City of Sacramento
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File ID: 2024-02081 1/14/2025 Consent Item 9.
Arden Way and Auburn Boulevard Vision Zero and Mobility Plan (T15180400): Grant Funds and Budgetary Adjustments
File ID: 2024-02081
Location: District 2, Represented by Councilmember Dickinson Recommendation: Adopt a Resolution authorizing the City Manager or the City Manager’s designee to 1) accept grant funds from the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) to develop the Arden Way and Auburn Boulevard Vision Zero and Mobility Plan; and 2) increase the revenue and expenditure budgets in the Active Transportation Program (T15180400) by $399,120 (Other Capital Grants, Fund 3704).
Contact: Jeff Jelsma, Transportation Planner, (916) 808-5347, [email protected]; Jennifer Donlon Wyant, Mobility and Sustainability Division Manager, [email protected], (916) 808-5913; Department of Public of Works Presenter: None.
Attachments:
1-Description/Analysis
2-Resolution
3-Grant Agreement
Description/Analysis
Issue Detail: Issue Detail: On December 5, 2023, the City Council adopted a Resolution (Resolution 2023-0385) to apply to the Caltrans Sustainable Communities Transportation Planning Grant for the Arden Way and Auburn Boulevard Vision Zero and Mobility Plan on Arden Way from the Ethan Way to Del Paso Road, and Auburn Boulevard and Harvard Street from Marconi Circle to Arden Way. The grant application was successful. The Arden Way and Auburn Boulevard Vision Zero and Mobility Plan will be a community driven plan that will identify opportunities to improve safety, mobility, and access along and throughout the corridor.
City Council approval is required to accept the grant funds from the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and amend the revenue and expenditure budgets in the Active Transportation Program (T15180400).
File ID: 2024-02081 1/14/2025 Consent Item 9.
Policy Considerations: The project is consistent with the following specific policies from the Sacramento 2040 General Plan:
1. M-1: An equitable, sustainable multimodal system that provides a range of viable and healthy travel choices for users of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities.
2. M-1.2 User Prioritization. The City shall prioritize mobility, comfort, health, safety, and convenience for those walking, followed by those bicycling and riding transit, ahead of design and operations for those driving.
3. M-1.3 Healthy Transportation System Options. The City shall plan and make investments to foster a transportation system that improves the health of Sacramento residents through actions that make active transportation, nonmotorized modes, high-occupancy, and zero emission vehicles (ZEVs) viable, attractive alternatives to automobiles that use internal combustion engines.
4. M-1.4 Designing to Move People. In planning, designing, and managing the transportation system, the City shall prioritize person throughput to shift trips to more efficient travel modes and upgrade the performance of limited street space.
5. M-1.6 Transit Integration. Wherever feasible, the City shall design buildings, the public realm, streets, and pedestrian access to integrate transit into existing neighborhoods and proposed developments and destinations such as schools, employment centers, commercial centers, major attractions, and public walking spaces to improve access for users by transit.
6. M-1.9 Equitable Processes and Outcomes. The City shall ensure that the transportation system is planned and implemented with an equitable process to achieve equitable outcomes and investments so that all neighborhoods one day will have similar levels of transportation infrastructure such as sidewalks, marked low stress crossings, and bikeways.
7. M-1.11 Increase Bicycling and Walking. The City shall strive to increase bicycling and walking citywide so that it can meet its equity, reduced vehicle miles traveled, and sustainability goals.
8. M-3.2 Street Design. The City shall ensure street design and potential redesign opportunities for existing streets minimize driver speed as appropriate within residential neighborhoods and incorporate street trees wherever possible without compromising connectivity for emergency access or people bicycling, walking, and using mobility devices.
9. M-3.3 Traffic. The City shall support planning and managing traffic from the perspective of the adjacent uses, using traffic management and traffic calming techniques.
10.M-4.1 Application of Safety. The City shall design, plan, and operate streets using complete streets principles to ensure the safety and mobility of all users.
11.M-4.2 Safer Driving Speeds. The City shall work to maximize the safety of the transportation network by designing streets for lower driving speeds and enforcing speed limits in an unbiased manner as well as promoting safer driving behavior.
