The VTA Board of Directors adopted the Countywide Bicycle Plan (Bicycle Element of the Valley Transportation Plan 2020) in October 2000. Included in the Bicycle Plan is a list of projects, funded through a Bicycle Expenditure Program (BEP), over a 10 year period.

Project priorities are tiered into two categories, Tier1 and Tier 2. Tier 1 projects represent projects that are highest priority and have the highest assurance of funding. At the time the VTA Board adopted a policy to review and revise, if necessary, the Tier 1 list every two years, in order to make adjustments to the project list or the funding allocations for the projects. This is the first biennial review of the Tier 1 list of which the City of Sunnyvale has two projects; the Borregas Avenue Bicycle and Pedestrian Over-crossings at US 101 and SR 237, and the Bernardo Avenue Caltrain under-crossing. As part of review process, VTA has issued a request for updates of cost, scope, and schedule to existing projects, as well as requests to increase BEP allocation for existing projects. The VTA has also issued a limited call for new Tier 1 projects for member agencies who do not currently have a project on the Tier 1 list. Additionally, as part of this review project sponsors may drop a project from the Tier 1 list. The Countywide Bicycle Plan currently allocates $3,760,000 to the Borregas Avenue Bicycle and Pedestrian Over-crossings at US 101 and SR 237, and $1,040,000 to the Bernardo Caltrain Under-crossing.

A Feasibility Study, Project Study Report (PSR), and preliminary public outreach has been completed for the Borregas Avenue Bicycle and Pedestrian Over-crossings at US 101 and SR 237. Additionally the environmental phase of the project is scheduled to begin in the near future. As a result, staff has completed a revised estimated project schedule and cost. Staff plans to submit this update to the VTA. Based on the PSR the update will include a BEP request for an additional $1,416,000. This will increase the BEP funding from $3,760,000 to $5,176,000. Staff and the BPAC agree that the Borregas Avenue bridges are top priority for bicycle projects in Sunnyvale, and that the funding shortfall should be resolved.

Staff has not yet initiated the Bernardo Avenue Caltrain Under-crossing Project and has no updated cost, scope, or schedule information to submit. However, staff and the BPAC believe that the Bernardo Under-crossing project is an important, regionally significant, gap closure project for the Santa Clara County bicycle network. At its May 16, 2002 meeting, the BPAC also recommended to Council that the VTA BPAC representative and staff explore the possibility of the project being initiated by the City of Mountain View instead. City staff has contacted the City of Mountain View to discuss the possibility of the Mountain View initiation of the Bernardo Avenue Caltrain Under-crossing. The project is not included in the 5 year Capital Improvement Program Budget that was recently adopted by the Mountain View City Council.

The Valley Transportation Plan 2020 (VTP 2020), the countywide comprehensive transportation plan for Santa Clara County, was adopted by the Board of Directors in December 2000. VTP 2020 included a Bicycle Element, which consisted of the Santa Clara Countywide Bicycle Plan as well as a $32 million Bicycle Expenditure Program (BEP). The BEP is the funding mechanism for the Tier 1 list of projects in the Countywide Bicycle Plan over a ten-year period (2001-2010). Funds for the BEP come from four primary sources: 1996 Measure B Bicycle Program, Transportation Fund for Clean Air (TFCA) 40% program, Transportation Development Act Article 3 (TDA3), and TEA-21 Transportation Enhancements funds. Each project funded through the BEP requires a 20% match from non BEP funds.

At the time the Board adopted a policy to review and revise, if necessary, the Tier 1 list every two years, in order to make adjustments to the project list or the funding allocations for the projects. This is the first biennial review of the Tier 1 list of which the City of Sunnyvale has two projects; the Borregas Avenue Bicycle and Pedestrian Over-crossings at US 101 and SR 237, and the Bernardo Avenue Caltrain under-crossing. The Countywide Bicycle Plan currently allocates $3,760,000 to the Borregas Avenue Bicycle and Pedestrian Over-crossings at US 101 and SR 237, and $1,040,000 to the Bernardo Caltrain Under-crossing.

Land Use and Transportation Element R1.1, Advocate the City's interests to regional agencies that make land use and transportation system decisions that affect Sunnyvale.

Land Use and Transportation Element R1.2, Support coordinated regional transportation system planning and improvements.

Land Use and Transportation Element R1.3.1, Participate in intergovernmental activities related to regional and sub-regional land use and transportation planning in order to advance the City's interests.

VTA staff has contacted member agencies to determine the status of the Tier 1 projects. The VTA staff is recommending the adoption of the following policies by the VTA Board of Directors in order to deal with some of the issues that have risen due to this preliminary review. See Attachment A for additional detail regarding the origin of these policies.

1. Tier 1 projects must start work on the environmental phase within two years of adoption in Tier 1, or within two years of adoption of this policy by the VTA Board of Directors, whichever is later. Projects that fail to meet this deadline will be dropped from the BEP.
2. Tier 1 projects must start work on construction within five years of adoption in the Tier 1, or within 5 years of adoption of this policy, whichever is later. Projects that fail to meet this deadline will be dropped from the BEP.
3. Projects may request a schedule extension at the time of adoption of the Tier 1 Project List, but must provide documentation to justify the request. A schedule extension may be given, as recommended by VTA staff and subject to review and consent by the VTA Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC).
4. Cost increases of Tier 1 Projects, based on detailed and justified cost estimates will be funded on a case-by-case basis, as recommended by VTA staff and subject to review and consent by the BPAC.

The Borregas Avenue Bicycle and Pedestrian Over-crossings at US 101 and SR 237 is currently underway. A Feasibility Study, Project Study Report, and preliminary public outreach has been completed. Additionally the environmental phase of the project is scheduled to begin in the near future. As a result, staff has completed a revised estimated project schedule and cost which shows a total project cost of $6,468,846. Staff and the BPAC agree that the Borregas Avenue bridges are top priority for bicycle projects in Sunnyvale, and that the funding shortfall should be resolved through this update process.

Additionally, staff and the BPAC recommend that the Bernardo Avenue Caltrain Under-crossing remain in the BEP at its current status and funding level because of its importance as a regionally significant bike facility gap closure project in the Santa Clara County bicycle network.

There is no direct fiscal impact to the City budget associated with the staff recommendation. If the staff recommendation is accepted by Council and approved by the VTA, the Borregas Avenue Bicycle and Pedestrian Over-crossings at US 101 and SR 237 would receive an additional $1,415,077 in the BEP, and the $1,040,000 for the Bernardo Avenue Caltrain Under-crossing would be maintained at its current funding level

This item was posted with the Council Agenda. Reports to Council are also available at the City Library and the City’s Web Site. The item was also brought to the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee at their May 16, 2002 meeting.