August 9, 2005
SUBJECT: Authorization for Filing 2005 Transportation Fund for Clean Air (TFCA) Grant Program Proposal and Authorization for City Manager to Execute Required TFCA Agreements
REPORT IN BRIEF
The City proposes to submit an application for funding to the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) Transportation Fund for Clean Air (TFCA) for the Evelyn Avenue Bicycle Lane: Phase 2 project. This project is in the adopted FY 2005/06 Budget. The total project cost of $359,000 is funded by a California Department of Transportation, Bicycle Transportation Account grant of $323,100 and $35,900 in gas tax monies. If awarded the TFCA grant would replace the $35,900 gas tax funding.
Staff requests that City Council adopt the resolution authorizing the City of Sunnyvale to file the application to the BAAQMD TFCA grant program. Staff also requests Council to authorize the City Manager to execute any required TFCA funding agreements. No local matching funds are required. A budget modification will be prepared in the event that grant funds are awarded to the City. Council member Julia Miller is a member of the BAAQMD Board of Directors.
BACKGROUND
The Transportation Fund for Clean Air (TFCA) provides grants to local governments for projects that will reduce air pollution. The Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) of which Council member Miller is a member, administers the grant program in the San Francisco Bay Area.
TFCA is a BAAQMD program funded by a surcharge of $4.00 on motor vehicle registration fees paid within its jurisdiction. The surcharge revenues are to be used to implement specified transportation control measures that are included in the BAAQMD’s Clean Air Plan, developed and adopted pursuant to the requirements of the 1988 California Clean Air Act.
TFCA provides grants to local governments for projects that will reduce air pollution. BAAQMD administers the grant program in the San Francisco Bay Area. Sixty percent of the annually available funds are administered by the BAAQMD, while 40% return to Bay Area counties. The grants discussed in this report are from the 60% fund administered by the BAAQMD. Grants are available for various types of projects, including:
- Implementation of low emission and zero-emission vehicle projects.
- Implementation of ridesharing programs.
- The purchase or lease of clean fuel buses for school districts and transit operators.
- The provision of local feeder bus or shuttle service to rail and ferry stations and to airports.
- Implementation and maintenance of local arterial traffic management.
- Implementation of rail-bus integration and regional transit information systems.
- Demonstration projects in telecommuting and congestion pricing.
- Implementation of bicycle facility improvement projects that are included in an adopted countywide bicycle plan.
- Design and construction by local public agencies of physical improvements that support development projects that achieve motor vehicle emission reductions.
The Evelyn Avenue Bicycle Lane: Phase 2 project has been awarded $323,100 in funding from the Caltrans Bicycle Transportation Account. A City match of $35,900 is required and currently funded through the Gas Tax fund. This was approved by City Council on February 1, 2005 (RTC 05-035). This RTC also included Budget Modification #25.
EXISTING POLICY
Air quality Sub-Element – Goal A: Improve Sunnyvale’s Air Quality and reduce the exposure of its citizens to air pollutants.
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.
Land Use and Transportation Element C3.5.4 - Maximize the provision of bicycle and pedestrian facilities.
Fiscal Sub-Element 7.1B.4d – Pursue and use intergovernmental assistance for projects in the Ten-Year Capital Improvement Plan.
DISCUSSION
Staff requests authorization to file an application for the TFCA grant program. Staff also requests delegation of authority for the City Manager to execute any required TFCA funding agreements. Approximately $10 million will be available for distribution via the competitive Regional Fund in FY 2005/06. The minimum Regional Fund grant for a single project is $10,000 and the maximum grant is $1.5 million. The Air District's objectives for the TFCA are to fund the most cost-effective projects that reduce motor vehicle emissions, and to support implementation of the transportation control measures and mobile source measures in the Clean Air Plan and the 2001 Ozone Attainment Plan.
At its May 19, 2005 meeting, the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) supported the staff recommendation to file an application of the Evelyn Avenue Bicycle Lane: Phase 2 project.
The applications for the TFCA grant program require a City Council resolution authorizing submittal of the application. Staff is recommending that the Council approve such a resolution, shown as Attachment A. The resolution would authorize the filing of an application for the Evelyn Avenue Bicycle Lane: Phase 2 project.
