6 6
6 DATE: June 17, 2024
TO: Mayor and Members of the City Council
VIA: Stefan Chatwin, City Manager
Marlene Subhashini, Assistant City Manager
FROM: Andrew Brozyna, Public Works Director
Claire McWilliams, Assistant Engineer
DEPARTMENT: Public Works
SUBJECT: AUTHORIZING A REQUEST TO THE METROPOLITAN
TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION FOR THE ALLOCATION OF
TRANSPORTATION DEVELOPMENT ACT ARTICLE 3
PEDESTRIAN/BICYCLE PROJECT FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF
$80,000 TOWARDS THE FOSTER CITY BICYCLE AND
PEDESTRIAN MASTER PLAN
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council adopt the attached resolution authorizing the request to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) for the allocation of Transportation Development Act (TDA) Article 3 Pedestrian and Bicycle Project funding for fiscal year 2023-2024 towards the Foster City Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
In November 2023, the City of Foster City submitted a grant application under the TDA Article 3 Bicycle and Pedestrian Program for the City’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan (BPMP). The BPMP project consists of the creation of a Master Plan that addresses bicycle and pedestrian safety and needs throughout the City. In May 2024, MTC and the City/County Association of Governments for San Mateo County (C/CAG) selected Foster City to be recommended for the MTC’s final approval. $80,000 is recommended for approval. In order for the grant to be awarded, an approved City Council resolution
6 6
6 requesting allocation of the grant fund from the MTC is required.
BACKGROUND
In July 2023, the San Mateo County Civil Grand Jury published a report entitled “Bike Safety in San Mateo County,” which contained recommendations to enhance and promote bike safety and usage. Recommendation five (R5) stated that “each city, town, and unincorporated county should update or generate a new Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan if their current plan is older than five years.” Foster City has never created a BPMP, although the City had previously performed a Bicycle Network Assessment and Safe Routes to School Assessment in 2018. After the Grand Jury’s recommendations were published, Foster City sought funding sources to enable the creation of the City’s first BPMP.
On September 18,2023, C/CAG issued a Call for Projects under the TDA Article 3 Pedestrian and Bicycle Program FY 2023/2024. The goal of the TDA Article 3 Pedestrian and Bicycle Program is to fund specific projects that encourage bicycle and walking conditions in San Mateo County. Bicycling and walking are sustainable forms of transportation and contribute to the overall goals of the TDA Article 3 to reduce commute corridor congestion, make regional connections, enhance safety, and meet local mobility needs.
On October 26, 2023, staff presented the item to the Transportation Review Committee and received their support to pursue the TDA Article 3 grant opportunity.
In November 2023, the City of Foster City submitted the BPMP Project and requested grant funding in the amount of $80,000. The BPMP project consists of the creation of a Master Plan that addresses bicycle and pedestrian safety and needs throughout the City.
In May 2024, the C/CAG notified the City that the project was selected by the C/CAG Board to be recommended for MTC’s final approval. In order to receive the successfully awarded grant funds, an approved City Council resolution requesting allocation of the grant funds from the MTC is required (Attachment 1).
ANALYSIS
The objective of the BPMP is to incorporate previous transportation studies and new analysis into a plan that examines bicycle and pedestrian safety and needs within the City, creating a comprehensive document that prioritizes Safe Routes to School, the City’s existing Complete Streets Policy and multi-modal transportation throughout the City. The project will build upon several existing transportation planning efforts and provide Public Works with the knowledge to enhance the City’s existing bicycle and pedestrian facilities and infrastructure. The plan will have long-term effects on the prioritization and development of bicycle and pedestrian facilities throughout the City to increase user safety.
6 6
6 It is recommended that the City Council authorize the request to MTC for the allocation of TDA Article 3 funds towards the BPMP Project. Authorizing TDA Article 3 funds will offset a portion of the City’s financial burden in the process of creating a bicycle and pedestrian master plan.
Funds will be used to hire a transportation consultant through an open and competitive Request for Proposals (RFP) process. Staff is in the process of developing the RFP for the required consultant services. The completed RFP will be brought to City Council for approval and authorization to issue in Summer 2024.
CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT
Pursuant to section 15378(b) of the CEQA Guidelines, the recommended Council actions is not subject to CEQA because it is a fiscal activity which does not involve any commitment to any specific project which may result in a potentially significant physical impact on the environment.
FISCAL IMPACT
The authorization of the request to MTC for allocation of TDA Article 3 funds will allow the City to receive $80,000 to use for the BPMP Project. The City has committed to a local match of $80,000, which is 50% of the total project cost. The City’s local match was included as part of the evaluation criteria, and a 50% local match allowed the City to score the maximum amount of points for the “Local Cash Match” category and improved the City’s chances of being selected. The City’s local match comes from the General Plan Maintenance Fund Account 128-0838-419-42-51 where $160,000 is budgeted for the 24/25 fiscal year.
CITY COUNCIL VISION, MISSION, AND VALUE/PRIORITY AREA
Facilities and Infrastructure
Innovation and Sustainability
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1 – Resolution including Required Findings and MTC Application Form