Fremont City Council Meeting: 10/08/24 07:00 PM
3300 Capitol Avenue Div/Dept: Public Works
Fremont, CA 94538 Category: Grants
SCHEDULED
Sponsors:
COUNCIL STAFF REPORT (ID # 5275) DOC ID: 5275
Updated: 10/3/2024 2:51 PM by Dina Lewis Page 1
ACTC FUNDING APPLICATIONS - Adopt Resolution of Local Support for the Submittal of Project Applications to the Alameda County Transportation Commission (ACTC) for their 2026 Comprehensive Investment Program Call for Projects for the Following Three Projects: 1) Fremont Boulevard Multimodal Corridor (Downtown to Irvington) Project, 2) Centerville Quiet Zone/Railroad Crossing Safety Improvement Project, and 3) South Grimmer/Osgood Road Intersection Improvement Project; and Make Findings of CEQA Exemption Contact Persons:
Name: Eric Hu Noe Veloso
Title: Principal Transportation Engineer Assistant City Engineer Div/Dept: Public Works Public Works
Phone: 510-494-4542 510-494-4774
E-Mail: [email protected] [email protected]
Executive Summary: The purpose of this item is to confirm City Council support for the submittal of grant applications for ACTC’s 2026 Comprehensive Investment Plan (CIP) Call for Projects to seek funding for the construction phase of the City’s Fremont Boulevard Multimodal Corridor (Downton to Irvington) Project, the design of the Centerville Quiet Zone/Railroad Crossing Safety Enhancement Project, and the construction of the South Grimmer/Osgood Road Intersection Improvement Project (a “Safe Routes to Schools” and East Bay Greenway Trail project). The three projects support the goals identified in the City’s Mobility Action Plan, Vision Zero Action Plan, and Bicycle/Pedestrian Master Plans, and when combined with other improvements in the surrounding areas, they will help improve access, safety, and comfort for the active transportation users in the Centerville, Downtown, Irvington, and Warm Springs areas.
BACKGROUND: ACTC is responsible for the planning, funding, and delivery of Measure BB and regionally funded transportation projects and programs within Alameda County. ACTC maintains a CIP, through which fund sources administered by ACTC are programmed to address transportation needs that support the ongoing enhancement, development, and maintenance of multimodal transportation infrastructure and systems in Alameda County.
ACTC updates the CIP every two years and releases a call for projects to Alameda County agencies to identify new projects that will be incorporated into the CIP update. For the 2026 CIP update, ACTC identified $100 million in available funding for the call for projects.
Eligible project categories for the 2026 CIP Call for Projects include 1) bicycle and pedestrian capital projects and programs, 2) complete street capital and roadway improvement projects, 3) transit-related capital projects, and 4) shuttle and other transportation program operations. Agencies are limited to a maximum of three project applications, a $2 million funding cap per project, and funding priority is typically given to eligible projects that are “shovel ready” to start construction, projects that close gaps and enhance connectivity on ACTC’s Active Transportation Network, projects that address safety on the County’s High Injury Network, and projects that benefit regionally identified disadvantaged communities. Projects that have secured additional funds from alternative sources are also rated positively by ACTC staff.
Council Staff Report (ID # 5275) Meeting of October 8, 2024 Updated: 10/3/2024 2:51 PM by Dina Lewis Page 2
DISCUSSION/ANALYSIS: As a requirement for project application submittal for the 2026 ACTC CIP Call for Projects, the City is required to adopt a Resolution of Local Support for each project application to confirm the City’s ability to meet ACTC CIP requirements and the City’s commitment to provide the necessary staff and matching funds to successfully deliver the project phase that ACTC funds are sought for.
The following is a summary of the three projects (including the respective project scopes) that staff is proposing to submit for the 2026 ACTC CIP Call for Projects:
1) Fremont Boulevard Multimodal Corridor Project (Downtown to Irvington) – The project will construct a physically separated bikeway (upgrading prior “quick -build” improvements) along both sides of Fremont Boulevard between Country Drive (in the Downtown area) and Eugene Street (in Irvington District), including intersection safety improvements at various signalized intersections, traffic signal modification/upgrades, ADA ramp upgrades, existing sidewalk repair, pavement rehabilitation, storm drain system modification, and corridor landscape enhancement. The project is currently under design through a $1 million grant award from the 2024 ACTC CIP, and the City has recently secured over $3 million for project construction from a Safe Routes to BART grant and a Regional Housing Incentive Program grant.
2) Centerville Quiet Zone/Rail Crossing Safety Improvement Project (design only) – The project will design railroad crossing safety improvements within the Centerville District, including Union Pacific railroad crossings at Blacow Road, Dusterberry Way, Maple Street, Fremont Boulevard, Shinn Street, Ford Lane, and Clarke Drive. Key project elements may include (but not limited to) installation of new rail drop gates, pedestrian safety gates, raised concrete median, connector sidewalks, signage, and roadway striping. Given the large number of crossing locations included in this project, staff anticipates that the project construction will be funded and completed in separate phases as part of future grant application efforts across multiple funding programs.
3) South Grimmer/Osgood Road Intersection Improvement Project – The project will construct intersection safety improvements at the South Grimmer Boulevard/Osgood Road intersection adjacent to the Warm Springs BART Station. Together with a planned Safe Routes to School sidewalk and separated bikeway along the south side of South Grimmer Boulevard between Osgood Road and Lopes Drive (to be constructed by Toll Brothers as part of their development agreement), the proposed intersection improvement project will connect residents in the Metro Crossing neighborhood to Lila Bringhurst Elementary School. The proposed project corridor is also part of the planned East Bay Greenway regional trail network that spans through the Warm Springs District. The project design is complete and can quickly proceed into construction should funding be awarded.
Staff finds that the three projects are consistent with the overall goals, policies, and guidelines established by ACTC for the 2026 CIP Call for Project and they should be highly competitive for funding. The three projects are also on ACTC’s 10-year priority project implementation list.
Council Staff Report (ID # 5275) Meeting of October 8, 2024 Updated: 10/3/2024 2:51 PM by Dina Lewis Page 3
FISCAL IMPACT: The City is submitting the maximum allowable funding requests of $2 million each for the three projects, for a total amount of $6 million. While there is no immediate fiscal impact directly related to the submittal of the three project applications, the ACTC CIP Call for Project guidelines require local matching funds in the amount of 25%, should any of the City project applications be awarded for ACTC CIP funding. The City’s Capital Budget includes a funding reserve for regional grants that is intended to provide local matching funds. Any project that is selected for funding will require separate City Council approval in the form of a grant agreement.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW: The submittal of project application for the 2026 ACTC CIP Call for Project is categorically exempt under Section 15061 9(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. Consistent with CEQA requirements, appropriate environmental review has been or will be conducted for the three projects during the respective project design phase.
ATTACHMENTS:
• Draft Resolution of Local Support (Fremont Boulevard Enhanced Bikeway Project - Downtown to Irvington)
• Draft Resolution of Local Support (Centerville Quiet Zone Project) • Draft Resolution of Local Support (S. Grimmer-Osgood Road Intersection Improvement Project)
RECOMMENDATIONS:
1. Adoption of the Resolution of Local Support for the Fremont Boulevard Multimodal Project (Downtown to Irvington);
2. Adoption of the Resolution of Local Support for the Centerville Quiet Zone/Railroad Crossing Safety Improvements Project;
3. Adoption of the Resolution of Local Support for the South Grimmer/Osgood Road Intersection Improvement Project; and
4. Find the action is exempt from CEQA review per CEQA Guidelines, section 15061 9(b)(3).