M-4.3 Vision Zero. The City shall utilize a data driven, “vision zero” approach to eliminate all traffic
File ID: 2024-02081 1/14/2025 Consent Item 9.
fatalities and severe injuries by 2027, while increasing safety, health, and equitable mobility for all.
Economic Impacts: None.
Environmental Considerations:
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA): Section 15262 exempts projects involving only feasibility or planning studies for possible future actions, which have not been approved, adopted, or funded. Implementation of any future projects identified in this study will be subject to CEQA review, and if federally-funded, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements.
Sustainability: Attaining funding to plan for multimodal improvements furthers the City’s commitment to sustainability. The Arden Way and Auburn Boulevard Vision Zero and Mobility Plan will focus on safety, mobility for all modes of transportation, and access to active transportation modes, which will encourage less driving and reduce dependence on the private automobile. The Arden Way and Auburn Boulevard Vision Zero and Mobility Plan will identify opportunities to remove barriers for people walking, biking, and taking transit.
Commission/Committee Action: On November 16, 2023, the Active Transportation Commission recommended to City Council this project for application to the Caltrans Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant program. On December 5, 2023, City Council adopted a resolution authorizing the City Manager to submit the Arden Way and Auburn Boulevard Vision Zero and Mobility Plan application to the Caltrans competitive grant program.
Rationale for Recommendation: The Caltrans Sustainable Communities Transportation Planning Grant Program has awarded the City of Sacramento $399,120 in reimbursable grant funds for the Arden Way and Auburn Boulevard Vision Zero and Mobility Plan. The recommendation is to accept the funds and increase the expenditure budget for the Active Transportation Program (T15180400).
Financial Considerations: The Arden Way and Auburn Boulevard Vision Zero and Mobility Plan has a total estimated project cost of $579,540. The City received a State grant from Caltrans through the Sustainable Communities Transportation Planning Grant Program to increase the revenue and expenditure budget in the in the Active Transportation Program (T15180400) by $399,120 (Other Capital Grants, Fund 3704). There is sufficient funding available in the project to absorb the remaining costs.
There are no General Funds planned or allocated for this project.
Local Business Enterprise (LBE): Not applicable.
RESOLUTION NO.
Adopted by the Sacramento City Council
Resolution of the City of Sacramento to increase the revenue and expenditure budgets for the Active Transportation Program (T15180400) for the Arden Way and Auburn Boulevard Vision Zero and Mobility Plan.
BACKGROUND
A. On December 5, 2023, the City Council adopted a Resolution (Resolution 2023- 0385) to apply to the Caltrans Sustainable Communities Transportation Planning Grant to conduct a safety and mobility study for the Arden Way and Auburn Boulevard Vision Zero and Mobility Plan.
B. Caltrans awarded $399,120 for the Arden Way and Auburn Boulevard Vision Zero and Mobility Plan. The grant agreement was fully executed on November 4, 2024.
BASED ON THE FACTS SET FORTH IN THE BACKGROUND, THE CITY COUNCIL RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The City Manager or the City Manager’s designee is authorized to accept grant funds in the amount of $399,120 from the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) to develop the City of Sacramento Arden Way and Auburn Boulevard Vision Zero and Mobility Plan.
Section 2. The City Manager or the City Manager’s designee is authorized to increase the revenue and expenditure budgets in the Active Transportation Program (T15180400) by $399,120. (Other Capital Grants, Fund 3704).
