HomeMy WebLinkAboutPW Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) Regional Measure 3 - Safe Routes to Transit and Bay Trail Program Resolution of Local Supp____________________________________________________________________________________
FOR CITY CLERK ONLY
Council Meeting: 04/21/2025
Disposition: Resolution 15400
Agenda Item No: 4.e
Meeting Date: April 21, 2025
SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
Department: Public Works
Prepared by: Mariana Sanchez, Junior Engineer
April Miller, Public Works Director
City Manager Approval: __________
TOPIC: METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION (MTC) REGIONAL MEASURE
3: SAFE ROUTES TO TRANSIT AND BAY TRAIL PROGRAM RESOLUTION OF
LOCAL SUPPORT
SUBJECT: RESOLUTION OF LOCAL SUPPORT AUTHORIZING THE FILING OF AN
APPLICATION FOR FUNDING ASSIGNED TO MTC AND COMMITTING ANY
NECESSARY MATCHING FUNDS AND STATING THE ASSURANCE TO COMPLETE
THE CANAL NEIGHBORHOOD BELLAM GATEWAY LOCAL ACCESS IMPROVEMENT
PROJECT
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt the attached resolution of local support authorizing the
execution of the grant application, committing any necessary matching funds, and giving assurance to
implement the Canal Neighborhood Bellam Gateway Local Access Improvement Project as described in
the Project’s Regional Measure 3 grant application.
BACKGROUND:
The Canal Neighborhood Bellam Gateway Local Access Improvement Project (“Project”) would
implement a fully separated shared-use path for pedestrians and bicyclists along Bellam Boulevard from
Playa Del Rey to Kerner Drive, and along Bellam Boulevard from the I-580 SB offramp to Andersen Drive,
continuing south on Andersen to Jacoby Street, and connecting to the North-South Greenway and the
Larkspur Ferry Terminal, Downtown San Rafael, and destinations further beyond. This segment of Bellam
Boulevard is also on the Bay Trail alignment, and as the Project meets Bay Trail Design Guidelines, the
facility will itself serve as a high-quality recreational segment linking to the scenic trails along the San
Rafael Bay and on the North-South Greenway. The Project builds off prior sidewalk widening along
Bellam Boulevard between I-580 and Kerner Boulevard, completed through a successful partnership
between the Transportation Authority of Marin (TAM) and the City of San Rafael.
Regional Measure 3 (RM3) provides $150 million in funding for a competitive grant program to fund
bicycle and pedestrian access improvements on and in the vicinity of the state-owned toll bridges
connecting to rail transit stations and ferry terminals. The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC)
is responsible for administering a competitive grant program for the RM3 funds. In February 2025, MTC
staff recommended the Project for funding as part of the RM3 Safe Routes to Transit & Bay Trail
SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Page: 2
(SR2TBT) Cycle 1 program, which programs $75 million in new funding for fiscal years 2024-25 through
2027-28.
ANALYSIS:
The Project was selected for funding recommendation by a review committee out of 50 other applications
in the RM3: SR2TBT program. The Project was reviewed by MTC Staff and was forwarded to the
Programming and Allocations Committee meeting on February 12, 2025. Final consideration by the full
MTC Commission occurred on February 26, 2025, with the adoption of MTC Resolution No. 4639. A
requirement ahead of the allocation of funds for the Project is that the City must adopt a Resolution of
Local Support in a template format approved by MTC. The Resolution of Local Support authorizes the
execution of the grant application, commits required matching funds, and gives assurance that the Project
will be implemented as described in the Project RM3 application.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH:
The Project has conducted extensive outreach as part of the US 101/I-580 Multi-Modal and Local Access
Improvement Program. On November 8, 2023, the Voces de Canal Leadership Group convened the final
meeting of the eight-week transportation curriculum. The course was sponsored by the Transportation
Authority of Marin (TAM) and was designed to engage and educate a group of Spanish-speaking leaders
from the Canal Neighborhood. The meeting gave TAM and the City of San Rafael an opportunity to hear
from the community members about the transportation issues they identified throughout the course and
several field trips along the Bellam Boulevard corridor.
