HomeMy WebLinkAbout- - Transportation Enhancement Activities Pr - 3/2/2010CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
MEETING DATE: MARCH 2, 2010 ITEM NUMBER:
SUBJECT: TRANSPORTATION ENHANCEMENT ACTIVITIES PROGRAM PROJECT
APPLICATIONS
DATE: FEBRUARY 18, 2010
FROM: PUBLIC SERVICES DEPARTMENT/ENGINEERING DIVISION
PRESENTATION PETER NAGHAVI, DIRECTOR, DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SERVICES
BY:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: ERNESTO MUNOZ, CITY ENGINEER, 714-754-5335
RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt resolution approving submittal of Fairview Channel Bicycle Trail project for funding under the
Orange County Transportation Authority's (OCTA) Transportation Enhancement (TE) Activities
Program (Attachment 1).
BACKGROUND:
The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) issued a "Call for Projects" for the
Transportation Enhancement (TE) Activities program. The TE program is a federal grant program,
first authorized under the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) of 1991 and
subsequently reauthorized under the Transportation Equity Act for the 21St Century (TEA -21) in
1998, and the Safe Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: a Legacy for Users
(SAFETEA-LU). The Jobs for Main Street Act of 2010 is expected to provide approximately $3.8
million to the TE program, subject to final approval. The TE program provides grants to local and
state agencies within Orange County to be used for transportation -related projects that enhance
quality -of -life, in or around transportation facilities. OCTA is responsible for selecting regionally
significant projects for Orange County and working with the State of California Department of
Transportation (Caltrans) in administering selected projects.
ANALYSIS
Projects that qualify for the TE program include landscape and scenic beautification projects such
as median landscaping, gateway plantings to communities, architectural treatments, artwork at
gateway entrances, and bicycle and pedestrian facilities such as walkways and multi -use
recreational trails. The TE program requires a minimum local match of 25 percent of the total
project cost. The maximum grant funding provided to any project is $500,000.
This "call for projects" using the allocated TE funding from the Jobs for Main Street Act of 2010,
is seeking projects that can be awarded for construction by January 31, 2011. Due to the
limited timeline provided for projects, staff selected the Fairview Channel Bicycle Trail project for
consideration of TE funding. This project is substantially designed and most viable to meet the
deadlines set for this grant program. OCTA requires City Council approval of the attached
resolution prior to any further consideration of the application.
The Fairview Channel Bicycle Trail includes construction of the bicycle trail south of Fairview
Channel connecting the Santa Ana River Regional Bicycle Trail and Placentia Avenue. The
total project construction cost is anticipated to be $667,000. Of this amount, $500,000 will be
requested from TE grant funding, and the remaining $167,000 is the City's match for the project.
ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED:
Alternatives considered include the option of not adopting the resolution. This would result in
making the City ineligible to compete for available grant funding.
FISCAL REVIEW:
If project applications are approved for funding, staff will recommend a funding source for any
required local match in the fiscal year 2010-11 budget. Sources for matching funds potentially
include park development funds and current budget allocation for Fairview Park.
LEGAL REVIEW:
The City Attorney's office has reviewed and approved the resolution as to form.
CONCLUSION:
The current "Call for Projects" is an opportunity for the City to compete for grant funding for
implementation of streetscape and landscape improvement projects and bicycle and pedestrian
facilities under the Transportation Enhancement (TE) Activities program. However, due to time
limits imposed on the project due to grant restrictions, staff selected Fairview Channel Bicycle Trail
project for consideration of TE grant funding. Staff recommends that the City Council adopt the
attached resolution for submittal of the project grant application to OCTA.
ERNESTO MUNOZ
City Engineer
ATTACHMENT: 1 - Resolution
PETER NAGHAVI
Director, Department of Public Services
DISTRIBUTION: City Manager
Assistant City Manager
City Clerk
Deputy City Manager — Dev. Svcs.
Staff
3-2-10 TE Grant Applications Report 2/18/10
11:30 a.m.