CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
Meeting Date: January 10, 2022
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCILMEMBERS
SUBJECT: ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. ___-22 AUTHORIZING A REQUEST TO
THE METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION FOR THE
ALLOCATION OF FISCAL YEAR 2022/2023 TRANSPORTATION
DEVELOPMENT ACT ARTICLE 3 PEDESTRIAN/BICYCLE PROJECT
FUNDING
SYNOPSIS
The City is submitting a State Transportation Development Act (TDA) Article 3 grant application in the amount of $100,000 for the construction of the Taylor Boulevard and Civic Drive Pedestrian Pathway Improvement Project. The purpose of this item is to consider a resolution of the City Council to authorize the Acting City Engineer to submit the TDA grant application.
DISCUSSION
Background
The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) notified agencies of available TDA funds in November 2021. Eligible projects may include sidewalk improvements; pedestrian and bicycle crossing improvements; on-street or off-street bicycle facilities; and development of bicycle safety education programs or plans. The basic objectives of the TDA grant program are to increase the safety and efficiency of bicycle and pedestrian travel, and to encourage alternative modes of transportation. The MTC requires a supporting Resolution from the City Council to be eligible for grant funds.
The TDA program allows the City to submit one grant application per fiscal year. The grant award process has historically been very competitive. Although agencies are not required to provide a local funding match for the grant, it is strongly encouraged in order to remain competitive in the grant selection and award process.
Last year MTC allocated approximately $1.1M in State TDA funds for project awards among the various agencies within Contra Costa County. Project funding awards historically do not exceed $100,000.
Analysis
Taylor Boulevard is a busy principal arterial in the City of Pleasant Hill with a traffic volume of 19,700 vehicles per day. Residents and pedestrians are reluctant to utilize Taylor Boulevard as a safe path of travel due to motorized traffic. The proposed pedestrian pathway and buffered bike lanes are needed to provide students, residents, and bicyclists a safe means of access along Taylor Boulevard. The proposed project will decrease the potential of vehicle conflict, provide access, and encourage walking/biking to school and other civic destinations from the surrounding neighborhoods.
The Safe Routes to School project will construct approximately 900 feet of ADA-compliant pathway of travel along Taylor Boulevard between Civic Drive and Ruth Drive. The purpose of the new pathway is to connect residents to the various schools in the area (Gregory Gardens Elementary School, Valley View Middle School, College Park High School, and Diablo Valley College), the YMCA, Police Department, and Community Center. The proposed 5-foot to 6- foot-wide asphalt concrete pathway will connect on the west end of the project limits to a new traffic signal and intersection improvements at Civic Drive (bidding in the spring of 2022), and on the east end of the project limits to existing sidewalk at Ruth Drive. Drainage and landscaped median modifications will be required. Existing Class II bike lanes will be upgraded to buffered bike lanes where possible.
In December of 2021, staff submitted two potential projects to the Countywide Bicycle Advisory Committee (CBAC): the Taylor Boulevard and Civic Drive Pedestrian Pathway Improvement Project, and the Oak Park Boulevard Sidewalk Gap Closure Project. The CBAC preferred the Taylor Boulevard project and encouraged the City to submit the Oak Park Boulevard project next year.
FISCAL IMPACT
The project improvement cost is estimated at $780,000, of which staff is seeking $100,000 in TDA grant funds. Local funds (Measures J, K and/or Gas Tax) would fund the remaining $680,000 in estimated project cost to match the TDA grant funds.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made through posting of the City Council agenda on the City’s official notice bulletin board, at the Pleasant Hill Senior Center and at the Pleasant Hill Police Department. The agenda and staff report are posted on the City’s web page.
RECOMMENDED CITY COUNCIL ACTION
Adopt proposed resolution.
ALTERNATIVES TO RECOMMENDED ACTION
City Council can choose not to adopt the proposed resolution and not authorize the filing of the TDA grant application. If so, local funds would need to fund the full project construction cost for the Taylor Boulevard and Civic Drive Pathway Improvement Project.
ATTACHMENT(S):
Project Location Map
Proposed Resolution
Attachment A: Findings
Attachment B: TDA Article 3 Project Application Form
Prepared by: Deirdre Castillo, Senior Civil Engineer
Reviewed by: Ananthan Kanagasundaram, Acting City Engineer Approved by: June Catalano, City Manager