EAST PALO ALTO
CITY COUNCIL
STAFF REPORT
DATE: July 19, 2022
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
VIA: Patrick Heisinger, Interim City Manager
BY: Adrian Biggs, Associate Engineer
Humza Javed, City Engineer
SUBJECT: Authorization to apply for the OBAG3 grant
Recommendation
Adopt a resolution retroactively authorizing submission of an application for the One Bay Area Grant 3 (OBAG 3)
Alignment with City Council Strategic Plan
This recommendation is primarily aligned with:
Priority No. 1: Enhance Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Priority No. 4: Improve Public Facilities and Infrastructure Priority No. 6: Create a Healthy and Safe Community
Background
The One Bay Area Grant (OBAG), now in its third iteration, guides how MTC distributes federal transportation funding from the Federal Highway Administration to projects and programs that improve safety, spur economic development and help the Bay Area meet climate change and air quality improvement goals.
The third round of One Bay Area Grant funding (OBAG 3) was adopted by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission in January 2022 and includes more than $750 million in federal funding for projects from 2023 to 2026.
Analysis
In response to MTC’s regional call for projects, C/CAG is conducting countywide outreach and initial project prioritization and will submit a project nomination list for consideration by MTC (by September 2022). MTC staff will evaluate County Transportation Agencies (CTA) nominations using regional criteria and recommend a subset of projects for OBAG 3 funding in January 2023. Applications for OBAG 3 funding were due to C/CAG on July 1, 2022.
Due to a tight timeline leading to the application due date, staff prepared and submitted an application on behalf of the City.
The Runnymede Street Improvements Project was selected for the application based on the criteria of the grant. This project is a multi-modal Complete Street project that enhances safety, bay trail access, and road conditions. This project meets the intent of the OBAG 3 grant to provide Safe Route to School, Complete Street, and Bay Trail Access improvements within a Priority Development Area (PDA) established by C/CAG.
The Project will improve Runnymede Street from Pulgas Avenue to the Bay Trail, including reconstructing the pavement, adding striping and pavement markings, closing sidewalk gaps, adding Class III bike lane striping, enhancing pedestrian crossings, improving drainage, and providing storm drain upgrades. The project cost, including design and construction, is currently estimated at $2,500,000.
Fiscal Impact
No fiscal impact to apply for the grant. If the grant is awarded, a 20% match of approximately $490,000 will be required by MTC.
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. Resolution