TO: HONORABLE MAYOR FROM: John Ristow
AND CITY COUNCIL Jim Shannon
SUBJECT: SEE BELOW DATE: October 9, 2024
Approved Date
10/10/24
COUNCIL DISTRICT: Citywide
SUBJECT: Bus Accelerated Infrastructure Delivery Program Grant Funding Agreements 2024-2025
RECOMMENDATION
Approve the following actions to accept and receive 2024-2025 Bus Accelerated Infrastructure Delivery (BusAID) grant funds:
(a) Adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager or her designee to negotiate and execute grant agreements for reimbursement of work, including all documents necessary to effectuate the grant agreements, with the Metropolitan Transportation Commission in an amount not to exceed $5,000,000 for the following projects:
(1) For the Cloud-Based Central Transit Signal Priority along Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority’s Frequent Network Project, in an amount not to exceed $972,113 in non-federal State Transit Assistance funding, with a local match of $125,947; and
(2) For the Bus Bulb-Out Installations along Senter Road Project, in an amount not to exceed $4,027,887 in federal One Bay Area Grant Cycle 3 funding, with a local match of $521,855.
(b) Adopt a Resolution of Local Support that provides the necessary assurances that the City will comply with the Metropolitan Transportation Commission's implementation policies, includes the project scope of work, schedule, and budget as attachments, and acknowledges the requirement to prepare and implement a Project Evaluation Plan.
(c) Adopt the following 2024-2025 Funding Sources Resolution and Appropriation Ordinance amendments in the Building and Structure Construction Tax Fund:
(1) Increase the estimate for Revenue from Local Agencies by $1,243,028; (2) Establish the BusAID 2024-2025 Cloud-Based Central TSP appropriation to the Department of Transportation in the amount of $486,056; (3) Establish the BusAID 2024-2025 Senter Road Bulb-Outs appropriation to the Department of Transportation in the amount of $1,000,000; and (4) Decrease the Ending Fund Balance appropriation by $243,028.
COUNCIL AGENDA: 10/22/24
FILE: 24-2088
ITEM: 2.14
HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
October 9, 2024
Subject: Bus Accelerated Infrastructure Delivery Program Grant Funding Agreements 2024 -2025
SUMMARY AND OUTCOME
Approval of these actions will provide funding to implement and deploy a central transit signal priority (TSP) system to improve transit bus travel efficiency for eight routes along Valley Transportation Authority’s (VTA's) Frequent Network; and install bulb-outs that extend the curb at bus stops at high-priority intersections along Senter Road, a Vision Zero Priority Safety Corridor, to improve pedestrian safety, increase transit-rider accessibility, and enhance transit efficiency.
BACKGROUND
To maximize traffic flow efficiency and safety as traffic congestion continues to grow, the Department of Transportation (DOT) works with partners in the region to employ innovative strategies to support equitable and accessible transportation options.
Cloud-Based Central TSP along VTA’s Frequent Network
For more than two decades, the City and VTA have collaborated to enhance transit service through operational strategies such as TSP to minimize delays for transit vehicles at signalized intersections. Using traditional TSP, signals equipped locally with proper equipment can be adjusted to extend green lights, shorten red lights, and optimize signal phases to improve the probability of transit buses receiving a green signal upon arrival at a signalized intersection.
Newer central TSP systems require no new hardware installed at an intersection and use cloud-based software that communicates with existing equipment on board transit vehicles. This reduces both initial deployment costs as well as long-term maintenance costs, and increases reliability.
TSP systems improve transit speeds and ensure more reliable travel times, essential for boosting transit ridership. This improvement is anticipated to reduce single-occupancy vehicle use, thereby alleviating traffic congestion, and lowering harmful air emissions which are the goals of the City’s Transit First Policy, adopted in August of 2022.
The City has already implemented a cloud-based central TSP system at 135 signals along VTA bus routes 66, 68, and Rapid 568, with an additional 242 locations coming online within the next year funded through separate grant projects.
Bus Bulb-Out Installations along Senter Road
In February 2020, City Council adopted a Vision Zero Action Plan investing in strategies to eliminate fatalities and reduce severe injuries. Through comprehensive evaluation of citywide traffic collision data, DOT identified 30 Priority Safety Corridors where fatal and severe injuries are most clustered and have the highest need for safety investments.
Senter Road was identified as one of these Priority Safety Corridors.
HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
October 9, 2024
Subject: Bus Accelerated Infrastructure Delivery Program Grant Funding Agreements 2024 -2025
The City requested and received $10 million in state funding for the East San José Corridor Safety Improvement Project along Senter Road through the Adopted 2022- 2023 California State Budget. This funding was approved by City Council on October 17, 2023. This East San José Corridor Safety Improvement Project will implement a new traffic signal, roadway and pedestrian lighting, Class IV protected bike lanes, median islands, enhanced crosswalks, and transit improvements including bus bulb- outs.