Evelyn Avenue Bicycle Lanes, Phase 2 is a project that has been identified as a top priority in the 2000 Bicycle Capital Improvement Program Study and the 1999 Bicycle Opportunities Study. The project proposes to construct bicycle lanes on Evelyn Avenue from Sunnyvale Avenue to Reed Avenue. The project will provide connectivity to existing bicycle lanes, Sunnyvale Downtown and the Sunnyvale transit hub. According to the Bicycle Opportunities Study, the project will require the removal of one travel lane in each direction, and the inclusion of a two-way left turn lane.
The proposed project will provide a direct and convenient east/west commute route for cyclists on an arterial roadway. This is consistent with the City's goal to provide efficient commute routes for cyclists on arterial and collector roadways in order to increase the number of bicycle commuters in the city. It will provide connectivity to existing bicycle lanes on Wolfe Road and on Reed Avenue and is consistent with the Citywide Arterial and Collector Street Bike Opportunities priority of the Sunnyvale Bicycle Transportation Plan. The project is also consistent with the new Downtown Specific Plan which identifies Evelyn Avenue as the main east/west entry point into the downtown for bicyclists. The proposed project will also connect to the pending and funded bike lane on Evelyn Avenue from Bernardo Avenue to Sunnyvale Avenue.
The proposed project will provide a bicycle route in the major transit center, employment area and shopping district where one does not currently exist. The inclusion of bicycle lanes along Evelyn Avenue, from Sunnyvale Avenue to Reed Avenue will directly serve the Sunnyvale Caltrain Station, as well as a major VTA bus stop. The bicycle lanes will also directly link to the shopping and restaurants located in Downtown Sunnyvale, a four-block radius that consists of Sunnyvale's historic Murphy Avenue, the Sunnyvale Town Center Mall, and the Town and Country Village shopping center.
Council could direct staff not to submit the project application. If this occurred the project’s local match requirement of $35,900 would continue to be funded through the City’s Gas Tax Fund.
FISCAL IMPACT
TFCA is a program that provides cities with 100% of the incurred design and construction costs of projects if necessary. No matching funds are required for projects requesting less than $100,000 in TFCA Regional Funds. As per City Policy, staff is submitting applications to fund projects that are listed in the 10-Year Capital Improvement Plan. This project is in the adopted FY 2005/06 Budget. The total project cost of $359,000 is funded by a California Department of Transportation, Bicycle Transportation Account grant of $323,100 and $35,900 in Gas Tax monies. If awarded the TFCA grant would replace the $35,900 gas tax funding. The Gas Tax monies will be returned to the reserve and be available for other projects.
Staff will return to Council with a request for a budget modification in the event that grant funds are awarded to the City.
Conclusion
This project is in the adopted FY 2005/06 Budget. The total project cost of $359,000 is funded by a California Department of Transportation, Bicycle Transportation Account grant of $323,100 and $35,900 in gas tax monies. If awarded the TFCA grant would replace the $35,900 gas tax funding. As per City Policy, staff is requesting authorization to submit an application for funding from the BAAQMD TFCA program to fund the City match ($35,900). Staff also asks Council to authorize the City Manager to execute any required TFCA funding agreements.
Council could choose to direct staff not to submit the project application. If this were to occur, the project’s local match requirement of $35,900 would continue to be funded through the City’s Gas Tax Fund.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made through posting of the Council agenda on the City's official notice bulletin board, posting of the agenda and report on the City's web page, and the availability of the report in the Library and the City Clerk's Office.
ALTERNATIVES
- Adopt a resolution as shown in Attachment A to authorize filing of 2005 TFCA applications and authorize the City Manager to execute any TFCA agreements if funding is received.
- Adopt a resolution as shown in Attachment A with modifications.
- Do not adopt a resolution to authorize filing of 2005 TFCA applications.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends Alternative 1: Adopt a resolution as shown in Attachment A to authorize filing of 2005 TFCA applications and authorize the City Manager to execute any TFCA agreements if funding is received. Staff believes that the grant request for the Evelyn Avenue Bicycle Lane: Phase 2 project will be a competitive project in the TFCA grant program. In addition if funding is awarded it will have a positive fiscal impact because it will replace Gas Tax funds that have been allocated to the project for the City matching funds.
Reviewed by:
Marvin A. Rose Director, Public Works
Prepared by: Dieckmann Cogill, Transportation Planner
Approved by:
Amy Chan
City Manager
Attachments
A. Resolution (MS Word Doc.)
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