CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
Meeting Date: September 12, 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 BRIDGE INVESTMENT PROGRAM GRANT
FUNDS
SYNOPSIS
The purpose of this item is to consider adopting a Resolution to authorize the City Engineer to request the allocation of Bridge Investment Program grant funds. The City is submitting a grant proposal to rehabilitate or replace the Grayson Creek Bridge at Elinora Drive, which will assist the City in maintaining a safe and efficient transportation network.
DISCUSSION
Background
The Bridge Investment Program (BIP) grant is a U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) federal-aid program. The BIP is part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), which was enacted as part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The BIP provides $2.4 billion in 2022 grant funding to improve bridge conditions and the safety, efficiency, and reliability of the movement of people and goods over bridges.
The BIP has two components: Large Bridge Projects (over $100 million) and Bridge Projects (up to $100 million). Grant funds may be used for planning, design and construction for qualifying bridges, which are listed on the National Bridge Inventory (NBI).
The City owns and maintains 34 bridges. There are 16 long-span bridges and 18 short-span bridges. The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) inspects the long-span bridges every 24 to 48 months through a federally mandated program. Caltrans provides the City with each bridge inspection report, which identifies needed repairs. The City hires a consultant to inspect the short-span bridges. Licensed engineers with expertise in structures conduct all of the City’s bridge inspections.
BIP grant funds may be used for bridge replacement, rehabilitation, preservation, and protection.
Selection of bridge award evaluates bridge safety needs, how to improve a bridge with a sufficiency rating less than 80 for which the City would anticipate a “poor” condition within the next three years, and bridges that require compliance with current design standards.
Analysis
The Grayson Creek Bridge at Elinora Drive meets the requirements for BIP grant funds for bridge replacement or rehabilitation. The Caltrans inspection report shows overall that the bridge is in “fair” condition, but that the bridge is considered structurally deficient with a corresponding sufficiency rating of 63.1 (below 80). Other qualifying bridges with sufficiency ratings below 80 include: the Grayson Creek Bridge at Milburn Drive (sufficiency rating of
79.0); Monument Boulevard Bridge at Walnut Creek Flood Control Channel (71.9); and Norse Drive Bridge at Contra Costa Canal (78.5). The Grayson Creek Bridge at Elinora Drive was selected for the BIP application because it has the lowest sufficiency rating of all grant-eligible bridges.
The application for grant funds includes preliminary engineering, environmental analysis, and construction. If the application is successful, construction is anticipated to begin in 2025.
FISCAL IMPACT
Rehabilitation or replacement of the Grayson Creek Bridge at Elinora Drive is estimated to cost $3,250,000. Eligible project costs may account for 90% of the total cost for off-system bridges.
The required local match funding is $325,000, which represents 10% of the grant amount. The local match may be met by re-prioritizing projects identified in the Citywide Bridge Maintenance Program (M-5) and allocating resources from the Traffic Mitigation Fund (06).
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.
ALTERNATIVES TO RECOMMENDED ACTION
If the City Council chooses not to adopt the proposed Resolution, staff will not proceed with the USDOT grant application.
ATTACHMENT(S):
Proposed Resolution
Prepared by: Deirdre Castillo, Senior Civil Engineer
Reviewed by: Ananthan Kanagasundaram, City Engineer
Approved by: Ethan Bindernagel, Acting City Manager