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION:
In October 2024, the City filed a notice of exemption (NOE) with the County of Marin for the Canal
Neighborhood Bellam Gateway Local Access Improvement Project for categorical exemption based on
existing facilities (CEQA Guidelines § 15301). The NOE included in Attachment 2.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Adoption of the Resolution of Local Support is required for the Regional Measure 3 (RM3) Safe Routes
to Transit and Bay Trail Program (SR2TBT) application. The City is currently positioned to receive
$6,840,000 to fund the Canal Neighborhood Bellam Gateway Local Access Improvement Project. Total
project costs are estimated at $8,560,000; Transportation Authority of Marin (TAM) and the City of San
Rafael have collectively committed to funding $1,720,000 of this cost.
OPTIONS:
The City Council has the following options to consider regarding this matter:
1. Adopt the resolution of local support authorizing the filing of an application for funding assigned
to MTC and committing any necessary matching funds and stating the assurance to complete the
Canal Neighborhood Bellam Gateway Local Access Improvement Project.
2. Do not adopt the resolution of local support as described.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt the attached resolution of local support authorizing the
execution of the grant application, committing any necessary matching funds, and giving assurance to
implement the Canal Neighborhood Bellam Gateway Local Access Improvement Project as described in
the Project RM3 application.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Resolution of Local Support Canal Neighborhood Bellam Gateway Local Access Improvement
Project
2. Notice of Exemption
RESOLUTION NO. 15400
RESOLUTION OF LOCAL SUPPORT AUTHORIZING THE FILING OF AN
APPLICATION FOR FUNDING ASSIGNED TO MTC AND COMMITTING ANY
NECESSARY MATCHING FUNDS AND STATING THE ASSURANCE TO
COMPLETE THE CANAL NEIGHBORHOOD BELLAM GATEWAY LOCAL ACCESS
IMPROVEMENT PROJECT
WHEREAS, the City of San Rafael (herein referred to as APPLICANT) is
submitting an application to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) for
$6,840,000 in funding assigned to MTC for programming discretion, which includes
federal funding administered by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and federal
or state funding administered by the California Transportation Commission (CTC) such
as Surface Transportation Block Grant Program (STP) funding, Congestion Mitigation and
Air Quality Improvement Program (CMAQ) funding, Carbon Reduction Program (CRP)
funding, Transportation Alternatives (TA) set-aside/Active Transportation Program (ATP)
funding, and Regional Transportation Improvement Program (RTIP) funding (herein
collectively referred to as REGIONAL DISCRETIONARY FUNDING) for the Canal
Neighborhood Bellam Gateway Local Access Improvement Project (herein referred to as
PROJECT) for the Regional Measure 3: Safe Routes to Transit and Bay Trail (RM3:
SR2TBT) (herein referred to as PROGRAM); and
WHEREAS, the United States Congress from time to time enacts and amends
legislation to provide funding for various transportation needs and programs, (collectively,
the FEDERAL TRANSPORTATION ACT) including, but not limited to the Surface
Transportation Block Grant Program (STP) (23 U.S.C. § 133), the Congestion Mitigation
and Air Quality Improvement Program (CMAQ) (23 U.S.C. § 149), the Carbon Reduction
Program (CRP) (23 U.S.C. § 175), and the Transportation Alternatives (TA) set-aside (23
U.S.C. § 133); and
WHEREAS, state statutes, including California Streets and Highways Code
§182.6, §182.7, and §2381(a)(1), and California Government Code §14527, provide
various funding programs for the programming discretion of the Metropolitan Planning
Organization (MPO) and the Regional Transportation Planning Agency (RTPA); and
WHEREAS, pursuant to the FEDERAL TRANSPORTATION ACT, and any
regulations promulgated thereunder, eligible project sponsors wishing to receive federal
or state funds for a regionally-significant project shall submit an application first with the
appropriate MPO, or RTPA, as applicable, for review and inclus ion in the federal
Transportation Improvement Program (TIP); and
WHEREAS, MTC is the MPO and RTPA for the nine counties of the San Francisco
Bay region; and
WHEREAS, MTC has adopted a Regional Project Funding Delivery Policy (MTC
Resolution No. 3606, revised) that sets out procedures governing the application and use
of REGIONAL DISCRETIONARY FUNDING; and
WHEREAS, APPLICANT is an eligible sponsor for REGIONAL DISCRETIONARY
FUNDING; and