SCOPE OF WORK Project Information Grant Category Sustainable Communities CompetitiveGrant Fiscal Year 2024-2025Project Title Arden Way and Auburn Boulevard Vision Zero and Mobility Plan Organization (Legal name) City of Sacramento DisclaimerAgency commits to the Scope of Work below. Any changes will need to be approved by Caltrans prior to initiating any Scope of Work change or amendment. Introduction The City of Sacramento Arden Way and Auburn Boulevard Vision Zero and Mobility Plan will present opportunities to enhance safety, mobility, and access to transit, jobs, retail, and community services for all residents living in some of the City’s most disadvantaged communities located along two corridors on the City’s High Injury Network (HIN). The planning process will include an analysis of existing conditions, meaningful and equitable community engagement, identification of tools, and a vision and concept for Arden Way, from Del Paso Boulevard to Ethan Way, and the Auburn Boulevard and Harvard Street corridor, from Marconi Circle to Arden Way. Arden Way is a critical east-west corridor in North Sacramento containing a vibrant mix of commercial, residential, and industrial uses and a diverse population. Part of the High Injury Network (HIN), this corridor is one of the City’s Vision Zero Top 10 corridors, representing the locations with the most fatal and severe injury crashes in the city. Auburn Boulevard, also part of the City’s HIN, and Harvard Street form a north-south corridor that provides a primary connection between businesses and residential neighborhoods to the Arden Way corridor and beyond. The City of Sacramento adopted the Transportation Priorities Plan (TPP) to guide transportation investments according to community established values. The Auburn Boulevard corridor is designated as a high priority effort meeting all the criteria for investment because the area lacks basic infrastructure; is home to a community that has experienced racism and bias; is a corridor that supports access to jobs, parks, schools, and transit; and is a priority corridor for safety improvements. As part of the Regional Transit Network, a project on Arden Way would likely score as high priority not only for improving safety and ensuring equitable investment in a historically underserved area, but also for walking and biking improvements that would strengthen access to key destinations, such as transit, workplaces, retail, and more. The plan area is surrounded by a mix of high- and low-density housing with several large low- and mixed-income housing developments currently under construction. Including the Harvard Park Corporate Campus, Erickson Industrial Park, Arden Fair, and various other businesses and shopping centers, the commercial and industrial properties along the Arden Way and Auburn Boulevard corridors generate a significant number of jobs and tax revenue. The area surrounding Arden Way has two to three times the number of jobs accessible in comparable communities around the region and will have a 30 percent increase in dwelling units and a 10% increase in jobs by 2040, according to regional data prepared by SACOG. The plan area City of Sacramento Agreement Number 74A1584 Attachment II Page 1 of 9 includes 12 bus stops; multiple light rail stations, including two directly on Arden Way; the Union Pacific rail line, which is still used to transport freight; and many opportunity areas for infill development. A passenger rail station (led by San Joaquin Regional Rail Authority in partnership with SACOG) is proposed at the west end of the Arden corridor. Additionally, portions of Arden Way and Auburn Boulevard are within ¼ mile radius of the Swanston and Marconi/Arcade Light Rail Stations but lack the infrastructure to provide direct access. As a focus area for transit- oriented development, access to transit will be a key feature of this plan. The Arden Way and Auburn Boulevard Vision Zero and Mobility Plan will address the needs of underserved communities as identified locally, regionally, and using statewide metrics. There are four census tracts surrounding the project area: 6067006900, 6067005402, 6067005502, and 6067006202. According to the California Healthy Places Index, which identifies neighborhoods disproportionately impacted by health and racial inequities, these tracts have healthier community conditions compared to only 14.1%, 28.7%, 8.8%, and 14.8% of other California tracts, respectively. According to CalEnviroScreen version 4.0, three of these tracts are in the 90th percentile or above, indicating their burden by multiple sources of pollution is disproportionately high. These same three tracts are identified as disadvantaged communities according to California SB 535, and all four census tracts are AB 1550 low-income communities with median household incomes at or below 80% of the statewide