Fremont City Council Meeting: 12/02/25 07:00 PM
3300 Capitol Avenue Div/Dept: Public Works
Fremont, CA 94538 Category: Grants
SCHEDULED
Sponsors:
COUNCIL STAFF REPORT (ID # 5586) DOC ID: 5586
Updated: 11/24/2025 2:01 PM by Dina Lewis Page 1
BAY TRAIL GRANT FUNDING - MARSHLAND ROAD SEGMENT - Adopt Resolution of Project Compliance to Support Receipt of $1,000,000 in Regional Measure 3 Grant Funds and Adopt Resolution of Local Support for $1,500,000 in Regional One Bay Area Grant Cycle 3 Funds from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission for the Bay Trail Gap Closure – Marshland Road Segment Project (PWC9133); and Make Findings of CEQA Exemption
Contact Persons:
Name: Eric Hu Hans Larsen
Title: Principal Transportation Engineer Public Works Director Div/Dept: Public Works Public Works
Phone: 510-494-4542 510-494-4722
E-Mail: [email protected] [email protected]
Executive Summary: The purpose of this report is to facilitate receiving grant funding in the amount of $2,500,000 for preliminary engineering and environmental clearance for the Bay Trail Gap Closure – Marshland Road Segment project. The grant funds are from the Regional Measure 3 (RM3) and One Bay Area Grant Cycle 3 (OBAG 3) programs administered by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC). Receiving the grants requires City Council approval of a Resolution of Compliance and a Resolution of Local Support indicating the City’s commitment to implementing the project in accordance with MTC policies and procedures.
BACKGROUND: In collaboration with Alameda County Transportation Commission (ACTC), MTC, and Caltrans, the City of Fremont has led the development of three major projects along the East Bay side of the Dumbarton Bridge corridor. The projects are the I-880/Decoto Interchange Modernization Project, Decoto Road Complete Street Project, and the Dumbarton Bridge to Quarry Lakes Trail Project. Collectively, the three projects will create a continuous trail path from the Dumbarton Bridge Toll Plaza to the City of Fremont/Union City limit at Alameda Creek, ultimately providing a high -quality active transportation connection for East Bay residents to travel to and from the San Francisco Peninsula via the Dumbarton Bridge. The project corridor also provides connections from North Fremont neighborhoods to numerous local destinations such as: the Don Edwards Wildlife Refuge, Dumbarton Quarry Campground, Coyote Hills Regional Park, Ardenwood Business Park, Ardenwood Transit Center, Ardenwood Historic Park and Farm, and the Alameda Creek Trail.
A significant gap in the trail network is along Marshland Road between the existing path on the Dumbarton Bridge and the State Route 84 toll plaza. Since 2020, with separate Measure BB funding from ACTC, the City of Fremont has led the scoping of trail alternatives along Marshland Road in coordination with Caltrans, MTC, and Cargill (the owner and operator of the adjacent salt ponds). The project scoping phase is now complete, and the project is ready to proceed with the Preliminary Engineering and Environmental Document (PA/ED) phase of work.
Council Staff Report (ID # 5586) Meeting of December 2, 2025 Updated: 11/24/2025 2:01 PM by Dina Lewis Page 2
DISCUSSION/ANALYSIS: Marshland Road currently serves as a low-volume access road to the Dumbarton Pier and other shoreline trails with less than 300 vehicles per day (including bicycle traffic). Marshland Road is also a critical segment of the overall Dumbarton active transportation corridor as well as a high priority regional trail gap within the regional Bay Trail network identified by MTC.
In Summer 2025, MTC agreed to fund the City’s efforts to further develop the trail segment along Marshland Road. In November 2025, MTC approved the programming of $1 million in RM3 funds and $1.5 million in OBAG 3 funds to the City of Fremont for the upcoming PA/ED phase of work. It is anticipated that the PA/ED phase will start in Spring 2026 and extend into Summer 2027. As part of the RM3 and OBAG 3 funding requirements, City of Fremont is required to adopt and submit a Resolution of Compliance and a Resolution of Local Support indicating the City’s commitment to implementing the project in accordance with MTC policies and procedures. Remaining project phases, including final design and construction, are currently unfunded for the Marshland Road trail segment.
FISCAL IMPACT: The City is submitting an allocation request for $1 million in RM3 funds and $1.5 million for the PA/ED phase of work for the Bay Trail Gap Closure – Marshland Road Segment project. The proposed RM3 Implementing Agency Resolution and MTC Resolution of Local Support defines the City’s role and responsibility in the use and management of the RM3 and OBAG 3 funds, as well as reaffirms the City’s overall commitment to the completion of the project PA/ED phase of work. There is an 11.47% funding match requirement for the OBAG 3 funds, which the City will use the programmed RM3 funds to satisfy. City staff time to manage the project work will be funded with local transportation fund sources (e.g. gas tax).
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW: The request for allocation of RM3 funds and adoption of a Resolution of Local Support 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. The recommended actions are considered administrative activities that are exempt from CEQA review. Consistent with CEQA requirements, appropriate environmental analysis and review for the Marshland Road trail segment will be completed as part of the upcoming PA/ED phase of work and is anticipated to be completed by the Summer of 2027.
ATTACHMENTS:
• Draft Reso of Project Compliance Allocation Request for MTC RM3 Grant • Draft Reso of Local Support for MTC OBAG 3 Grant
RECOMMENDATIONS:
1. Adopt resolution of project compliance to support receiving $1,000,000 in Regional Measure 3 grant funds from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission for the Bay Trail Gap Closure – Marshland Road Segment Project (PWC9133).
2. Adopt Resolution of Local Support to receive $1,500,000 in One Bay Area Grant – Cycle 3 grant funds from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission for the Bay Trail Gap Closure – Marshland Road Segment Project (PWC9133).
Council Staff Report (ID # 5586) Meeting of December 2, 2025 Updated: 11/24/2025 2:01 PM by Dina Lewis Page 3
3. Find the action is exempt from CEQA review per CEQA Guidelines, Section 150619(b)(3) which categorize administrative and funding activities as not a project.