CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
Meeting Date: August 01, 2022
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCILMEMBERS
SUBJECT: ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. ___-22 AUTHORIZING A REQUEST TO THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR THE
ALLOCATION OF 2022 RECONNECTING COMMUNITIES PILOT
DISCRETIONARY GRANT PROGRAM FUNDS
SYNOPSIS
The purpose of this item is to consider adopting a Resolution to authorize the City Engineer to request the allocation of Reconnecting Communities Pilot (RCP) Discretionary Grant funds. The grant proposal would fund a feasibility study for the Coggins Road Iron Horse Trail Connector Project to improve safety and access for all modes of transportation including bicycles, pedestrians, and vehicles.
DISCUSSION
Background
The Reconnecting Communities Pilot (RCP) Discretionary Grant is a U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) federal-aid program pursuant to Executive Order 14052, Implementation of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. It appropriates up to $195 million for Fiscal Year 2022. The purpose of RCP is to reconnect communities by removing, retrofitting, or mitigating transportation facilities, such as highways and rail lines that create barriers to community connectivity, including mobility, access, or economic development.
An RCP call-for-projects was announced on June 30, 2022, for the Fiscal Year 2022-2023. The grant proposal submittal deadline is October 13, 2022. The RCP has two components, Planning Grant and Capital Construction Grant. The City of Pleasant Hill is eligible to request funds from the Planning Grant component of RCP to prepare a feasibility study of the Coggins Road Iron Horse Trail Connector Project. Upon completing the feasibility study, the City will be eligible to pursue the Capital Construction Grant component of RCP in the future.
Analysis
The Coggins Road Iron Horse Trail Connector Project feasibility study scope of work includes planning, feasibility analysis, public engagement, conceptual plan, and preliminary engineering.
The study will assess the feasibility of removing, retrofitting, or mitigating an existing eligible facility to reconnect communities.
FISCAL IMPACT
The Coggins Road Iron Horse Trail Connector Project feasibility study cost is estimated at $150,000. The required local matching fund is $30,000, which represents 20% of the grant amount.
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
Staff recommends adopting the proposed Resolution to authorize the City Engineer to submit a request for allocation of RCP grant funds.
ALTERNATIVES TO RECOMMENDED ACTION
If the City Council chooses not to adopt the proposed Resolution, a feasibility study will not be available and the City will be ineligible to pursue the Capital Construction Grant component of RCP in the future.
ATTACHMENT(S):
Proposed Resolution
Prepared by: Philip Ho, Senior Civil Engineer
Reviewed by: Ananthan Kanagasundaram, City Engineer
Approved by: June Catalano, City Manager