scope of work, including data analysis, community input sessions, and the development of infrastructure recommendations.
If this item is not approved, the City will not develop a comprehensive Active Transportation Plan, potentially delaying progress on addressing critical safety gaps and improving connectivity for pedestrians and cyclists. Without the Active Transportation Plan, Cupertino may not be able to achieve its Climate Action Plan goals, leverage future grant opportunities, and would not complete the work requested in the City Work Plan.
Sustainability Impact
The Cupertino ATP will have positive sustainability impacts because the advancement of this plan will include developing infrastructure improvement recommendations that increase safety and accessibility for all non-motorized roadway users. Additionally, the ATP will include mode shift strategies to promote walking and bicycling to reduce personal automobile dependency, which will reduce local greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality. Overall, the ATP will help create a healthier, more sustainable community.
Fiscal Impact
The City has been approved for the allocation of $330,000 (budget unit 100-88-844 750-243) in TDA 3 funds for the development of the Active Transportation Plan. The project’s General Fund appropriation will be offset by the amount of grant funds received so that there will be no fiscal impact to the General Fund from the project.
City Work Program (CWP) Item: Yes, FY 24-25.
CWP Item Description:
Active Transportation Plan
This item is a consolidation of existing and new transportation efforts aiming to further goals outlined in the City's Vision Zero Initiative, including:
1) Review and update the bike plan
2) Review and update the pedestrian plan
3) Review current Complete Streets Policy and propose adjustments to create a better interface between all modes of transportation
Council Goal: Transportation
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
This project is statutorily exempt from CEQA pursuant to Public Resources Code section 21080.20(a) (preparation of an active or bicycle transportation plan). _____________________________________
Prepared by: Matthew Schroeder, Senior Transit and Transportation Planner Reviewed by Chad Mosley, Director of Public Works
Reviewed by: Tina Kapoor, Interim Assistant City Manager Approved for Submission by: Pamela Wu, City Manager
Attachments:
A – Contract Services Agreement