February 21, 2023
Public Works
DATE: February 21, 2023
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Daniel Chavarria, PE, Director of Public Works
Robert Armijo, Deputy Director of Public Works
Ken Cheng, Senior Civil Engineer
Subject:
Application for the Transportation Development Act
(TDA) Article 3 Pedestrian and Bicycle Funding for Fiscal Year 2023-24
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The proposed grant funds of $176,000 would cover the entire cost of the project. Matching funds are not
required.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
None
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
City staff submitted an application for the Transportation Development Act (TDA) Article 3 funding on January 26,
2023. The application requires a resolution be adopted
by the City Council. The proposed application is for the “Carlson Blvd Path & Bike Education Project.”
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
ADOPT a resolution authorizing a request to the
Metropolitan Transportation Commission for the
allocation of fiscal year 2023-2024 Transportation
Development Act Article 3 pedestrian/bicycle project
funding for the Carlson Blvd Path & Bike Education
Project; and to ACCEPT and APPROPRIATE the funds
should the grant be awarded – Public Works Department
(Robert Armijo 510-620-5477/Ken Cheng 510-621-1612).
AGENDA
REPORT
February 21, 2023
DISCUSSION:
In November 2022, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) solicited applications for the Transportation Development Act Article 3 (TDA3) funds for pedestrian and bicycle projects. Each city may submit one project for consideration which must be reviewed by the county or local Bicycle Advisory Committee. The Richmond Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Committee (R-BPAC) voted to approve the “Carlson Blvd Path & Bike Education Project” (Project) on January 9, 2023.
This Project will have two parts: a small sidewalk-to-multi-use path improvement and a bicycle education program.
Carlson Blvd Path
The Richmond Greenway is an important cross-town walking and biking route but has an unsafe access point at Carlson Blvd., where bicyclists either need to bike on the sidewalk or cross over four lanes of the busy street. The improvement project will repair and widen this existing sidewalk to meet standards for a multi-use path, in essence extending the Greenway to the corner of Carlson and Broadway, where bicyclists can make a safer connection using existing crosswalks and bike lanes. This project concept is highlighted in two recent planning documents – the Richmond Greenway Gap Closure Study and the draft Bicycle & Pedestrian Action Plan, where it has the highest prioritization score in the table of bicycle projects.
Bike Education Program
The City of Richmond will contract with Rich City Rides for a two-year bicycle safety education program. Rich City Rides aims to decrease bicycle involved collisions and increase safety for all road users in Richmond by providing bike safety education classes. One-hour workshops will cover topics such as rules of the road, avoiding collisions, biking in city traffic, handling intersections, avoiding bike theft, riding after dark, and basic bike mechanics. They will be led by an instructor certified by the League of American Bicyclists in either a classroom or virtual webinar format.
Environmental Review
The Project is categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15301, Existing Facilities, consisting of minor alteration to existing bicycle and pedestrian trails and similar facilities. Notice of Exemption was filed on January 26, 2023, with the County Clerk.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – Resolution
Attachment 2 – TDA Article 3 Application Form
Attachment 3 – Application Attachments
Attachment 4 – Call for Projects Letter