City Council Memorandum
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL DATE: JUNE 7, 2022 FROM: PUBLIC WORKS & PARKS, RECREATION,
& COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENTS WARDS: ALL
SUBJECT: ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM (ATP) CYCLE VI GRANT APPLICATIONS - CONNECTING FIVE POINTS, MITCHELL AVENUE TRAIL IMPROVEMENTS, RIVERSIDE SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL PLAN, FAIRMOUNT PARK PEDESTRIAN ZONE, AND RIVERSIDE CIVIL RIGHTS WALK IN THE AMOUNT OF $27,550,000 ISSUE:
Authorize the submittal of five grant applications to the California Transportation Commission to: enact pedestrian network improvements surrounding the Five Points intersection at La Sierra Avenue & Hole Avenue, construct the Mitchell Avenue multi-use trail improvements, develop a Citywide Safe Routes to School Plan, construct a temporary pedestrian zone within Fairmount Park, and create a Riverside Civil Rights Walk. The five projects total a combined $27,550,000.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That the City Council:
Authorize the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department to submit an Active Transportation Program Cycle VI grant application to the California Department of Transportation in an amount up to $10,000,000 for the Mitchell Avenue Trail improvements between Campbell Avenue and Hole Avenue; Authorize the Public Works Department to submit an Active Transportation Program Cycle VI grant application to the California Department of Transportation in an amount up to $10,000,000 for improvements at La Sierra Avenue at Hole Avenue, Five Points intersection, to construct high-visibility crosswalks, lighted crosswalk enhancements, a pedestrian plaza, and improve sidewalk connectivity in the surrounding neighborhoods; Authorize the Public Works Department to submit an Active Transportation Program Cycle VI grant application to the California Department of Transportation in an amount up to $3,500,000 for Riverside Safe Routes to School Plan, a comprehensive plan for each individual Elementary and Middle School, Citywide; Authorize the Public Works Department to submit an Active Transportation Program Cycle VI grant application to the California Department of Transportation in an amount up to $550,000 for improvements along Redwood Drive in Fairmount Park, to construct pedestrian ramps, convert the segment to a one-way street, and create a pedestrian zone; and Authorize the Public Works Department to submit an Active Transportation Program Cycle VI grant application to the California Department of Transportation in an amount up to $3,500,000 for improvements to connect 17 points of historical interest in the Downtown and adjoining areas.
BACKGROUND:
The purpose of the State of California’s Active Transportation Program is to support active modes of transportation by achieving the following goals:
Increase the proportion of trips accomplished by biking and walking; Increase safety and mobility for non-motorized users;
Advance the active transportation efforts of regional agencies to achieve greenhouse gas reduction goals; Enhance public health;
Ensure that disadvantaged communities fully share in the benefits of the program; and Provide a broad spectrum of projects to benefit many types of active transportation users.
On March 16, 2022, the California Transportation Commission (CTC) announced the ATP Cycle VI Call for Projects. ATP Cycle VI is expected to include approximately $650 million in federal and state grant funds. The funding/programming years are expected to run for four years, from 2023/2024 to 2026/2027.
On October 1, 2019, the City Council recommended that staff prepare and submit an Active Transportation Program Cycle V grant application reflective of community engagement.
In Spring of 2020, the Western Riverside Council of Governments retained a consultant to assist City Staff in the preparation of ATP Cycle V grant application. There were two applications submitted for the prior ATP Cycle V call for projects which were not selected for funding. However, the City received helpful feedback to strengthen applications for the current round of funding (Cycle VI).
DISCUSSION:
The City of Riverside has participated in the ATP grant program since its inception in 2014, seeking funding for important active transportation projects through the submission of multiple grant applications during the first five calls for projects. To date, the City has been successful in securing millions of dollars in federal and state grants for five projects under ATP Cycles I, II, and III, benefiting the City and its resident by constructing critical pedestrian and cyclist safety and mobility enhancements.
In preparation for the ATP call for projects, staff collaborated with residents and community partners, including the Southern California Association of Governments, the Riverside Police Officers Association, Bike Riverside, the Riverside Transit Agency, the Riverside Police Department, the Riverside County Transportation Commission, the Riverside Public Library, the La Sierra Volleyball Team, California State Assembly District 60, the Riverside University Health System, along with several local businesses to host a kickoff event titled “Connecting Five Points” to envision ATP project components which would heighten pedestrian and bicyclist safety and promote walking and cycling near the five points intersection of La Sierra Avenue at Hole/Pierce Avenue. Nearly 100 survey responses were collected and analyzed. Staff validated these findings and proposed an approach with the Mujeres Activas en La Salud community group.
