CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
Meeting Date: May 16, 2022
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCILMEMBERS
SUBJECT: ADOPT A RESOLUTION NO. ___-22 AUTHORIZING A REQUEST TO
THE METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION FOR THE
ALLOCATION OF 2023 ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM
(CYCLE 6) FUNDS
SYNOPSIS
The City is submitting an Active Transportation Program (ATP) grant application in the amount of $9,854,400 to improve pedestrian and bicycle access through the Monument Boulevard Corridor. Key improvements include modifications to the I-680 on-ramps and off-ramps, 10-ft wide shared use paths with 5-ft buffer (Class 1), and connection to the Iron Horse Trail.
The purpose of this item is to consider a resolution of the City Council to authorize the City Engineer to file the ATP grant application for the Monument Boulevard/I-680 Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvement Project (Project).
DISCUSSION
Background
The ATP was created by Senate Bill 99 to encourage increased use of active modes of transportation, such as walking and biking. California’s ATP draws both state and federal funds to provide a total of about $320 million each year for bike and pedestrian projects across California. The goals of the ATP include, but are not limited to, increasing the proportion of trips accomplished by walking and biking, increasing the safety and mobility of non-motorized users, advancing efforts of regional agencies to achieve greenhouse gas reduction goals, enhancing public health, and providing a broad spectrum of projects to benefit many types of users including disadvantaged communities.
Each ATP programming cycle will include four years of funding. New programming capacity for the 2023 ATP (Cycle 6) will be for state fiscal years 2023-24, 2024-25, 2025-26, and 2026-2027.
The Metropolitan Transportation Commission, or MTC, administers the Bay Area’s share of ATP money. MTC has programmed funds from Cycles 1 through 5. Since 2014, $325 million has been awarded to projects in the MTC region through the State and Regional ATP competitions.
All application materials must be received by MTC no later than June 15, 2022. There is no local match for the proposed project.
Analysis
Monument Boulevard is a busy principal arterial in the City of Pleasant Hill with a traffic volume of 40,000 vehicles per day. Bicyclists and pedestrians are reluctant to utilize Monument Boulevard as a safe path of travel due to motorized traffic and congestion at the I-680 interchange.
The proposed project would construct 10-ft wide shared use pathways with 5-ft wide buffers, which would physically separate pedestrians and bicyclists from motorists; eliminate the eastbound Monument Boulevard – I-680 onramp to reduce congestion; implement signal phasing operations to improve turning and crossing movements for all users; and provide access to the Iron Horse Trail and Fair Oaks Elementary School. The project will also provide stormwater treatment in accordance with the City’s Green Infrastructure plan, and landscaped medians.
These improvements are needed to provide pedestrians and bicyclists a safe means of access along Monument Boulevard. The proposed project will decrease the potential of vehicle conflict, provide access, and encourage walking/biking between commercial districts in Pleasant Hill and in Concord.
FISCAL IMPACT
The project improvement cost is estimated at $9,854,400. Should the project application not be awarded ATP grant funding, the City would need to seek other funding opportunities to move forward with the project.
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
If the City Council chooses not to adopt the proposed resolution, then the City would need to seek other outside funding sources in order to move forward with the project.
ATTACHMENT(S):
Proposed Resolution
Attachment A: Signature Page
Conceptual Plan
Estimate
Prepared by: Deirdre Castillo, Senior Civil Engineer
Reviewed by: Ananthan Kanagasundaram, City Engineer
Approved by: June Catalano, City Manager