The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) is updating the long range transportation plan for Santa Clara County. The updated countywide transportation plan, named the Valley Transportation Plan 2020 (VTP 2020), will guide planning and programming decisions for most outside transportation funding (i.e. State and Federal funds) for the next 20 years. Projects that do not appear in a countywide transportation plan are ineligible for State and Federal funding. The VTP 2020 will be considered for adoption by the VTA Board of Directors in Spring, 2000.

The City Council considered a list of roadway projects for inclusion in the VTP 2020 at its May 11, 1999 meeting. At this time, the VTA is focusing on the Bicycle Element of the countywide transportation plan. The VTA has requested that local jurisdictions submit lists of bicycle project needs. These lists will be incorporated in the Bicycle Element of VTP 2020, and a ten year expenditure plan will be formulated. This expenditure plan will program Transportation Development Act (TDA) funding, Transportation Fund for Clean Air (TFCA) Program Manager funds, 1996 Measure A/B Bicycle funds, and Transportation Equity Act for the 21^st Century (TEA-21) Enhancement funds. Staff has assembled a list of currently unfunded projects based on the Land Use and Transportation Element of the General Plan, the Bicycle Opportunities Study findings and BAC input. This list is included as Attachment 1. Because considerable refinement of the Bicycle Opportunities Study recommendations will occur over the next decades, this list should not be considered final and absolute. The Bicycle Opportunities Study identifies most probable or feasible alternatives, not absolute projects. Detailed design engineering, public outreach, and project prioritization will likely result in changes to the City’s bikeway plans. However, at this time, so as not to preclude funding for further planning and construction of a comprehensive bikeway network in Sunnyvale, staff recommends submitting the enclosed project proposals.

This item was considered by Council at its January 25, 2000 meeting. At that meeting, BAC member Thom Mayer requested further review by the BAC membership. Council granted a two week extension.

Since that time staff has solicited input from individual BAC members. No input has been received. In response to testimony from Mr. Mayer at the January 25 meeting, staff has the following responses:

• Sunnyvale Avenue project, El Camino Real to Evelyn: A project was not included on the initial VTP 2020 project list for this roadway segment. According to the parameters of the Bicycle Opportunities Study, major roadway widening with significant property impacts would be required to provide bike lanes. Staff considers roadway widening in this area to be largely infeasible. However, at the BAC’s request staff is currently pursuing outside funding for a demonstration signing and pavement delineation project ("Share the Lane" delineation). Staff will submit the demonstration project to the VTA for consideration in VTP 2020.
• Borregas Avenue Bicycle Lanes – This project is currently funded and slated for construction within the next two years. The VTP 2020 list is not intended to include funded projects.
• East Channel bike path, Ahwanee to Duane: This idea does not appear in any formal City plans at this time. However, in 1994 the City Council authorized submittal of a grant application for such a project. Staff does not see any issues with inclusion of a project on the VTP 2020 list. Staff will submit this project to the VTA for consideration in VTP 2020.

The VTA requests that the City Council approve a project list for consideration in the VTP 2020 Bicycle Element. Staff recommends approval of the attached project list.

Adoption of this project list does not cause a direct fiscal impact to the City. At this time the VTA is requesting that cities commit to providing a 20% local match for any project that is programmed for funding by the VTA and approved for construction by the City. Staff is not recommending budgeting any funds for any projects at this time however. Budgeting decisions would occur on a project-specific basis at the time funding was approved and programmed by the VTA.

Failure to adopt a bicycle project list and have projects included in the Valley Transportation Plan 2020 would potentially preclude projects from receiving consideration for outside funding.

Posting on the City Council agenda. Reports to Council are also available at the City Library and the City’s Web Site.

1. Approve the attached project list, certify that the City will commit a 20% local match for funded projects, and direct staff to forward the list to the Valley Transportation Authority for consideration in the development of the Valley Transportation Plan 2020 Bicycle Element.
2. Modify the attached list.
3. Do not approve a project list for consideration for the Valley Transportation Plan 2020 Bicycle Element.

Staff recommends Alternative #1.

Prepared by:

Jack Witthaus
Transportation Planner

Reviewed by:

Ray C. Williamson
City Traffic Engineer

Marvin A. Rose
Director of Public Works

Approved by:

Robert S. LaSala
City Manager