median. Furthermore, this project is located in an area that is majority Black, Latino, Asian, Pacific Islander, and/or Indigenous. According to the 2020 US Census, three of the four surrounding census tracts average 70% non- white populations. Sacramento acknowledges historical racial inequities and is committed to transparent, deliberate, and actionable solutions that will remedy those inequities, including the impact air quality and climate have on these communities. The City of Sacramento recently adopted the TPP and is currently working on the City’s 2040 General Plan update. During outreach, the community shared that their values include access to parks and schools, especially for youth. As some of the most vulnerable roadway users, the plan will identify community destinations and create connections to make families feel safe and comfortable accessing the goods and services that they need to live healthy lives. Additionally, fostering an environment in which people are comfortable using active transportation and transit as a means of transportation rather than driving alone will promote a healthier community and help achieve the City’s greenhouse gas reduction goals. This project directly aligns with Caltrans’ commitment to safety as a top priority identified in the Caltrans Strategic Plan. The project also supports Executive Order N-19-19 calling for a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions; the CalSTA 2021 Climate Action Plan for Transportation Infrastructure calling for investing in safe walking and bicycling infrastructure; and AB 773 (Slow Streets). Additionally, this plan will complement the San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission (SJRRC) multimodal connectivity, land use analysis, and action plan for the proposed Old North Sacramento Station and its surrounding area in partnership with Sacramento Regional Transit (SacRT), and Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG). Project Stakeholders The city will work with the community to identify key partners to create a quality, implementable plan. Sacramento Regional Transit (SacRT) will be a key partner throughout the planning process to ensure that access to transit and transit operations are a top priority. In addition to direct outreach to local residents and businesses, the project team will seek additional resident engagement through collaboration with: Mutual Assistance Network BRIDGE Housing Old North Sacramento Community Association Swanston Estates Neighborhood Associatio City of Sacramento Agreement Number 74A1584 Attachment II Page 2 of 9 Ben Ali Community AssociationSacramento Area Bicycle Advocates (SABA) Civic Thread AARP Other organizations identified by the community These community and housing organizations are trusted sources of information for residents and will help inform the process, share information, and encourage meaningful conversations with community members. The businesses along these corridors are not organized in a single group, however, the project team will work with organizations such as: Harvard Park Corporate Campus the Hispanic Chamber North Sacramento Chamber of Commerce Arden Fair Mall Other shopping center and business representativesIn addition to the organizations that represent interests directly on the corridors, a team of agency representatives will be organized for technical review and advice including City of Sacramento: Department of Public Works Community Development Department Economic Development Department Police and Fire Office of Innovation Office of Climate Action and Sustainability Police and Fire Departments Air District The plan will be developed through coordination with Caltrans D3, Sacramento Area Council of Governments, Sacramento County, County Health, and SacRT. Community partner groups will be included in each phase of outreach on the corridors. The technical advisory group will be convened at each phase of the project. The City will contract with a consultant team to help manage the project including technical analysis of safety data and other existing conditions, planning and coordination of outreach activities, proposal of design features based on technical analysis and best practices, corridor concept design, and composing draft and final plans. Overall Project Objectives Empower the community in the planning process through meaningful, equitable engagement activities specifically tailored to the underserved community. Collaborate with other agencies, including Sacramento RT, to support access to transit and transit-oriented development, in addition to supporting new and low-income housing. Enhance access to local businesses, schools, parks, jobs, transit, and other important destinations. Support local, regional, and statewide goals for housing, economic development, multi- modal transportation, sustainability, and social equity.
