DATE: JUNE 14, 2022
DEPARTMENT: PUBLIC WORKS, TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORTATION DIVISION FROM: DAVID JABOCS, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
BY: ANDREW EASTERLING, TRAFFIC ENGINEER
TITLE: TRANSPORTATION GRANT ACCEPTANCE
RECOMMENDED MOTION:
A motion to approve a Resolution to:
Authorize the Public Works Director to execute all Restricted Grant Agreements and any amendments thereto with the California Department of Transportation for the City of Salinas Active Transportation Plan: Outreach and Implementation.
Authorize the transfer of $76,156 of funding from CIP 5800.50.9607 Bicycle Lane Installation to a new CIP for the Active Transportation Plan as grant matching funds.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends a motion to approve a Resolution to:
Authorize the Public Works Director to execute all Restricted Grant Agreements and any amendments thereto with the California Department of Transportation for the City of Salinas Active Transportation Plan: Outreach and Implementation.
Authorize the transfer of $76,156 of funding from CIP 5800.50.9607 Bicycle Lane Installation to a new CIP for the Active Transportation Plan as grant matching funds.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
Caltrans has selected the City of Salinas to be awarded a Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant for the Active Transportation Plan: Outreach and Implementation. The amount of the grant is $394,844 with a $76,156 match from the City. The City’s current bicycle and pedestrian plans were developed in the early 2000s, and there is a need for an update compressive active transportation planning document. Additionally the City completed an Active Transportation Existing Conditions and Needs Assessment in 2018. The Grant funds will help the City conduct outreach to build upon and integrate the work that was already completed to deliver an updated and comprehensive Active Transportation Plan.
BACKGROUND:
The City of Salinas is well-positioned to increase walking and bicycling for transportation. It has a mild climate most of the year, is relatively flat and has an existing 95 miles of connected bikeways and access to Amtrak. However, there are substantial gaps in the current bicycle network and much of the network is in relatively disconnected islands that create barriers to bicycling on streets with high speed and volumes of vehicles and create safety issues when people bike on streets without a dedicated facility. In addition, although the sidewalk network in Salinas is generally well developed, there are some gaps and the sidewalks in many areas need repair or replacement.
The City of Salinas Active Transportation Plan will build from the 2018 Salinas Active Transportation Needs Assessment and other current work, and provide systematic, iterative community engagement, focusing on critical agency stakeholders as well as disadvantaged communities, in developing a community supported set of implementable active transportation project improvements that will encourage active modes and increase safety for all. This plan develops the strategy to improve bicycle and pedestrian connectivity and safety by expanding existing bicycle networks, improving pedestrian circulation, reducing vehicle trips, creating complete streets, and building a healthy and livable community.
The City of Salinas partnered with Ecology Action to apply for a Caltrans Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant to develop and an Active Transportation Plan. The plan is intended to act as a combined update of the 2004 Pedestrian Plan and the 2002 Bikeways Plan and provide a strategy for city-wide sustainable transportation growth and opportunities to support connection and integration into the regional active transportation network. This plan will help the City build consensus around key projects that can continue Salinas’ success in supporting active transportation. The plan will include a robust outreach effort that uses a diverse set of tools to meet people where they are at, a community driven prioritization process to select projects for design and implementation, discussion and agreement on the policy and programmatic improvements to support the network, and a design process that will result in concepts that are feasible and fundable. In consideration for the current COVID-19 environment, some public outreach efforts, and stakeholder meetings will be held on-line and in-person.
If accepted the City and Ecology Action have developed a schedule planning to have the final Active Transportation Plan adopted by 2025. The plan development will focus heavily on community engagement and outreach, which could begin as early as August 2023. The development of the Active Transportation Plan will be coordinated heavily with the General Plan Update also underway.
CEQA CONSIDERATION:
Not a Project. The City of Salinas has determined that the proposed action is not a project as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) (CEQA Guidelines Section 15378). In addition, CEQA Guidelines Section 15061 includes the general rule that CEQA applies only to activities which have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. Where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment, the activity is not subject to CEQA. Because the proposed action and this matter have no potential to cause any effect on the environment, or because it falls within a category of activities excluded as projects pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15378, this matter is not a project. Because the matter does not cause a direct or foreseeable indirect physical change on or in the environment, this matter is not a project. Any subsequent discretionary projects resulting from this action will be assessed for CEQA applicability.
STRATEGIC PLAN INITIATIVE:
The Transportation Grant Acceptance for the Active Transportation Plan supports the City Council’s Goals of Infrastructure and Environmental Sustainability and Youth and Safety.
DEPARTMENTAL COORDINATION:
The Active Transportation Plan will be developed by Public Works in close coordination with Community Development and the General Plan Update. The Finance Department will assist in the use of grant funds.
FISCAL AND SUSTAINABILITY IMPACT:
There is no impact to the General Fund. The grant amount is $394,844 and the City is responsible for a $76,156 match. Staff recommends the transfer of $76,156 from CIP 5800.50.9607 Bicycle Lane Installation to a new CIP account for the Active Transportation Plan. Once adopted the Active Transportation Plan recommendations will help the City secure additional grant funding for active transportation infrastructure improvements.
ATTACHMENTS:
Resolution
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