EAST PALO ALTO
CITY COUNCIL
STAFF REPORT
DATE: May 17, 2022
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
VIA: Patrick Heisinger, Interim City Manager
BY: Batool Zaro, Assistant Civil Engineer
Humza Javed, City Engineer
SUBJECT: TDA Article 3 Bicycle and Pedestrian Program for Improvements at University Avenue at Michigan Avenue
Recommendation
Adopt a resolution approving the request to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission by the City of East Palo Alto for an allocation of Transportation Development Act Article 3 Pedestrian and Bicycle Project funding for fiscal year 2022- 2023.
Alignment with City Council Strategic Plan
This recommendation is primarily aligned with:
Priority No. 4: Improve Public Facilities and Infrastructure Priority No. 6: Create a Healthy and Safe Community
Background
In 2021 the City/County Association of Governments of San Mateo County (C/CAG) released a call for projects for the Transportation Development Act (TDA) Article 3 Program. The program is intended to fund eligible pedestrian and bicycle projects using TDA Article 3 funds, which are derived from Local Transportation funds and the State Transit Assistance fund. The program will be funding the top seven Bicycle and Pedestrian project proposals for Fiscal Year 2022- 2023 for $2,250,000,
The City of East Palo Alto with the assistance of its on-call Traffic consultants, TJKM, submitted an application for improvements at University Avenue at Michigan Avenue in November 2021. The project includes pedestrian safety improvements at this intersection which currently is unsafe and does not meet the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) compliance. Specifically, the project would include ADA compliant bulbouts, median improvement, curb ramps, Rapid Rectangular Flashing beacons (RRFB), striping, and signage.
Analysis
Upon review of the grant applications, C/CAG invited applicants to present their specific projects to their Board. The City of East Palo City presented its project and it was well received.
On April 14, 2022, the C/CAG Board adopted a resolution approving the project application for $360,000 of funding with a $40,000 match requirement. Once the City Council passes a Resolution requesting funding allocation, C/CAG will be submitting the funding allocation request to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC).
Fiscal Impact
There is a $40,000 city match requirement. The city match can be reimbursed through Measure W local tax. Staff will return to the City Council to appropriate funding, if MTC selects the City’s proposal.
Public Notice
The public was provided notice of this agenda item by posting the City Council agenda on the City’s official bulletin board outside City Hall and making the agenda and report available at the City’s website and at the San Mateo Co. Library located at 2415 University Avenue, East Palo Alto.
Environmental
The action being considered does not constitute a “Project” within the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), pursuant to CEQA Guideline section 15378 (b)(5), in that it is a government administrative activity that will not result in direct or indirect changes in the environment.
Attachments
1. TDA Article 3 - Attachment A
2. TDA Article 3 - Attachment B
3. Resolution