CITY OF POMONA
COUNCIL REPORT
November 6, 2023
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: James Makshanoff, City Manager
Submitted By: Rene Guerrero, Public Works Director
SUBJECT: APPROVE A MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF POMONA AND THE SAN GABRIEL VALLEY COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS FOR THE ALLOCATION OF FUNDS FOR “TRANSIT IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, GOLD LINE,” PROJECT NO. 428-2590-XXXXX-68559 RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council take the following actions:
Approve a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the City of Pomona and the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments (SGVCOG) to allocate $595,000 of funds received from Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (“LACMTA/METRO”) through the Measure M Multi-Year Subregional Program (“MSP”), as well as, up to $1,600,000 of the City’s General Purpose (Prop A Exchange) Funds for “Transit Improvement Program, Gold Line,” Project No. 428-2590-XXXXX-68559; and Authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to execute the proposed MOA between the City of Pomona and the SGVCOG and related documents, subject to approval as to form by the City Attorney.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
Approval of the proposed action will allow the SGVCOG to receive and appropriate $595,000 in MSP Funds, as well as, up to $1,600,000 of the City’s General Purpose (Prop A Exchange) Funds for “Transit Improvement Program, Gold Line,” Project No. 428-2590-XXXXX-68559. Approval to execute the MOA (Attachment No. 1) will allow the City of Pomona (City) to work jointly and collaboratively with the SGVCOG and the other participating cities on the East San Gabriel Valley Sustainable Multimodal Improvements Project (ESGVSMIP/SMIP). The ESGVSMIP will provide first/last mile improvements and active transportation improvements (Projects) in the City and throughout the eastern San Gabriel Valley. It should be noted that the Gold Line is now being called the A Line.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The total cost to complete the nine Regional SMIP Phase 1 Projects has been estimated at $80,077,667. Collectively, the SGVCOG and its Partner Cities have currently secured $27,994,172 in total funding. This includes $14,997,974 MSP Cycle 2 funds (itemized as $6,452,974 in Active Transportation Program (ATP) sub-funds, $150,000 in Bus System Improvement Program (BSIP) sub-funds, and $8,395,000 in First/Last Mile (FLM) sub-funds) and local city contributions in the amount of $12,996,198 to complete the SMIP Phase 1 projects and/or project phase(s). Out of the nine regional Projects, the one project in the City includes Metro-prioritized First/Last Mile improvements along Garey Avenue, Bonita Avenue, and Arrow Highway (as funds allow) connecting the region with Metro’s rail system and as further described in this MOA.
The City’s allocation to the SGVCOG shall be $595,000.00 (consisting of $53,000 for Project Approval & Environmental Documents Phase (PAED), $497,000 for Planning Specifications & Estimating (PS&E) and $45,000 for Construction (CON)). The City shall contribute the remaining share of the Project’s total cost by providing a local share of up to (but not to exceed) $1,600,000 in General Purpose (Prop A Exchange) funds for design and partial construction improvements in the City. Remaining construction costs are expected to be obtained through other grants (to be determined) secured by the SGVCOG.
