Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority

                        Board of Directors

THROUGH: Peter M. Cipolla

                      General Manager

FROM:         Michael P. Evanhoe

                      Chief Development Officer
SUBJECT: Status of Tier 1 Bicycle Projects

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 (TDA 3), and TEA-21 Transportation Enhancements funds. Each project funded through the BEP requires a minimum 20% match from non BEP-funds.

The VTA Board of Directors adopted the BEP and the Tier 1 project list as part of the Countywide Bicycle Plan in October 2000. The Tier 1 list will be reviewed and revised every two years. This is a continuation of the review of Tier 1 that was started in January 2002.

DISCUSSION:

VTA staff contacted project sponsors of each of the Tier 1 projects to determine the status of project development and implementation. In this first review of the Tier 1 projects, several issues have surfaced that should be discussed:

• Planning Studies: Most Tier 1 projects are conceptual, and require feasibility or planning studies. Good planning is necessary for developing good projects, and will also help in leveraging other funds. Funding for planning and development of bicycle projects is generally difficult to find. Measure B is the main funding source available for bicycle project planning in Santa Clara County. It is anticipated that $1 million of the $12 million in Measure B funds will be used for feasibility and planning studies.
• Quality vs. Cost: Many Tier 1 projects include design elements and enhanced features beyond a mere functional bike connection. They improve safety and aesthetics, as well as provide a positive impression of bicycle projects in light of neighborhood concerns. VTA encourages thoughtfully designed projects. Even if a project’s costs increased due to these elements, VTA would consider an increase in BEP funding to deliver a quality project that supports the community’s activities. In addition, well-designed projects tend to be better candidates for additional funding from other programs.
• Project Delivery: There are high expectations for project delivery from the Bicycle Expenditure Program. The BEP requires sponsors to be pro-active. Sponsor agencies take the lead in implementing their projects, starting with the decision of when to initiate the project, and notifying VTA in order to coordinate the fund programming process. VTA is firmly committed to working with all the project sponsors and providing assistance to ensure that projects are delivered. VTA will also assist the project sponsors in their pursuit for 20% local matching funds that are required for all Tier 1 projects.

To address the issues above but still ensure timely delivery of the Tier 1 projects, VTA staff has considered applying policies to the BEP. The policies would coordinate reasonable scheduling and promote project delivery. VTA staff proposes the following three policies for Tier 1 BEP:

VTA will have discussion of these policies at Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC), the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), and the Capital Improvement Program Subcommittee of the TAC. These policies would require adoption by the VTA Board of Directors. VTA staff would bring forth the recommendation for adoption with the revised Tier 1 list.

Member Agencies who wish to propose new projects should contact VTA staff by April 15. Depending on the number of new projects proposed, VTA might simply present a list for discussion at the May BPAC meeting, or issue a formal call for new Tier 1 projects in May. All new Tier 1 projects will have to have a City Council or Board of Supervisor action that acknowledges the request to be in the Tier 1 BEP and the local matching support of 20% of the project cost, prior to VTA Board adoption.

The recommended revised Tier 1 list will be brought to BPAC for approval this summer. The list will also be circulated through the other Advisory Committees following BPAC action. The revised list will be part of the VTP 2020 Implementation Plan, which is currently anticipated to be adopted by the VTA Board of Directors in Fall 2002.

Prepared by: Celia Chung