The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutItem IAGENDA STAFF REPORT �4UFORNP / DATE: June 25, 2018 TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council THRU: Jill R. Ingram, City Manager FROM: Steve Myrter, P.E., Director of Public Works SUBJECT: Authorizing an Application for the Active Transportation Program Grant Cycle 4 — for the Westminster Avenue Pedestrian /Bicycle Gap Closure and Oasis Station Project SUMMARY OF REQUEST: That the City Council adopt Resolution 6836 authorizing an application for grant funds under the Active Transportation Program — Cycle 4 for the Westminster Avenue Pedestrian /Bicycle Gap Closure an Oasis Station Project. BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS: On May 16, 2018, the California Transportation Commission announced a call for projects for the Active Transportation Program (ATP) — Cycle 4. The ATP is a competitive grant opportunity for local agencies to submit projects designed to increase biking and walking trips with an emphasis on increased mobility and safety for non - motorized users. The Cycle 4 program is expected to make available $438M in funding. The source of funding is made up of $96M Senate Bill (S131) State Funds (per year) allocated to Fiscal Years 2019 -20 and 2020 -21 and $34M in State Highway Account (SHA) and $88.5M in Federal funding (per year) for Fiscal Years 2021 -22 and 2022 -23. Applications for ATP -Cycle 4 are due July 31, 2018. The proposed Westminster Avenue Pedestrian /Bicycle Gap Closure and Oasis Station Project (as envisioned per Attachment 'B') would construct a linear landscaped area (45 feet right -of -way) with a 10 feet wide off - street bike path (Class 1) to create an attractive, inviting, and safe space for pedestrians and bicyclists. The use of this bike path by pedestrians provides a "gap" closure or a new walkway where there were no existing sidewalk facilities. This segment of Westminster Avenue between the west city limits and Seal Beach Boulevard has existing on- street Class II bike lanes in either direction. There are sidewalks on the south side. The adjacent open "V ditch behind the curb is currently a barrier to pedestrian access and an obstacle for bicyclists who might need to leave the roadway to stop or make repairs. Agenda Item I The scope of work for this proposed project includes the construction of a box culvert to eliminate the open "V" ditch behind the curb on the north side of Westminster Avenue and construct a 10 feet wide off - street Bikeway (Class 1) for bicyclists and pedestrians. It is also proposed that the signals at "B" Street and Apollo be modified for pedestrian crossing to the south side including ADA ramps, pedestrian push buttons (PBB), and countdown pedestrian heads (see Attachment "B "). The right -of -way from the west city limits to approximately half a mile (.51 miles) to the east, is 45 feet wide (from curb to existing wall) once the channel is covered. This creates the opportunity to provide path lighting, landscape, and other amenities that help create a visible, pleasant, and safe environment or an "Oasis Station" for all users. This would be a convenient location for bicyclists to meet up for recreational rides to various destinations since there are connections to the nearby San Gabriel River Trail located in Long Beach or the Seal Beach Boulevard regional trail at the easterly end of Westminster Avenue. Some of the amenities to support users could include "Fix -If' device stations to help with bicycle repairs, water fountains to fill up bottles, and benches for both bicyclists and pedestrians. This proposed off - street path (Class 1) project compliments the City of Seal Beach's existing on- street bicycle lanes (General Plan - Bike Lanes Type 11) and the OCTA Westminster- Hazard Regional Corridor plans. This bike path which encourages ridership by less skilled recreational bicyclist also transitions into the City of Long Beach's 2nd Street (Westminster Ave) Class IV on- street bike lane with a separation from vehicles, which also attracts similar users. The City's chief goal in the expansion of our off - street bikeway network is to implement and maintain a citywide system of safe, efficient, and attractive bicycle /pedestrian facilities to create opportunities that promote non - motorized modes of transportation for all skill and activity levels (commuter, recreational, and senior mobility). ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT: The pursuit of grant funds is categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act ( "CEQA ") under CEQA Guidelines Sections 15301 — Existing Facilities, 15302 — Replacement and Reconstruction, and 15304 — Minor Alterations to Land, as the subject improvements are Class 1 projects, consisting of repair and maintenance of existing streets and sidewalks, and involving minor alterations to land. LEGAL ANALYSIS: The City Attorney has reviewed and approved the staff report as to form. Page 2 FINANCIAL IMPACT: The ATP grant awards up to 5 points for local agency or "leveraged" funds for these projects. This is a highly competitive grant funding program, so every point is critical. The proposed ATP grant application for the Westminster Avenue Pedestrian /Bicycle Gap Closure and Oasis Station Project, as proposed, has a total estimated project cost of $2,500,000 including design and construction and is considered a "Medium Size Infrastructure Project' with respect to the ATP Grant Application