City of Sacramento Agreement Number 74A1584 Attachment II Page 3 of 9 Promote a healthier community and help achieve greenhouse gas reduction goals by encouraging mode shifts to active transportation and transit as a means of transportation. Evaluate and identify recommendations to improve safety, accessibility, and mobility for all roadway users. Develop a comprehensive safety and mobility plan for the Arden Way and Auburn Boulevard corridors, including cost estimating and an implementation plan to ensure the plan is implementable. Summary of Project Tasks [Project Management activities must be identified within the task they are occur and not as standalone tasks.] Task 01: Project AdministrationThis is an Administrative Task that shall only be charged against by the Grantee for the Administration of this grant project. Costs for this task cannot exceed 5% of the grant award amount. Grantee will manage and administer the grant project according to the Grant Application Guidelines, Regional Planning Handbook, and the executed grant contract between Caltrans and the grantee. The Project will start with a kick-off meeting with Caltrans staff to discuss grant procedures and project expectations, including quarterly reporting, invoicing, and other relevant project information. A meeting summary will be documented. City staff will submit quarterly reports to Caltrans district staff by providing a summary of project progress and grant/local match expenditures. Staff will also submit complete invoice packages to Caltrans district staff based on milestone completion–at least quarterly. Task Deliverables Kick-off meeting with Caltrans - Meeting Notes Quarterly invoices and progress reports Task 02: Consultant ProcurementCity staff will procure a qualified consulting team to augment staff time and resources for this effort through a competitive Request for Proposal (RFP) process consistent with City of Sacramento procurement procedures. Grantee will procure a consultant, consistent with state and federal requirements, Local Assistance Procedures Manual for procuring non-Architectural and Engineering consultants, the Grant Application Guide, Regional Planning Handbook, and the executed grant contract between Caltrans and the grantee. Task Deliverables Copy of agency’s procurement procedures Copy of Request for Proposals (RFP) City of Sacramento Agreement Number 74A1584 Attachment II Page 4 of 9 Copy of contract between consultant and grantee Kick-off meeting with consultant - Meeting Notes Task 1: Existing Conditions AnalysisData collection and analysis methods will be used to understand existing conditions in the project area. The project team will conduct an analysis of relevant plans, the built environment, including roadway, bikeway, sidewalks, and crossing locations and types, as well as land uses, transit stops, and upcoming housing and employment development. A specific, in-depth collision analysis will include collision locations, types, and causal factors. Additionally, the project team will map community destinations. This data will be presented to the community in the Community Listening and Engagement Task (Task 3: Community Listening and Engagement) to validate and enhance the existing conditions data. Task Deliverables Data summary Collision Analysis Existing Conditions analysis and report Task 2: Alternatives Analysis The project team will use findings from the Existing Conditions Analysis to identify the safety and mobility needs along Arden Way, Harvard Street, and Auburn Boulevard. With the Technical Advisory Committee consultation and review, the project team will develop a set of countermeasures and potential design options that meet the community needs identified in the existing conditions report and the community engagement and listening. Options will be vetted by first responders, Sacramento Regional Transit, and City Engineers to ensure that measures are implementable and fundable. The menu of countermeasures and potential design options will be presented to the community in the Public Outreach Task (Task 3) to hear feedback about viability along the corridors. This will ensure that the community will feel comfortable using the new roadway features and that these features will help residents reach important destinations. Considerations will be made for legilslation AB 1938 Task Deliverables Summary of Safety Countermeasures Potential Corridor Design Options Task 3: Community Listening and EngagementLeveraging years of relationship building between the city and the communities of North Sacramento, this task will focus on listening to community members, including residents, business City of Sacramento Agreement Number 74A1584 Attachment II Page 5 of 9 owners, students, and employees who use the Arden Way and Auburn Boulevard/HarvardStreet corridors every day. Community input will help identify values and goals for the project, validate and supplement empirical data, identify preferred plan elements and inform the final plan. An equitable community listening and engagement plan will be created with a particular focus on reaching populations who have not been historically engaged. This will be accomplished by offering a wide range of engagement opportunities. Community engagement will include both in-person and virtual events to better understand the community perspective at three phases of the project, the project team will decide the number and type of events based on community feedback, and will likely include three or more engagement activities during each phase. These activities may include, but are not limited to workshops, pop-up events, virtual open houses, online surveys, and walking tours along the corridors in order to meet residents within their neighborhoods. The