WHEREAS, as part of the application for REGIONAL DISCRETIONARY
FUNDING, MTC requires a resolution adopted by the responsible implementing agency
stating the following:
• the commitment of any required matching funds; and
• that the sponsor understands that the REGIONAL DISCRETIONARY
FUNDING is fixed at the programmed amount, and therefore any cost increase
cannot be expected to be funded with additional REGIONAL
DISCRETIONARY FUNDING; and
• that the PROJECT will comply with the procedures, delivery milestones and
funding deadlines specified in the Regional Project Funding Delivery Policy
(MTC Resolution No. 3606, revised); and
• the assurance of the sponsor to complete the PROJECT as described in the
application, subject to environmental clearance, and if approved, as included
in MTC's federal Transportation Improvement Program (TIP); and
• that the PROJECT will have adequate staffing resources to deliver and
complete the PROJECT within the schedule submitted with the project
application; and
• that the PROJECT will comply with all project-specific requirements as set forth
in the PROGRAM; and
• that APPLICANT has assigned, and will maintain a single point of contact for
all FHWA- and CTC-funded transportation projects to coordinate within the
agency and with the respective County Transportation Agency (CTA), MTC,
Caltrans, FHWA, and CTC on all communications, inquires or issues that may
arise during the federal programming and delivery process for all FHWA - and
CTC-funded transportation and transit projects implemented by APPLICANT;
and
• in the case of an RTIP project, state law requires PROJECT be included in a
local congestion management plan, or be consistent with the capital
improvement program adopted pursuant to MTC’s funding agreement with the
County Transportation Agency (CTA); and
WHEREAS, that APPLICANT is authorized to submit an application for
REGIONAL DISCRETIONARY FUNDING for the PROJECT; and
WHEREAS, there is no legal impediment to APPLICANT making applications for
the funds; and
WHEREAS, there is no pending or threatened litigation that might in any way
adversely affect the proposed PROJECT, or the ability of APPLICANT to deliver such
PROJECT; and
WHEREAS, APPLICANT authorizes its Executive Director, General Manager, or
designee to execute and file an application with MTC for REGIONAL DISCRETIONARY
FUNDING for the PROJECT as referenced in this resolution; and
WHEREAS, MTC requires that a copy of this resolution be transmitted to the MTC
in conjunction with the filing of the application.
NOW, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL RESOLVES as
follows:
RESOLVED that the APPLICANT is authorized to execute and file an application
for funding for the PROJECT for REGIONAL DISCRETIONARY FUNDING under the
FEDERAL TRANSPORTATION ACT or continued funding; and be it further
RESOLVED that APPLICANT will provide any required matching funds; and be it
further
RESOLVED that APPLICANT understands that the REGIONAL
DISCRETIONARY FUNDING for the project is fixed at the MTC approved programmed
amount, and that any cost increases must be funded by the APPLICANT from other funds,
and that APPLICANT does not expect any cost increases to be funded with additional
REGIONAL DISCRETIONARY FUNDING; and be it further
RESOLVED that APPLICANT understands the funding deadlines associated with
these funds and will comply with the provisions and requirements of the Regional Project
Funding Delivery Policy (MTC Resolution No. 3606, revised) and APPLICANT has, and
will retain the expertise, knowledge and resources necessary to deliver federally-funded
transportation and transit projects, and has assigned, and will maintain a single point of
contact for all FHWA- and CTC-funded transportation projects to coordinate within the
agency and with the respective County Transportation Agency (CTA), MTC, Caltrans,
FHWA, and CTC on all communications, inquires or issues that may arise during the
federal programming and delivery process for all FHWA- and CTC-funded transportation
and transit projects implemented by APPLICANT; and be it further
RESOLVED that PROJECT will be implemented as described in the complete
application and in this resolution, subject to environmental clearance, and, if approved,
for the amount approved by MTC and programmed in the federal TIP; and be it further
RESOLVED that APPLICANT has reviewed the PROJECT and has adequate
staffing resources to deliver and complete the PROJECT within the schedule submitted
with the project application; and be it further
RESOLVED that PROJECT will comply with the requirements as set forth in MTC
programming guidelines and project selection procedures for the PROGRAM; and be it
