Agenda Item #13.7
For Council Meeting of: April 9, 2024
CITY OF SANTA ROSA
CITY COUNCIL
TO: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
FROM: ROBERT SPRINKLE, DEPUTY DIRECTOR TRAFFIC ENGINEERING
TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS
SUBJECT: TRANSPORTATION DEVELOPMENT ACT (TDA) ARTICLE 3 GRANT APPLICATION FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024/2025 AGENDA ACTION: RESOLUTION
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended by the Transportation and Public Works Department that the Council, by resolution: 1) request that the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) allocate $27,341 from Fiscal Year (FY) 2024/2025 Transportation Development Act (TDA) Article 3 funds towards the installation of up to two Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons; 2) request that MTC allocate $200,000 from FY 2024/2025 TDA Article 3 funds towards the North Dutton Avenue Corridor Improvements project; 3) authorize the Director of Transportation and Public Works to file the application and other required documents to install Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons at a maximum of two locations, and to hold the remaining funds for improvements to the North Dutton Avenue corridor between West Third Street and West College Avenue, supported by the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Enhancing our crosswalks to increase awareness that pedestrians are in the roadway is an important element in moving towards goals established in the Vision Zero Implementation Plan, adopted by the City Council in July 2022. The addition of Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFBs) has proven to provide increased compliance in vehicles yielding to pedestrians. This project is proposed to install up to two Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons in the City of Santa Rosa (City). If savings during installations are realized, additional locations may be added.
Projects such as road diets provide an opportunity for the City to install new bicycle lanes, or to enhance existing bicycle lanes, where existing right-of-way may not allow for such improvements. A road diet along North Dutton Avenue would provide the right-of-way needed to install Class IIB buffered bicycle lanes from West College Avenue to West Third Street. Improvements made as part of this project would also include sidewalk repair and gap closure.
BACKGROUND
TDA funds are generated from a statewide 1/4 cent sales tax. Article 3 of the TDA sets aside approximately 2% of those monies for bicycle and pedestrian planning and projects. The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) administers TDA Article 3, which is distributed based on population.
The City annually receives TDA Article 3 funding for bicycle and pedestrian projects. The estimated balance for FY 2024/2025 is $227,341.
The Sonoma County Transportation Authority (SCTA) issued a call for projects in February 2024. TDA 3 project applications are due to the SCTA on March 13, 2024.
PRIOR CITY COUNCIL REVIEW
Not applicable.
ANALYSIS
With support from the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board, staff is proposing that the TDA Article 3 funds be divided towards two projects. A round portion of the funds, $200,000 will be parked into a fund to assist the City in installing a road diet and improved walking and bicycling infrastructure. This project is outlined in the City’s Local Road Safety Plan and includes a road diet, striping to accommodate a Class IIB buffered bicycle lane, and pedestrian improvements on North Dutton Avenue from College Avenue to West Third Street. The $200,000 could be used for matching funds to secure grants or could be used to fund design and construction activities.
A smaller portion of the funds, $27,341, will be used for installation of up to two RRFBs at the following locations for the upcoming FY 2024/2025 TDA 3 funding:
Stony Point Road and Stony Circle
W Steele Lane and Apache Street
Consideration of the following criteria was considered in determining which locations would be considered for installation: daily vehicle volume, pedestrian use, if the location was on a High Injury Network, school zone, and number of lanes the pedestrian would cross.
MTC requires a local resolution authorizing the request for allocation of FY 2024/2025 TDA Article 3 funds for eligible projects which are due to the SCTA on April 24, 2024.
FISCAL IMPACT
Approval of this action does not have a fiscal impact on the General Fund.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
The allocation of funds for this project is exempted from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) under CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) and 15378. This is because there is no possibility that the implementation of this action may have significant effects on the environment. Therefore, no further environmental review is required. It is worth noting that pedestrian and bicycle enhancement projects of this scale would also be exempt.
BOARD/COMMISSION/COMMITTEE REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATIONS
On January 18, 2024, the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board (BPAB) passed a motion to allocate $27,341 of FY 2024/2025 TDA 3 funds to implement RRFB pedestrian enhancements and $200,000 of FY 2024/2025 TDA Article 3 funds to the fund to implement the North Dutton Avenue corridor improvements.
NOTIFICATION
Not applicable
ATTACHMENTS
Resolution
Exhibit A-1– RRFB Application
Exhibit A-2 - North Dutton Application
PRESENTER
Torina Wilson, Transportation Planner
TRANSPORTATION DEVELOPMENT ACT (TDA) ARTICLE 3 GRANT APPLICATION FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024/2025 PAGE 2 OF 3