Agenda Report
Fullerton City Council
MEETING DATE: APRIL 15, 2025
TO: CITY COUNCIL / SUCCESSOR AGENCY
SUBMITTED BY: stephen bise, p.e., public works director PREPARED BY: DAVID GRANTHAM, P.E., CITY ENGINEER
jerome joaquin, Public Works administrative manager
karen chung, administrative analyst ii
SUBJECT: FISCAL YEARS 2026-27 AND 2027-28 SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BLOCK GRANT AND CONGESTION MITIGATION AND AIR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT program application AUTHORIZATION for YORBA LINDA boulevard - STATE COLLEGE boulevard TO BRADFORD avenue PROJECT
SUMMARY
Staff is preparing a grant application for the proposed Yorba Linda Boulevard – State College Boulevard to Bradford Avenue Rehabilitation Project to submit to Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA), which prioritize projects for Surface Transportation Block Grant Program (STBG) and Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program (CMAQ) funds in Orange County as part of the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) Call for Project Nominations.
PROPOSED MOTION
Authorize staff to submit a SCAG Fiscal Year 2026-27 and 2027-28 Call for Project Nominations for the STBG and CMAQ Improvement Programs grant application for the Yorba Linda Boulevard – State College Boulevard to Bradford Avenue Rehabilitation Project.
ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS
Approve the Proposed Motion
Reject the proposed project for the FY 2026-27 and FY 2027-28 Call for Project Nominations for the STBG and CMAQ and propose an alternative project instead.
Reject any project application for the FY 2026-27 and FY 2027-28 Call for Project Nominations for the STBG and CMAQ.
Other options brought by City Council.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the Proposed Motion.
CITY MANAGER REMARKS
The City Manager requests authorization to submit a grant application.
PRIORITY POLICY STATEMENT
This item matches the following Priority Policy Statements:
Fiscal and Organizational Stability
Public Safety
Infrastructure and City Assets.
FISCAL IMPACT
Staff is requesting to submit a grant application for the Yorba Linda Boulevard – State College Boulevard to Bradford Avenue Rehabilitation Project to OCTA for SCAG Call for Projects nominations. Matching requirements for STBG and CMAQ funds are dependent on project type, but most projects will require a minimum of 11.47% match of eligible costs and be responsible for all ineligible costs using non-federal funds. Staff has developed a preliminary cost estimate of the project of approximately $5.9 million. Of this cost, approximately $4.6 million is expected to be considered eligible costs. Therefore, if awarded, the City would receive approximately $4.0 million of federal funds and be required to provide local matching funds of approximately $1.9 million toward this project. Staff anticipates utilizing M2 Local Fair Share and / or other applicable local funds as the local matching funds.
It is projected that the award selection for the STBG and CMAQ programs for this Call for Project Nominations will be announced in FY 2025-26. Should the proposed project be awarded, staff will budget the project accordingly by grant award including the local match in the appropriate fiscal year starting FY 2026-27 CIP Budget.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
Early this year, SCAG announced the funding opportunity for the Federal Fiscal Years 2026-27 and 2027-28 STBG and CMAQ programs; both are federal funding sources for transportation projects. STBG is eligible for projects that preserve and improve the conditions and performance of highways, bridges, and public roads; pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure; and transit capital projects; while CMAQ is eligible for projects and programs that reduce traffic and improve air quality for areas that do not meet the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for ozone, carbon monoxide or particulate matter (nonattainment areas) and for former nonattainment areas that are now in compliance (maintenance areas).
This project is expected to fall under the STGB category. As such, eligible costs would be limited to work directly related to pavement rehabilitation, whereas repair to sidewalk, curb & gutter, median improvements, traffic signal upgrades, etc. which are typical components of our street rehabilitation projects would be considered ineligible.
The proposed project is on Yorba Linda Boulevard between State College Boulevard to Bradford Avenue, approximately 1 mile in length. A portion of this segment is heavily utilized by California State University Fullerton students and faculty who commute to/from campus via the SR-57 Freeway. The segment also has an Average Daily Traffic between 31,500-38,300 and a Pavement Condition Index between 28-39, which is considered Very Poor condition. The rehabilitation is expected to involve pavement rehabilitation, new signing/striping, ADA upgrades, curb & gutter and sidewalk repairs, median curb repairs and median paving, traffic signal upgrades such as video detection and CCTV, and drought tolerant landscape within existing median near Bradford Avenue. The work within Caltrans jurisdiction at SR-57 will require the City to obtain Caltrans approval and an associated encroachment permit.
Staff has prepared a separate agenda letter for another project application and the grant application requires applicants submitting multiple applications to identify a preferred alternative project. Staff is recommending the other project, the proposed Euclid Street from Valencia Ave to SR91 Project, as the preferred alternative project over this project application, the proposed Yorba Linda Blvd from State College Blvd to Bradford Ave Project.
The deadline to submit grant applications for this Call for Projects is May 16, 2025. Staff recommends granting authorization to proceed with the submission, allowing time for preparation of the application. This includes writing finalizing the scope of work and cost estimate, narrative responses, collecting information and conducting data analysis, and coordinating with stakeholders to obtain letters of support. cc City Manager Eric J. Levitt
STBG/CMAQ Grant Application Authorization for Yorba Linda Blvd - State College Blvd to Bradford Ave April 15, 2025 - Page 2