Fremont City Council Meeting: 05/14/24 07:00 PM
3300 Capitol Avenue Div/Dept: Public Works
Fremont, CA 94538 Category: Public Projects
SCHEDULED
Sponsors:
COUNCIL STAFF REPORT (ID # 5148) DOC ID: 5148
Updated: 5/9/2024 7:55 AM by Dina Lewis Page 1
FUNDING FOR EAST BAY GREENWAY PROJECT - Authorization to Receive Federal Grant Funds and Reallocate Local Matching Funds for Design Work Related to the “East Bay Greenway: Irvington to Fremont BART” Project (PWC9101) for a Combined Total Funding Amount of $320,000; Appropriation Actions; Make Findings of CEQA Exemption
Contact Persons:
Name: Mirabel Aguilar Hans Larsen
Title: Senior Civil Engineer Public Works Director
Div/Dept: Public Works Public Works
Phone: 510-494-4761 510-494-4722
E-Mail: [email protected] [email protected]
Executive Summary: The purpose of this report is to facilitate the allocation of additional funding to support development of the East Bay Greenway trail segment connecting the planned Irvington BART Station area to the Fremont BART Station area. In September 2023, the City Council approved a funding grant from the Alameda County Transportation Commission (ACTC) for project design in the amount of $1,033,000. At this time, project matching funds are proposed to be allocated in the amount of $37,449 from federal sources and $282,551 from City sources (reallocated from the Regional Projects Funding Match appropriation).
BACKGROUND: The “East Bay Greenway: Irvington to Fremont BART” project (PWC9101) proposes to construct a segment of the East Bay Greenway regional trail, extending from the Irvington District to Fremont Central Park, as well as a new trail connection between the East Bay Greenway to the Fremont BART station. The East Bay Greenway is a priority regional trail project in Alameda County connecting the cities of Oakland, San Leandro, Hayward, Union City and Fremont. In south Fremont, the East Bay Greenway connects with the Bay Trail and extends into the cities of Milpitas, San Jose, and Santa Clara. The East Bay Greenway alignment in the Fremont area links together the BART stations of Union City, Fremont, Irvington (planned), and Warm Springs/South Fremont. Due to the near-term development of nearly 900 units of affordable housing close to the Irvington BART station in advance of the Irvington BART Station completion, priority is being given to complete the East Bay Greenway from Irvington to the Fremont BART station so that the Irvington community has more convenient access to the BART system at the existing Fremont BART station.
On September 19, 2023, the City Council accepted a $1,033,000 grant from ACTC for the East Bay Greenway: Irvington to Fremont BART project and authorized the City Manager to execute a Project Funding Agreement (PFA). At this time, additional funding for the project has been identified to provide a required funding match.
DISCUSSION/ANALYSIS: Recently, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) identified a source of unused federal transportation funds in the amount of $37,433 that could be applied to projects that align with MTC priorities. In partnership with ACTC, Fremont requested using these funds for the East Bay Greenway: Irvington to Fremont Council Staff Report (ID # 5148) Meeting of May 14, 2024 Updated: 5/9/2024 7:55 AM by Dina Lewis Page 2
BART project. While the funding amount is relatively small, the use of these funds has the strategic advantage of “federalizing” the project, so that a federal environmental clearance can be prepared and then the project can then better compete for future federal opportunities for construction funding. It is recommended that the City Council accept the federal funds for the project.
The previously approved grant from ACTC (for $1,033,000) also requires that the City secure a 25% funding match for the project. A previously approved allocation of State funds in the amount of $25,000 has already been appropriated to the project. With the new federal funding amount of $37,433, there remains an additional need for matching funds in the amount of $282,551. It is recommended that the City Council approve the reallocation of funds from the City’s Regional Projects Funding Match appropriation (PWC9041), in the amount of $282,551, to complete the required funding match.
The next steps for advancing the East Bay Greenway: Irvington to Fremont BART project include the following: 1) execute Project Funding Agreement with ACTC for environmental clearance and design phase and the identification of all funding sources; 2) select a consultant to prepare State and federal environmental clearances and project design (proposed for Council consideration in Fall 2024); and 3) seek funding for project construction.
FISCAL IMPACT: The recommended actions in this staff report will provide funding in the amount of $1,378,000 for the East Bay Greenway: Irvington to Fremont BART project (PWC9101). New funding appropriations include accepting federal funds in the amount of $37,433 and reallocating City funds in the amount of $282,551 to PWC9101 from PWC9041, an existing appropriation titled “Regional Projects Funding Match” and using funds from Measure BB (Fund 515). Past appropriations include accepting an ACTC grant in the amount of $1,033,000 and an allocation of State funds in the amount of $25,000. The proposed project funding appropriation will enable the procurement of design consultant services for the project. Additional funding required for City staff support will be identified when the consultant agreement comes to the City Council for approval in Fall 2024.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW: The recommended funding actions are exempt from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Sections 15061(b)(3) and 15378(b) as it can be seen with certainty that these activities do not have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. The project will undergo environmental review in compliance with CEQA.
ATTACHMENTS: None.
RECOMMENDATION: Approval of the following actions related to the East Bay Greenway:
Irvington to Fremont BART Project (PWC9101):
1. Recognized and appropriate $37,449 in federal funds to PWC9101-522.
2. Reallocate $282,551 from PWC9041-515 to PWC9101-515.
3. Find that the actions are exempt from environmental review as a separate and independent base for CEQA compliance, under CEQA Guidelines, Section 15378 (administrative and funding activity not a “project” under CEQA) and Section 15061 (no possibility the activity may have significant effect on the environment).