The additional $4.0 million provided by this BusAID grant award will supplement the state funding and allow DOT to deliver bus bulb-outs at three additional priority intersections. These comprehensive traffic safety improvements aim to reduce fatal and severe crashes along the Senter Road Priority Safety Corridor, while increasing access and mobility for all modes of travel.
ANALYSIS
DOT pursues grant funds for projects that support the City’s safety and mobility goals.
On February 21, 2024, VTA, in collaboration with DOT, submitted a funding request to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission BusAID Program for multiple projects that met program goals. The BusAID Program is part of the Blue Ribbon Transit Transformation Action Plan funded by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission and aims to decrease transit travel times and enhance transit reliability, prioritizing immediate improvements.
In May 2024, the City was awarded funding for two projects totaling $5.0 million.
1. $972,113 for central TSP at 174 intersections along VTA’s Frequent Network; and
2. $ 4,027,887 for bus bulb-outs at three bus stops along the Senter Road Priority Safety Corridor.
Cloud-Based Central TSP Project along VTA's Frequent Network
The Cloud-Based Central TSP Project will implement a central TSP system for eight VTA bus routes through 174 unique traffic signals, optimizing traffic signal timing to ensure transit vehicles encounter green lights or reduced wait times at intersections.
This grant will enable the City to fully deploy central TSP across all of VTA’s Frequent Network. See Attachment - Bus Routes and Impacted Signals for Deployment of Cloud- Based Central TSP Along VTA's Frequent Network, for a detailed list of TSP deployment routes proposed by this project.
Bus Bulb-Out Installations Project along Senter Road
The Bus Bulb-Out Installations Project will install bus bulb-outs to align the existing bus stops with the parking lane, which allows buses to stop and board passengers without leaving the vehicle lane. Constructing these bulb-outs improves bus efficiency and
HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
October 9, 2024
Subject: Bus Accelerated Infrastructure Delivery Program Grant Funding Agreements 2024 -2025
reliability by reducing the amount of time buses spend merging back into traffic.
Additionally, the curb extensions improve safety by shortening pedestrian crossing distances, creating larger areas for pedestrians to stage before crossing, and slowing vehicle turning speeds. The bus bulb-outs will also be equipped with new bus shelters and new pedestrian-scale lighting. Bulb-out locations will be prioritized in coordination with VTA.
Climate Smart San José Analysis
The recommendations in this memorandum align with one or more goals of the Climate Smart plan. These projects aim to enhance transit speed, reduce overall vehicle miles traveled and associated greenhouse gas emissions, promote alternative mobility options beyond single-occupancy vehicles, and alleviate traffic congestion.
EVALUATION AND FOLLOW-UP
This memorandum is not expected to require additional follow-up. As part of DOT’s goal to evaluate the effectiveness of implemented safety projects, staff will complete before and after studies and reports within 6-12 months of project completion.
COST SUMMARY/IMPLICATIONS
The total cost to implement the two grant projects is $5,647,802. The BusAID grant awards total $5,000,000 and will cover 88.53% of the project costs. The required local matches total $647,802 and account for 11.47% of the project costs. The local match for both projects will be leveraged from existing appropriations in the Building and Structure Construction Tax Fund. Detailed budget information for each project is included in the table below. The recommendations in this memorandum will recognize the grant funding and appropriate it. Funding for these two projects beyond the current fiscal year will be included in the development of future budget processes.
The Cloud-Based Central Transit Signal Priority project is expected to be completed December 2026 and the Senter Road Bulb-outs project will be finished August 2026.
The grant funds will cover the first five years of operations and maintenance for the pedestrian streetlights installed at the bulb-outs along Senter Road. After five years, the annual operations and maintenance costs for the pedestrian streetlight are estimated to be $2,000, with the costs to be included as committed additions in a future Five-Year Forecast. DOT does not anticipate a need for ongoing operations and maintenance funding for the central TSP system’s operation.
HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
October 9, 2024
Subject: Bus Accelerated Infrastructure Delivery Program Grant Funding Agreements 2024 -2025
Table of Expenditures and Revenue by Fiscal Year
Cloud-Based Central TSP Project along VTA’s Frequent Network
Expenses FY 24-25 FY 25-26 FY26-27 Total
Personal Services (City Staff Time) $74,102 $74,103 $0 $148,205 Contractor Services (Testing,
Validation, and Project
Management)
$29,154 $29,154
$0 $58,308
Other/Misc. (Software License and
One-Time Signal Setup)
$382,800 $382,800
$0 $765,600
Grant Total $486,056 $486,057 $0 $972,113
In-Kind Local Match (Staff Time
leveraged from Transportation
Management Center appropriation)
$62,973 $62,974 $0 $125,947
Project Total $549,029 $549,031 $0 $1,098,060
Reimbursable Revenue $243,028 $486,057 $243,028 $972,113
Bus Bulb-Out Installations Project along Senter Road
Expenses FY 24-25 FY 25-26 FY26-27 Total
Personal Services (City Staff Time) $1,000,000 $0 $0 $1,000,000 Contractor Services (Construction,
Demolition and Traffic Control)
$0 $3,027,887 $0 $3,027,887
Grant Total $1,000,000 $3,027,887 $0 $4,027,887
In-Kind Local Match (Staff Time
leveraged from Senter Road
Traffic Safety Improvements
appropriation)
$260,927 $260,928 $0 $521,855
Project Total $1,260,927 $3,288,805 $0 $4,549,742
Reimbursable Revenue $1,000,000 $3,027,887 $0 $4,027,887
BUDGET REFERENCE
The table below identifies the fund and appropriations to fund the contracts and grant recommended as part of this memorandum.
HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
October 9, 2024
Subject: Bus Accelerated Infrastructure Delivery Program Grant Funding Agreements 2024 -2025
Fund
#
Appn
# Appn. Name
Current Total
APPN
Budget
Action
2024-2025
Proposed
Capital
Budget
Page*
Last Budget
Action
(Date, Ord.
No.)
429 NEW BusAID 2024-
2025 Cloud-
Based Central
TSP
$0 $486,056 N/A N/A
429 NEW BusAID 2024-
2025 Senter
Road Bulb-Outs
$0 $1,000,000 N/A N/A
429 8999 Unrestricted
Ending Fund
Balance
$11,192,968 ($243,028) 127 06/18/2024,
31102
429 R090 Revenue from
Local Agencies
$8,358,000 $1,243,028 565 06/18/2024,
24-269
*The 2024-2025 Adopted Budget was approved on June 11, 2024 and adopted on June 18, 2024 by the City Council.
COORDINATION
The memorandum has been coordinated with the City Attorney’s Office and the Department of Planning, Building, and Code Enforcement.
PUBLIC OUTREACH
This memorandum will be posted on the City’s Council Agenda website for the October 22, 2024 City Council meeting.
As the design phase for the Bus Bulb-Out Installations along Senter Road project continues, DOT staff will also continue to coordinate public outreach meetings to the affected neighborhoods and businesses as needed. Interpretation services in Spanish and Vietnamese will be provided at these community meetings.
COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION AND INPUT
No commission recommendation or input is associated with this action.
HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
October 9, 2024
Subject: Bus Accelerated Infrastructure Delivery Program Grant Funding Agreements 2024 -2025
CEQA
Categorically Exempt, File No. ER23-009, CEQA Guideline Section 15301(c) Existing Facilities.
PUBLIC SUBSIDY REPORTING
This item does not include a public subsidy as defined in section 53083 or 53083.1 of the California Government Code or the City’s Open Government Resolution.
/s/
JOHN RISTOW JIM SHANNON
Director, Transportation Director, Budget
I hereby certify that there will be available for appropriation in the Building and Structure Construction Tax Fund in the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 moneys in excess of those heretofore appropriated wherefrom, said excess being at least $1,243,028.
JIM SHANNON
Budget Director
For questions, please contact Kenneth Jung, Division Manager, at [email protected] or (408) 975-3262.
ATTACHMENT:
Bus Routes and Impacted Signals for Deployment of Cloud-Based Central TSP Along VTA's Frequent Network
ATTACHMENT
BUS ROUTES AND IMPACTED SIGNALS FOR DEPLOYMENT OF CLOUD-BASED CENTRAL TSP ALONG VTA’S FREQUENT NETWORK
Bus Route Travel Corridor # of Signals
25 Fruitdale Avenue – Sherman Oaks Drive to Meridian
Avenue
Willow Street – Meridian Avenue to Almaden Avenue
Keyes Street/Story Road – 3rd Street to White Road
Capitol Avenue – Florence Avenue to Wilbur Avenue
42 26 Prospect Road/Campbell Avenue – Westgate West Dw
to Fallbrook Avenue/Northlawn Drive
Curtner Avenue/Tully Road – New Jersey Avenue to
Alvin Avenue/Lanai Avenue
31 64A/64B Julian Street/McKee Road – 7th Street to White Road 17
70 Jackson Avenue – Mabury Road to Story Road
Quimby Road – Rigoletto Drive to Eastridge Boulevard
22 71 Piedmont Road/White Road – Cropley Avenue to
Quimby Road
20 72 McLaughlin Avenue/San Antonio Street – 24th Street to Yerba Buena Road
11th Street – San Fernando Street to San Carlos Street
10th Street – San Fernando Street to San Carlos Street
2nd Street – Julian Street to St John Street
1st Street – Julian Street to St John Street
36 73 Senter Road – Keyes Street to El Cajon Drive/Nokomis Drive
11th Street – San Fernando Street to Keyes Street
10th Street – San Fernando Street to Keyes Street
2nd Street – Julian Street to St John Street
1st Street – Julian Street to St John Street
43