May 9, 2006
SUBJECT: Request for Acceptance of Transportation Fund for Clean Air Grant for Evelyn Avenue Bicycle Lane Project and Budget Modification No. 23
REPORT IN BRIEF
The City of Sunnyvale has been awarded grant funding for the Evelyn Avenue Bicycle Lane, Phase 2 project from the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) Transportation Fund for Clean Air (TFCA). This project would construct bike lanes on Evelyn Avenue from Sunnyvale Avenue to Reed Avenue.
The current project cost of $359,000 is funded through $323,100 from the California Department of Transportation Bicycle Transportation Account and a $35,900 City match funded with City Gas Tax Revenue. The City has been awarded $35,900 from TFCA that was originally intended to replace the City Gas Tax funds. However, based on preliminary cost estimates, the City is anticipating a project cost increase. This budget modification requests that the City appropriate the TFCA grant funds. The report also requests that the total project cost be increased to $394,900 and that the Gas Tax Revenue remain in the project budget. The City funds will be used only after all outside revenue is expended; any remaining unexpended Gas Tax funds will be returned to the Gas Tax Fund Reserve at project completion.
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) 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 the 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 project that achieve motor vehicle emission reductions.
The Evelyn Avenue Bicycle Lane: Phase 2 project was 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).
EXISTING POLICY
The following documents contain policy direction on this issue:
Land Use and Transportation Element C3.5: Support a variety of transportation modes.
Land Use and Transportation Element C3.5.4: Maximize the provision of bicycle and pedestrian facilities.
Land Use and Transportation Element C3.5.5: Implement the Sunnyvale Bicycle Plan.
Land Use and Transportation Element C3.7: Pursue local, state and federal transportation funding sources to finance City transportation capital improvement projects consistent with City priorities.
DISCUSSION
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 modal share 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 facility 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 Street, the Sunnyvale Town Center Mall, and the Town and Country Village shopping center.
The City Council authorized the City Manager to execute the funding agreement on August 9, 2005 (RTC 05-204). The TFCA Funding Agreement was signed by the City Manager in March 2006.
FISCAL IMPACT
The current project cost of $359,000 is funded through $323,100 from the California Department of Transportation Bicycle Transportation Account and a $35,900 City match funded with City Gas Tax Revenue. The City has been awarded $35,900 from TFCA that was originally intended to replace the City Gas Tax funds. However, based on preliminary cost estimates, the City is anticipating a project cost increase. This budget modification requests that the total project cost be increased to $394,900 and that the Gas Tax Revenue remain in the project budget. The City funds will be used only after all outside revenue is expended, and will be returned to the Gas Tax fund if unused.
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BUDGET MODIFICATION NO. 23
FISCAL YEAR 2005/2006 |
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Current |
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Increase
(Decrease) |
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Revised |
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Capital Projects Fund/Gas Tax Sub-Fund |
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Revenues: |
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TFCA |
$0 |
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$35,900 |
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$35,900 |
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Expenditures: |
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825080 - Evelyn Avenue Bicycle Lane, Sunnyvale Avenue to Reed Avenue |
$ 359,000 |
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$ 35,900 |
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$ 394,900 |
Conclusion
The City has been awarded $35,900 in funding from the BAAQMD Transportation Fund for Clean Air for the Evelyn Avenue Bicycle Lane, Phase 2 project. This project would construct bicycle lanes on Evelyn Avenue from Sunnyvale Avenue to Reed Avenue. The current project cost of $359,000 is funded through $323,100 from the California Department of Transportation Bicycle Transportation Account and a $35,900 City match funded with City Gas Tax Revenue. The City has been awarded $35,900 from TFCA that was originally intended to replace the City Gas Tax funds. However, based on preliminary cost estimates, the City is anticipating a project cost increase. This budget modification requests that the total project cost be increased to $394,900 and that the Gas Tax Revenue remain in the project budget. The City funds will be used only after all outside revenue is expended, and will be returned to the Gas Tax fund if unused.
City Council could choose to approve Budget Modification No. 23 to increase the project cost to $394,900 and appropriate the grant funds for the Evelyn Avenue Bicycle Lane, Phase 2 project. City Council could also choose not to increase the project cost and/or appropriate the grant funds for the Evelyn Avenue Bicycle Lane, Phase 2 project. This action could result in an insufficient project budget, or the forfeiture of the TFCA grant funding.
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
1. Approve Budget Modification No. 23 to increase the project cost and appropriate the grant funds to the Evelyn Avenue Bicycle Lane, Phase 2 project as outlined in this report.
2. Do not Approve Budget Modification No. 23 to increase the project cost and appropriate the grant funds to the Evelyn Avenue Bicycle Lane, Phase 2 project as outlined in this report.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff Recommends Alternative 1: Approve Budget Modification No. 23 to increase the project cost and appropriate the grant funds to the Evelyn Avenue Bicycle Lane, Phase 2 project as outlined in this report.
The Evelyn Avenue Bike Lane Project would construct bicycle lanes on Evelyn Avenue from Sunnyvale Avenue to Reed Avenue. The budget modification would increase total project cost to $394,900, funded by $35,900 in TFCA funds, $323,100 from the California Department of Transportation Bicycle Transportation Account, and $35,900 in City Gas Tax funds.
Reviewed by:
Marvin A. Rose, Director, Public Works
Prepared by: Dieckmann Cogill, Senior Transportation Planner
Reviewed by:
Mary J. Bradley, Director, Finance
Approved by:
Amy Chan
City Manager