criteria and scoring. It should be noted that a portion of these grant funds are partially federally sourced and thus federal grant allocation process must be used. Also, the grant funds from this cycle are not anticipated to be available until FY 2019 -20. Accordingly, staff anticipates that should this grant be awarded to the City, the grant funds would need to be programed over multiple fiscal years as follows: EnvironmentaMesign Phase FY 2019 -20 Construction Phase FY 2020 -21 Costs: $250,000 Cosl: $2,250,000 The ATP Grant Application scoring is directly related to the amount of "Leverage Funding" or match funding a local agency contributes. A local agency must contribute a minimum of 1% on up to 5% of total project costs in match funds to receive 1 point toward the overall grant application score. The following table further defines possible points that can be scored based on increasing the amount of leverage funding. 1 Point At least 1 % to 5% of total project costs 2 Points More than 5% to less than 10% of total project costs 3 Points At least 10% to 15% of total project costs 4 points More than 15% to 20% of total project costs 5 points More than 20% of total project costs Funds are not included within the FY budget. Funding options will be presented before proceeding with the project, if the City is awarded grant funds from the ATP Cycle 4 program. RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council adopt Resolution 6836 authorizing an application for grant funds under the Active Transportation Program (ATP) — Cycle 4 for the Westminster Avenue Pedestrian/Bicycle Gap Closure and Oasis Station Project. Page 3 SUBMITTED BY: Steve Atya " Steve Myrter, P.E., Director of Public Works NOTED AND APPROVED: %. 3n9tam Jill R. Ingram, City Manager ATTACHMENTS: A. Resolution 6836 B. Westminster Avenue Pedestrian /Bicycle Gap Closure and Oasis Station Project — Exhibits and summaries C. Project Overview Page 4 Attachment "A`® RESOLUTION 6836 A RESOLUTION OF THE SEAL BEACH CITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZING AN APPLICATION FOR GRANT FUNDS FOR THE ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM CYCLE 4 FOR THE WESTMINSTER AVENUE PEDESTRIAN BICYCLE GAP CLOSURE AND OASIS STATION PROJECT WHEREAS, California Transportation Commission announced a call for projects for the Active Transportation Program Cycle 4, which is a competitive grant opportunity for local agencies to submit projects designed to increase biking and walking trips with an emphasis on increased mobility and safety for non - motorized users; and WHEREAS, the segment of Westminster Avenue between the west city limits and Seal Beach Boulevard has existing on- street Class II bike lanes in both directions; and WHEREAS, the proposed Westminster Avenue Pedestrian /Bicycle Gap Closure and Oasis Station Project would construct a linear landscaped area with a off - street Class 1 bike path to create an attractive, inviting, and safe space for pedestrians and bicyclists; and WHEREAS, the proposed off - street path project complements the City of Seal Beach on- street bicycle lanes and the OCTA Regional Corridor plans. NOW, THEREFORE, THE SEAL BEACH CITY COUNCIL DOES HEREBY RESOLVE: Section 1. The City Council hereby authorizes the City Manager as the official representative of the City of Seal Beach to apply for grant funds under the Active Transportation Program (ATP) — Cycle 4 for the Westminster Avenue Pedestrian /Bicycle Gap Closure and Oasis Station Project. Section 2. The City Council agrees to fund its share of the project costs and any additional costs over the identified programmed amount. PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED by the Seal Beach City Council at a regular meeting held on the 25`h day of June 2018 by the following vote: AYES: Council Members NOES: Council Members ABSENT: Council Members ABSTAIN: Council Members Mike Varipapa, Mayor ATTEST: Robin L. Roberts, City Clerk STATE OF CALIFORNIA } COUNTY OF ORANGE } SS CITY OF SEAL BEACH } I, Robin L. Roberts, City Clerk of the City of Seal Beach, do hereby certify that the foregoing resolution is the original copy of Resolution 6836 on file in the office of the City Clerk, passed, approved, and adopted by the City Council at a regular meeting held on the 25th day of June 2018. Robin L. Roberts, City Clerk Attachment "B" Closure RANT CYCLE -4 tion Project sco e SING THE NEEDS OF P SYRIAN AND BICYCLISTS TO A SAFE AND INVITING TRANSPORTATION CORRIDOR (lace an open channel behind the curb with a box culvert Istruct a shared pedestrian and bicycle Class I off - street path. ate a linear landscaped area with an open -space identity that ates an attractive, inviting, and safe space for pedestrians and fclists within the approximate 45 feet wide section. vide a "gap" closure for pedestrians F'OSSIDIe uesign Jipe upivons L 1 o • Create an off - street "oasis" in an area with limited public resources serving this bikeway corridor. • Provide some amenities such as benches and /or FIX -IT HYDRATION station (See insert) to make it a desirable place where bicyclist could have an off - street space to meet up for rides to San Gabriel River Trail or Seal Beach Corridor, etc. • Provide a new safe.pedestrian sidewalk area with upgrades to existing signals for pedestrian crossing. • Eliminate the open channel barrier for bicyclist that might to leave .need the street for repairs or rests and pedestrians crossing the street.. Attachment "C°