Fremont City Council Meeting: 05/02/23 07:00 PM
3300 Capitol Avenue Div/Dept: Public Works
Fremont, CA 94538 Category: Grants
SCHEDULED
Sponsors:
COUNCIL STAFF REPORT (ID # 4886) DOC ID: 4886
Updated: 4/27/2023 1:30 PM by Alberto Quintanilla Page 1 2024 BIKEWAY ENHANCEMENT PROJECT - Adopt a Resolution Authorizing Fiscal Year 2023/2024 Application for Transportation Development Act Article 3 (TDA3) Grant Funds and Acceptance of $322,407 in TDA3 Funds for the 2024 Citywide Class IV Bikeway Enhancement Project (PWC8874); Appropriation of Funds; and Make Findings of CEQA Exemption.
Contact Persons:
Name: Lilian Ayala Hans Larsen
Title: Senior Transportation Engineer Public Works Director Div/Dept: Public Works Public Works
Phone: (510) 494-4766 510-494-4722
E-Mail: [email protected] [email protected]
Executive Summary: The purpose of this item is to facilitate receiving grant funds from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) in the amount of $322,407, which will be used to improve the durability of bikeway separation devices and to enhance user comfort and safety for existing separated bikeways along various City arterial roadways.
BACKGROUND: MTC makes annual allocations of State Transportation Development Act Article 3 (TDA3) funds for bicycle and pedestrian projects to cities and counties in the nine- county Bay Area region. The TDA3 funds are non-competitive grant funds allocated based on population.
The City’s Bicycle Master Plan goals include implementing a safe, convenient, c onnected, and comfortable citywide bicycling network for people of all ages and abilities who live, work, and visit the City of Fremont. These goals are part of various existing City plans and policies, including the Mobility Action Plan’s goal to promote travel alternatives through ongoing “Complete Streets” improvements; Vision Zero Action Plan’s goal to eliminate traffic fatalities and severe injury collisions by focusing on arterial roadways; and the Bicycle Master Plan’s goal for implementing a safe, convenient, connected, and comfortable citywide bicycle network. The City’s proposed TDA3 grant project will provide bikeway enhancements at various City arterial roadways. The City anticipates receiving approximately $322,407 in TDA funds for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023/24 to be applied to the “2024 Citywide Class IV Bikeway Enhancement Project.”
TDA3 grant policies typically require that an advisory committee that is appointed by an elected body and includes bicyclists and pedestrians review the proposed TDA3 project. On March 15, 2023, the City’s Mobility Commission (which also acts as the City’s local bicycle advisory committee) was informed of the proposed Project, and the Mobility Commission unanimously (9–0) supported recommending the proposed Project to the City Council for approval for the application of the TDA3 grant for FY 2023/24.
DISCUSSION/ANALYSIS: In the past five years, the City has completed the installation of over 40 miles of Class IV separated bikeways, with a majority of these separated bikeways currently using plastic green bollards (type K71) as the primary vertical separation device between the bike lane and the adjacent vehicle lane. While the K71 plastic bollards Council Staff Report (ID # 4886) Meeting of May 2, 2023 Updated: 4/27/2023 1:30 PM by Alberto Quintanilla Page 2 are relatively cost effective and quick to install, they have been found to be not durable when struck by vehicles at moderate to high speeds, and ultimately less aesthetically pleasing. In addition, staff has received feedback from residents that the K71 bollards alone are not sufficient to provide the comfort that riders seek and that more substantial forms of separation are needed, especially when the adjacent traffic volumes and speeds are high.
The proposed Project will install precast concrete median sections to supplement the existing K71 bollards along existing Class IV separated bikeways, with the goal of ultimately improving the overall durability, long-term aesthetics, user comfort, and safety that are needed to promote greater transportation mode shift and utilization of the City’s separated bikeways along key arterial corridors. The selected locations include areas where existing K71 bollard have had reoccurring damage and includes portions of Paseo Padre Parkway, Fremont Boulevard, and Driscoll Road.
FISCAL IMPACT: The estimated implementation cost for the proposed Project is $722,407. The City’s anticipated TDA3 award amount of $322,407 would be appropriated to the Bikeway Improvements Program (PWC8874) in the Transportation Development Act Fund (Fund 521), which will ultimately fund the implementation of the Project. The remaining funds needed for the Project will be funded by Measure B/BB Bicycle and Pedestrian funds to be budgeted into PWC8874 through the FY 2023/24-2027/28 CIP update and budget process.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW: This project is categorically exempt under Section 15061(b)(3) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) in that it is not a project which has the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. A separate environmental clearance will be provided for the 2024 Citywide Class IV Bikeway Enhancement Project.
ATTACHMENTS:
• Draft Resolution- 2024 Bikeway Enhancement Project
RECOMMENDATIONS:
1. Find the proposed project is exempt from CEQA review pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) as it can be seen with certainty that application for grant funding is not an activity that in itself has the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment.
2. Adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager, or her designee, (a) to apply for Transportation Development Act Article 3 Bicycle and Pedestrian Program Funds in the amount of $322,407 for the 2024 Citywide Class IV Bikeway Enhancement Project; and (b) to accept any awarded grant funds for the Project and to execute any necessary implementing documents.
3. Appropriate any grant funds received to PWC8874 (Bikeway Improvements) in the Transportation Development Act Fund (Fund 521).