Figure 1: A resident identifies neighborhood transportation needs with Staff For Cycle VI, the City will be re-submitting its two Cycle V applications, which have been revised to reflect feedback the City has received from the State. Additionally, the City will be submitting three new applications. The five applications are described in detail below:
Mitchell Ave Trail Improvements – Medium Infrastructure Grant This Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Department grant application will consist of the following improvements totaling up to $10M:
Construction of the Mitchell Avenue Trail between Campbell Avenue and Hole Avenue adjacent to Arlington Valley Water Channel; completion of this segment will benefit the local community and leverage future projects to expand the decomposed granite trail connects between Hole Avenue and Arlington Avenue, a nearly two-mile stretch that will eventually facilitate access to the Santa Ana River Trail.
Figure 2: A completed section of the Mitchell Ave. Trail The proposed project will benefit local communities by making vital improvements which will elevate safety levels, create pedestrian & equestrian facilities, and heighten driver awareness.
Five Points Neighborhood Improvements – Medium Infrastructure Grant This Public Works grant application will consist of the following improvements totaling up to $10M:
Conversion of five intersections to high-visibility continental crosswalks along La Sierra Avenue Construction of crossing improvements at La Sierra Avenue at Hole Avenue Construction of pedestrian plaza improvements within the Bushnell Avenue Cul-De-Sac, including decorative pavement, removable bollards, street amenities/furniture, a bicycle corral, and contactless water bottle refill station Construction of sidewalk along: Wells Avenue from Hole Avenue to just east of Tyler Street, one side of Doane Avenue from Bushnell Avenue to Hole Avenue, one side of Hiers Avenue from Bushnell Avenue to Hole Avenue, one side of Mitchell Avenue from Bushnell Avenue to Hole Avenue, and a short, missing segment along Jones Avenue that will complete a connection to Myra Linn Elementary School.
The Public Works Department would engage the community regarding the project scope and assess right-of-way dedication with respect to the sidewalk connectivity projects prior to designing and bidding the work.
Riverside Safe Routes to School Plan – Planning Grant
This Public Works grant application will request up to $3.5M to:
Contract professional consultant services to evaluate each participating elementary and middle school within the City and develop a comprehensive Safe Routes to School Plan for each individual site.
Establish Individualized Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety and Circulations Plans for the Fifty (50) Public K-8 Schools within the City of Riverside. The SRTS plans are intended to be distributed in newsletters, websites, etc. and encourage non-vehicular transportation to school.
Evaluate pedestrian, bicycle, vehicular, collision data, and crossing guard data as well as coordination with the schools, school districts, and Parent-Teacher Associations (PTA) for each school.
Prepare the City for future SRTS Infrastructure Improvement Grant Applications which result from recommendations from each individualized SRTS Studies.
Figure 3: SRTS Plans will promote walking to school (Highlander & Sugarloaf).
The City is actively working with Alvord Unified School District, Riverside Unified School District, and Riverside Unified Health Systems to garner letters of support from each school that wishes to be included in the plan. Completion of the SRTS plan will realize Goal 4.1.5 within the Riverside PACT Plan, which is to “Coordinate the implementation of the AT Plan with implementation and creation of a Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Plan so that children are encouraged to bike and walk to school.” Fairmount Park Pedestrian Zone – Quick-Build Grant
This Public Works grant application will consist of the following improvements totaling up to $550,000:
Construction of pedestrian ramps at sidewalk termination points Deployment of semi-permanent or temporary materials to convert Redwood Drive to one-way Creation of a pedestrian zone along Redwood Drive
Currently, there are no direct sidewalks or trail links between the north and south segments of Fairmount Park and Pedestrians are already attempting to make their own path along Redwood.
Riverside Civil Rights Walk – Small Infrastructure Grant This Public Works grant application will consist of the following improvements totaling up to $3.5M:
Installation of pavement markings and location markers to connect 17 points of historic interest over 3.4 miles.
Development of an app-based Virtual tour and Augmented Reality (AR) Construction of pedestrian crossing enhancements such as high-visibility crosswalks and LED edge-lit signage.
