In January 2000, staff submitted a grant application to upgrade traffic signal control equipment and interconnect traffic signals on Wolfe Road. This project was approved for federal grant funding.

Federal law requires states to make available a portion of state allocations of federal funding to local agencies for federally funded projects that mitigate congestion and improve air quality. The Wolfe Road interconnect project has been determined to be eligible for this additional revenue. The State of California has allocated $ 18,000 in additional revenue for this project. These revenues were not programmed at the time of the original project appropriation. At this time Staff recommends a budget modification to add this revenue to the project budget.

EXISTING POLICY

Land Use and Transportation Element C3.3, Optimize city traffic signal system performance.

Fiscal Sub-Element 7.1B.4d, Pursue and use intergovernmental assistance for projects in the Ten-Year Capital Improvement Plan.

The City has previously received approval for a $ 150,450 grant for the Wolfe Road traffic signal interconnect project to upgrade five traffic signals between Reed Avenue and Homestead Road. Funding is through the Transportation Equity Act for the 21^st Century (TEA-21).

The Metropolitan Transportation Commission’s "25%" TEA-21 Transportation Systems Operations (TSO) funding program is a bi-annual funding program that provides federal funding for eligible projects. TEA-21 provides flexible transportation funding for a broad range of transportation projects including roadway, transit, bike and pedestrian projects.

Projects to be included in the TSO Program are prioritized by the Santa Clara County Congestion Management Agency and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission through a competitive process. Sunnyvale’s project was one of a small number of projects selected in the county to be included in the second round of TEA-21 funding for the region. The project has been programmed by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission in the Federal Transportation Improvement Program, and the City has met local agency requirements through certification of the availability of an 11.5% local match (RTC 00-047, February 8, 2000).

Federal law requires States to make available a portion of State allocations of federal funding to local agencies for federally funded projects that mitigate congestion and improve air quality. The Wolfe Road interconnect project has been determined to be eligible for this additional revenue. The State of California has allocated $ 18,000 in additional revenue for this project. This does not effect the City's required match. These revenues were not programmed at the time of the original project appropriation. At this time Staff recommends a budget modification to add this revenue to the project budget.

The total project life cost of the Wolf Road Traffic Signal Interconnect project is $170,000, 88.5% of which is funded by a TEA-21 grant. Approval of this additional grant represents a positive impact of $ 18,000 in outside revenue for this traffic signal interconnect installation.

 ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS

1. Approve Budget Modification No. 35 in the amount of $ 18,000.
2. Do not approve Budget Modification No. 35 and forego State funding.

 
RECOMMENDATIONS

Staff recommends Alternative #1.

Prepared by:
Jack Witthaus
Transportation and Traffic Manager

Reviewed by:
Marvin A. Rose
Director of Public Works

Mary Bradley
Director of Finance

Approved by:
Robert S. LaSala
City Manager