CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
MEETING DATE: 6/18/2024
DEPARTMENT: Public Works
SUBJECT:
COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF IRVINE FOR THE IRVINE
BOULEVARD/TRABUCO ROAD TRAFFIC SIGNAL SYNCHRONIZATION
PROJECT
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
1. Approve the Cooperative Agreement for the Irvine Boulevard / Trabuco Road Traffic Signal Synchronization Project (“Cooperative Agreement”) between the City of Irvine and the City of Lake Forest for implementation of signal timing improvements within the City under the OC-Go Regional Traffic Signal Synchronization Program (“Project P”).
2. Authorize the City Manager to sign, and the City Clerk to attest, the cooperative agreement substantially in the form attached, in accordance with the City of Irvine's contract management system.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The City of Lake Forest, in conjunction with Irvine, Mission Viejo, and Caltrans was awarded an inter-jurisdictional project to synchronize traffic signals along Irvine Boulevard / Trabuco Road corridor between Old Myford Road and Marguerite Parkway by the Orange County Transportation Authority (“OCTA”).
As part of the project, the City of Irvine will be administering the project on behalf of the participating agencies, which requires a cooperative agreement between the agencies. The Cooperative Agreement is attached for the City Council’s consideration (Attachment). This agreement requires matching funds for the project totaling $40,800. Staff recommends the City Council execute the Cooperative Agreement with the City of Irvine.
BACKGROUND:
On November 7, 2006, Orange County voters approved, by a vote of 70 percent, the renewal of the Measure M one-half cent sales tax for transportation improvements. Measure M was originally passed in 1990 (“M1”) with a sunset on April 30, 2011. With the approval of the Renewed Measure M (“M2”), the voters
agreed to continue their investment of local tax dollars in Orange County’s transportation infrastructure for another 30 years to 2041.
On August 8, 2022, the OCTA issued the 2023 “Call for Projects” for the Comprehensive Transportation Funding Programs (“CTFP”), including the Regional Traffic Signal Synchronization Program (“RTSSP”). The CTFPs are the mechanism through which the OCTA administers competitive funding for street and road projects. The RTSSP provides approximately $45 million in M2 funds to improve intersections, street operations, and regional traffic signal synchronization projects. Staff proposed the Irvine Boulevard and Trabuco Road Corridor Improvement Project (“Project”) to the OCTA under the RTSSP category. The OCTA reviewed the applications in March 2023 and awarded the Project in May 2023. The Project funds from the OCTA became available starting July 1, 2023.
DISCUSSION:
Staff collaborated with the cities of Irvine, Mission Viejo, and Caltrans on the funding application, and the City of Irvine submitted the Irvine Boulevard / Trabuco Road application on behalf of all three agencies. This inter-jurisdictional project would synchronize 42 traffic signals (8 in Lake Forest, 28 in Irvine, and 6 in Mission Viejo) along Irvine Boulevard / Trabuco Road from Old Myford Road to Marguerite Parkway. The Project also includes signal timing adjustments to traffic signals that are not along the corridor known as “offset traffic signals.” In addition to traffic signal synchronization and signal timing efforts, the Project includes traffic signal communication and equipment upgrades as part of the Implementation Phase and includes monitoring and maintenance during the following two years during the Operations and Maintenance Phase. Lake Forest is only implementing signal timing and synchronization updates as part of this project.
Participating agencies are required to provide a minimum of 20% in matching funds for the project. Agencies can provide in-cash or in-kind services to meet their 20% match requirement. In addition to the application process, staff deferred to the City of Irvine to act as the lead agency for design and construction for the Project. As part of the project award, the City of Irvine is responsible for project management and implementation of the project, including optimized traffic signal timing development, capital improvements, planning, and related design.
With this Project having the City of Irvine act as the lead agency, each agency is required to enter into a cooperative agreement to define specific terms, conditions, and responsibilities between the local agencies. As identified in the attached Cooperative Agreement, the City is required to pay $40,800 in matching funds. The cost is included in the total project cost and the City must pay the required matching funds per the OCTA guidelines. The City’s cost share obligation for the project is shown in Table 1. Staff proposes to utilize available funds from the Air Quality Management District, Gas Tax, and General Fund budgets for the required match, which have been allocated in the 2023-2030 Capital Improvement Plan.
Table 1: TSSP Funding Summary
OCTA 2023 Call for Projects - TSSP
Project Description Signalized
Intersections
Project Total
Cost
Matching Funds
(20%)
Irvine Boulevard / Trabuco
Road TSSP
42 (33 Offset
Intersections)
$1,194,000 $238,800
City of Lake Forest Portion 8
(9 Offset
Intersections)
$204,000 $40,800
Based upon the above summary of project cost and required matching funds, staff recommends the City Council approve the Cooperative Agreement with the City of Irvine to continue with the implementation of the Irvine Boulevard / Trabuco Road TSSP Corridor Improvement Project and authorize the City Manager to sign the agreement. The City Attorney’s Office has reviewed the attached Cooperative Agreement and approved it as to form.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There are sufficient funds within the 2023-2030 Capital Improvement Plan for the recommended action.
ATTACHMENT:
Cooperative Agreement for the Irvine Boulevard / Trabuco Road Traffic Signal Synchronization Project
Initiated By: Tran Tran, Traffic Engineering Manager
Submitted By: Thomas E. Wheeler, P.E., Director of Public Works/City Engineer Approved By: Debra Rose, City Manager