Installation of ADA ramp improvements where needed along the walk’s alignment The proposed project will encourage walking within Downtown and adjacent neighborhoods and Create an active, outdoor educational opportunity for all Riverside students.
Grant Matching Strategy & Development:
The full scope of each project is pending final estimates; however, in order to stay within the defined project size ranges and remain competitive for local funds, the Mitchell Ave Trail Improvements and Five Points Neighborhood Improvements projects will be capped at $10M in total project cost for Medium-sized projects, the Riverside Safe Routes to School Plan and Riverside Civil Rights Walk projects will be capped at $3.5M in total project cost for Small-sized & Planning projects, and the Redwood Pedestrian Zone projects will be capped at $550,000 in total project costs for Quick-Build projects.
The proposed projects will benefit local communities by making vital improvements which will elevate safety levels, create pedestrian & equestrian facilities, and heighten driver awareness.
City Staff is requesting authorization from the City Council to submit five grant applications, in amounts totaling $27,550,000.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT:
The proposed grant application projects contribute to Strategic Priority No. 1 Arts, Culture and Recreation, goals 1.1 to 1.5 and Strategic Priority No.6 Infrastructure, Mobility & Connectivity, goals 6.1, 6.2, and 6.4.
This project aligns with each of the five Cross-Cutting Threads as follows:
Community Trust – The five project applications are the product of various forms of inclusive community engagement. All projects are supported by the priority objectives of the Riverside PACT. The City will submit these applications with the goal of serving public interest, benefiting the City’s diverse populations, and meeting the needs of the community based on their feedback.
Equity – The purpose of the Active Transportation Program is to encourage a healthy lifestyle and enhance public health by increasing safety and mobility of biking and walking and ensure that disadvantaged communities fully share in the benefits of the program. The proposed set of applications will serve residents across the City.
Fiscal Responsibility – Riverside is a prudent steward of public funds and ensures responsible management of the City’s financial resources by awarding construction and consultant services contracts to the lowest responsive bidders and utilizing available grant funding from the state’s Active Transportation Program.
Innovation – Riverside is inventive and timely in meeting the community’s changing needs and prepares for the future through collaborative partnerships and adaptive processes. The City will partner with several entities to develop an outdoor, interactive learning opportunity for students and visitors with the use of a mobile application and AR technology.
Sustainability & Resiliency – The proposed ATP projects aim to increase the proportion of biking and walking to connect residents to economic & educational opportunities, improve community resilience, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The estimated fiscal impacts of all five projects including design, construction, construction engineering, consulting services, and contingencies is estimated at $27,550,000 which breaks down as follows:
Project Name
ATP Funds Requested
Match Funds / Non-Participating Funds
Total Project Cost
Mitchell Ave Trail Improvements
$9,000,000
$1,000,000 (10%)
$10,000,000
Five Points Neighborhood Improvements
$9,000,000
$1,000,000 (10%)
$10,000,000
Riverside Safe Routes to School Plan
$3,500,000
$0 (no local match)
$3,500,000
Fairmount Park Pedestrian Zone
$550,000
$0 (no local match)
$550,000
Riverside Civil Rights Walk
$3,500,000
$0 (no local match)
$3,500,000
Estimated ATP Cycle VI Total:
$27,550,000
If successful, the ATP Cycle VI grant funding will be used for the construction phase of each project, including construction engineering and inspection, and for consulting services for the development of the Riverside Safe Routes to School Plan. In order to compete for State and Federal funding, the Public Works Department is proposing to appropriate up to $1,000,000 (10%) in local match (using non-General Funds) towards the Five Points Neighborhood Improvements project. Similarly, the Parks & Recreation Department is proposing to appropriate up to $1,000,000 (10%) towards the Mitchell Ave Trail Improvements.
Staff will return to Council if awarded the grant with a definitive recommendation for allocating Parks matching funding, in the amount of $1,000,000 from the potential funding sources, including bond proceeds, surplus reserves, Measure Z, or others as available.
Prepared by: Gilbert Hernandez, Public Works Director
Certified as to
availability of funds: Edward Enriquez, Interim Assistant City Manager/Chief Financial Officer/City Treasurer Approved by: Kris Martinez, Assistant City Manager
Approved as to form: Phaedra A. Norton, City Attorney
ATP Cycle VI Applications ● Page 2