CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
Meeting Date: September 12, 2022
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCILMEMBERS
SUBJECT: ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. ___-22 AUTHORIZING THE CITY
ENGINEER TO SUBMIT A REQUEST TO THE METROPOLITAN
TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION FOR THE ALLOCATION OF 2022
ONE BAY AREA GRANT FUNDS AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY TO
PARTNER WITH THE CONTRA COSTA TRANSPORTATION
AUTHORITY ON A COUNTYWIDE MULTI-AGENCY GRANT
PROPOSAL UNDER THE 2022 ONE BAY AREA GRANT PROGRAM
SYNOPSIS
The purpose of this item is for the City Council to consider adopting a resolution authorizing the following actions:
1. Authorizing the City Engineer to submit a request to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission for the allocation of 2022 One Bay Area Grant funds; and
2. Authorizing the City to partner with the Contra Costa Transportation Authority on a countywide multi-agency grant proposal under the 2022 One Bay Area Grant Program.
The Contra Costa Transportation Authority is the sponsoring and leading local agency.
DISCUSSION
Background
The One Bay Area Grant (OBAG) guides how MTC distributes federal transportation funds from the Federal Highway Administration to projects and programs that improve safety, spur economic development, and help the Bay Area meet climate change and emission goals.
Pursuant to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission Resolution No. 4505, OBAG Cycle 3 is for four years from 2022 to 2026. The City of Pleasant Hill is eligible under the Smart Signals component of OBAG. The Smart Signal fund has $28.4 million available to jurisdictions.
OBAG Cycle 3 call-for-project was announced on May 20, 2022. The grant proposal submittal deadline is September 15, 2022. A local match of 11.47% is required. OBAG has a Smart Signals component, which requires an Authority-led countywide multi-agency effort. The Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) is the sponsoring and leading local agency. CCTA is leading an effort to prepare a grant proposal for a Countywide Smart Signals Project to upgrade traffic signal systems and communication technologies throughout its 19 cities/towns and unincorporated communities, and transit agencies. The City of Pleasant Hill is invited to partner with CCTA, and to support and collaborate with CCTA. Within the Pleasant Hill city limits, the project study area includes 15 city-owned traffic signals on two street corridors, namely Contra Costa Boulevard and Monument Boulevard (Exhibit A). As a participating local agency, the City of Pleasant Hill is eligible to request an allocation of OBAG grant to fund improvements within the Pleasant Hill city limits.
Analysis
Within the Pleasant Hill city limits, the estimated project cost is $970,000. On behalf of the City of Pleasant Hill, CCTA will request $859,000 in OBAG Cycle 3 funds. The City of Pleasant Hill is required to provide a local match of $111,000, which represents 11.47% of the project cost.
All cost estimates are preliminary and will be finalized by CCTA. If awarded an OBAG grant, CCTA will execute all project administration, contracting, financing, accounting, and implementation. The City of Pleasant Hill will be eligible for reimbursement on project expenses, such as staff time and construction inspection time incurred less the portion on City local match of $111,000.
FISCAL IMPACT
The Countywide Smart Signals Project is estimated to cost $970,000. The OBAG grant will fund $859,000, which represents 88.53% of the project cost. The required local match is $111,000, which represents 11.47% of the project cost. The local match may be met by re-prioritizing other CIP projects or contributions from Measure K and 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 the City Council adopt the proposed resolution:
1. Authorizing the City Engineer to submit a request to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission for the allocation of 2022 One Bay Area Grant funds; and
2. Authorizing the City to partner with the Contra Costa Transportation Authority on a countywide multi-agency grant proposal under the 2022 One Bay Area Grant Program.
The Contra Costa Transportation Authority is the sponsoring and leading local agency.
ALTERNATIVES TO RECOMMENDED ACTION
The City Council may choose not to adopt a Resolution authorizing the City Engineer to submit a request to MTC for 2022 OBAG funds and partner with CCTA. Staff does not recommend this alternative as it will preclude the City of Pleasant Hill from applying for OBAG funds and forestall an opportunity for the City to partner with CCTA and improve traffic signal systems in Pleasant Hill.
ATTACHMENT(S):
Proposed Resolution
Exhibit A - Project Location Map
Prepared by: Philip Ho, Senior Civil Engineer
Reviewed by: Ananthan Kanagasundaram, City Engineer
Approved by: Ethan Bindernagel, Acting City Manager