The total SMIP funding allocation by program year for the nine regional Projects is shown in the table below:
SMIP Phase 1 Estimated Project Costs & Nine Regional Projects Funding / Budget (All Cities) Project Milestones / Phases
Total Cost Estimate
Secured Funding
Additional Funding Needed
LACMTA
Measure M Funds
Local Agency
Total Funding
SGVCOG PM/Admin
$1,499,797
$1,499,797 MSP Cycle 2 BSIP
n/a
$1,499,797
n/a
PLANNING
$90,000
$0
$90,000
$90,000
$0
PA&ED
$320,460
$253,649
$136,092
$389,741
($69,281)
PS&E
$5,799,062
$3,232,260
$1,264,198
$4,496,458
$1,302,604
ROW
$0
$0
$20
$20
$(20)
CON
$72,368,348
$10,012,267
$11,505,888
$21,518,155
$50,850,193
OTHER
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
TOTAL
$80,077,667
$14,997,973 MSP Cycle 2
$12,996,198
$27,994,171
$52,083,496
The City’s estimated project costs and budget with the SGVCOG are below:
City of Pomona/San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments - Transit Improvement Program - Gold Line Project - Phase 1 Funding Project Milestones / Phases
Total Cost Estimate
Secured Funding
Additional Funding Needed
LACMTA – Measure M Funds
Local Agency
Total Funding
SGVCOG PM/Admin
$59,500
$59,500 FLM
n/a
$59,500
PLANNING
$90,000
$0
$90,000 General Fund
$90,000
$0
PA&ED
$50,000
$47,718 FLM
$90,000 General Fund
$137,718
$(87,718)
PS&E
$650,000
$447,327 FLM
$420,000 General Fund
$867,327
$(217,327)
ROW
$0
$0
$20 General Fund
$20
$(20)
CON
$7,300,000
$40,455 FLM
$999,980 General Fund
$1,040,435
$6,259,565
OTHER
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
TOTAL
$8,149,500
$595,000 FLM
$1,600,000
$2,195,000
$5,954,500
The SGVCOG will work to secure Grant funding for construction and construction-related costs (in the amount of approximately $5,804,980 – or similar mutually agreeable amount) for the Project by August 1, 2024.
The SGVCOG will retain 10 percent of the City’s $595,000.00 MSP allocation totaling $59,500 to administer and manage the Project on behalf of the City as part of the ESGVSMIP. The City is also required to maintain membership in the SGVCOG at an annual cost of approximately $40,250.
PREVIOUS RELATED ACTION:
On February 27, 2023, the City Council approved an exchange of $4,200,000 of Proposition ‘A’ Local Return Funds for $3,150,000 of Foothill Transit’s General Funds. The $1,600,000 City match and contingency funds for the City’s “Transit Improvement Program, Gold Line,” Project No. 428-2590-XXXXX-68559 came from this exchange. This exchange was necessary in large part because the City Proposition ‘A’ funds are not allowed to be used as a match to the ESGVSMIP funds.
DISCUSSION:
The ESGVSMIP is the result of a partnership between the Cities of Pomona, Claremont, Azusa, Covina, La Verne and San Dimas, under leadership of the SGVCOG. The ESGVSMIP was initially suggested by the City of Glendora as a result of the completion of the Arrow Highway Multimodal Corridor Plan. After successfully securing a recommendation from the SGVCOG to receive $15 million in Measure M Multi-Year Subregional Program (MSP) award funds, the cities selected the SGVCOG to serve as the Project’s lead agency to coordinate and manage design and construction activities.
The proposed improvements provide connectivity to transit stations, employment centers, schools, and major entertainment and recreational centers. They were identified through a series of robust community outreach efforts led by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Authority (METRO) and members of East San Gabriel Valley. Specific improvements include protected bike lanes, ADA-compliant access ramps, sidewalk improvements and repairs, bike infrastructure, bus shelter renovation, pedestrian crossing enhancements, pedestrian bridges, and improved lighting and landscaping.
Given the scale of the ESGVSMIP, the awarded $15 million from the MSP Program will provide funding to complete the Project’s first phase of improvements by the end of 2025. Subsequent phases of improvements will be constructed using funds that will be secured from various sources, including local Measure M, Measure R, Proposition C, and Enhanced Infrastructure Financing District (EIFD) dollars. Additionally, the SGVCOG is actively pursuing grant applications to secure additional funding.
COUNCIL PRIORITIES & GOALS:
This item supports City Council Goal P to improve condition of streets, alleys and associated sidewalks.
Prepared by:
Stephanie Carbajal, Program Assistant
Attachment No. 1 – Memorandum of Agreement, Unsigned
Attachment No. 2 – Map of First Last Mile (FLM) I / Gold Line Improvements in Pomona Approve MOA with SGVCOG for Funds for Transit Improvement Program, Gold Line