engagement process will also include focused outreach to key community partners including neighborhood groups, schools, business groups or others identified by the community. Pop-up events can be held at resource fairs, counseling centers, youth sports activities, retail and employment centers, and other locations identified by the community. Workshops or other meetings can be held at Community Centers or affordable housing complexes where the City will engage with both adults and children through interactive activities. Engagement at each stage of the project will include opportunities for input through different formats (in-person, virtual, and mobile-friendly) to enable more people to participate. The city will work with the community to identify key partners to create a quality, implementable plan. Sacramento Regional Transit (SacRT) will be a key partner throughout the planning process to ensure that access to transit and transit operations are a top priority. In addition to direct outreach to local residents and businesses, the project team will seek additional resident engagement through collaboration with: Mutual Assistance Network BRIDGE Housing Old North Sacramento Community Association Swanston Estates Neighborhood AssociationBen Ali Community Association Sacramento Area Bicycle Advocates (SABA) Civic Thread AARP Other organizations identified by the community These community and housing organizations are trusted sources of information for residents and will help inform the process, share information, and encourage meaningful conversations with community members. The businesses along these corridors are not organized in a single group, however, the project team will work with organizations such as: Harvard Park Corporate Campus the Hispanic Chamber North Sacramento Chamber of Commerce Arden Fair Mall Other shopping center and business representatives In addition to the organizations that represent interests directly on the corridors, a team of agency representatives will be organized for technical review and advice including City of Sacramento: Department of Public Works City of Sacramento Agreement Number 74A1584 Attachment II Page 6 of 9 Community Development Department Economic Development Department Police and Fire Office of Innovation Office of Climate Action and SustainabilityPolice and Fire Departments Air District Task DeliverablesCommunity Engagement PlanProject webpage Event Flyers Workshop Presentations Community Surveys Task 4: Draft and Final PlanThe four previous tasks will be used to create a draft and final plan including the following: • A summary of existing conditions that defines project needs. • Safety Countermeasures and potential design concepts. • A planning level corridor concept that includes recommendations for safety and mobility improvements. • Planning level cost estimates will be calculated for the individual features and each corridor. These cost estimates will also include assumptions for future engineering and construction including assumptions for cost escalation. An Administrative Draft Plan will be reviewed by city staff and the Technical Advisory Group, and the project team will incorporate comments. A Public Draft Plan will be presented to the public for review and feedback, with opportunities to review in-person and online. Community members and other partners will be notified of the opportunity to review and comment on the Public and Final Draft plans. A list and summary of comments received on the Public Draft Plan will be created. The Draft Final Plan will include further edits based on staff, partners, and community input and will include a summary of next steps for the City of Sacramento to implement the Plan and identify potential funding sources to implement the Plan. The final set of documents will be presented to City Council for final approval. Following approval, the plan will be ranked in the City of Sacramento Agreement Number 74A1584 Attachment II Page 7 of 9 Transportation Priorities Plan for the City to identify and apply to future funding opportunities as they become available. Task Deliverables Public Draft Plan with Community CommentsDraft Final Plan Final Plan City of Sacramento Agreement Number 74A1584 Attachment II Page 8 of 9 California Department of TransportationSustainable Transportation Planning Grant ProgramCOST AND SCHEDULEGrant CategorySustanable Communities CompetitiveGrant Fiscal YearFY 2024-25Project TitleArden Way and Auburn Boulevard Vision Zero and Mobility PlanOrganization(Legal name)City of SacramentoDisclaimersAgency commits to the Cost and Schedule below. Any changes will need to be approved by Caltrans prior to initiating any Cost and Schedule change or amendment.Use only whole dollars in the financial information fields. No rounding up or down and no cents.Usethe LocalMatch Calculatorto ensurethatgrant andlocalmatchamountsare correct:LocalMatchCalculator(postedon-line)Reimbursements/ InvoicingDoes your agency plan to request reimburesement for indirect costs?Yes NoIf yes, what is the estimated indirect cost rate?Doesyouragencyplantouse theTaperedMatch approachforinvoicingpurposes?YesNoTask# Task TitleGrant Amount*EstimatedLocal Cash Match*EstimatedLocalIn-Kind Match*Estimated TotalProject Cost* FY 2024/25FY 2025/26FY 2026/27JASONDJFMAMJJASONDJFMAMJJASONDJFMAMJ01Project Administration(no more than 5% of total grant funds)$7,324$13,601$0$20,92502Consultant Procurement$3,563$6,617$0$10,1801Existing Conditions Analysis$63,823$32,002$0$95,8252Alternatives Analysis$96,337$37,363$0$133,7003Community Listening and Engagement$106,698$48,002$0$154,7004Draft and Final Plan$121,375$42,835$0$164,210Totals$399,120$180,420$0 $579,540 City of Sacramento Agreement Number 74A1584 Attachment II Page 9 of 9