further
RESOLVED that, in the case of a transit project, APPLICANT agrees to comply
with the requirements of MTC’s Transit Coordination Implementation Plan as set forth in
MTC Resolution No. 3866, revised; and be it further
RESOLVED that, in the case of a highway project, APPLICANT agrees to comply
with the requirements of MTC’s Traffic Operations System (TOS) Policy as set forth in
MTC Resolution No. 4104; and be it further
RESOLVED that, in the case of an RTIP project, PROJECT is included in a local
congestion management plan, or is consistent with the capital improvement program
adopted pursuant to MTC’s funding agreement with the County Transportation Agency
(CTA); and be it further
RESOLVED that APPLICANT is an eligible sponsor of REGIONAL
DISCRETIONARY FUNDING funded projects; and be it further
RESOLVED that APPLICANT is authorized to submit an application for
REGIONAL DISCRETIONARY FUNDING for the PROJECT; and be it further
RESOLVED that there is no legal impediment to APPLICANT making applications
for the funds; and be it further
RESOLVED that there is no pending or threatened litigation that might in any way
adversely affect the proposed PROJECT, or the ability of APPLICANT to deliver such
PROJECT; and be it further
RESOLVED that APPLICANT authorizes its Executive Director, General Manager,
City Manager, or designee to execute and file an application with MTC for REGIONAL
DISCRETIONARY FUNDING for the PROJECT as referenced in this resolution; and be
it further
RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution will be transmitted to the MTC in
conjunction with the filing of the application; and be it further
RESOLVED that the MTC is requested to support the application for the PROJECT
described in the resolution, and if approved, to include the PROJECT in MTC's federal
TIP upon submittal by the project sponsor for TIP programming.
I, LINDSAY LARA, Clerk of the City of San Rafael, hereby certify that the foregoing
resolution was duly and regularly introduced and adopted at a regular meeting of the City
Council of said City on Monday the 21st day of April 2025, by the following vote, to wit:
AYES: Councilmembers: Hill, Kertz, Llorens Gulati & Mayor Kate
NOES: Councilmembers: None
ABSENT: Councilmembers: Bushey
__________________
Lindsay Lara, City Clerk
Notice of Exemption
To: Office of Planning and Research
P.O. Box 3044, Room 113
Sacramento, CA 95812-3044
From: (Public Agency): City of San Rafa13,I
111 Morphew Street
San Rafael, CA 94901
Appendix E
County Clerk
County of: _M_a_r_in ______ _
3501 Civic Center Drive, Room 234
(Address) {r O [ ~ [Q)
San Rafael, CA 94903 OCT 11 2024
S Ii ... OTT
Project Title: Canal Neighborhood Bellam Gateway Local Access Improvement Project
Project Applicant: City of San Rafael Department of Public Works
Project Location -Specific:
Bellam Boulevard, Andersen Drive, Jacoby Street
Project Location -City: San Rafael, CA Project Location -County:
Description of Nature, Purpose and Beneficiaries of Project:
Marin
This is a publi c project with the City of San Rafael acting as the applicant and Lead Agency. The work cons ists of construction of a shared pedestrian and
bicycle pathway along Be ll am Boulevard between Playa Del Rey and Kerner Boulevard, along Bellam Boulevard between 1-580 and Andersen Drive , along
Andersen Drive from Bellam Bo ul evard to Jacoby Street, and along Jacoby Street, connecting to the SMART pathway, also known as the North-South
Greenway. Th is initiative aims to provide pedestrian and bicycle facility connecti on between the Canal neighborhood and other destinations in San Rafael and
beyond. All work will take place in the City of San Rafael.
Name of Public Agency Approving Project: City of San Rafael Department of Public Works
Name of Person or Agency Carrying Out Project: City of San Rafael Department of Public Works
Exempt Status: (check one):
□ Ministerial (Sec. 21080(b)(1 ); 15268);
□ Declared Emergency (Sec. 21080(b)(3); 15269(a));
D Emergency Project (Sec. 21080(b)(4); 15269(b)(c));
~ Categorical Exemption. State type and section number: Section 15301 (c), Existing Facilities
,.;
□ Statutory Exemptions. State code number: ____________________ _
Reasons why project is exempt:
This project will add shared pedestrian and bicycle facilities within the existing right-of-way of roadways in San
Rafael. These facilities are in accordance with the description of the Existing Facilities Categorical Exemption (Sec.
15301 (c)), which includes "existing highways and streets, sidewalks, gutters, bicycle and pedestrian trails, and similar
facilities ... and other alterations such as the addition of bicycle facilities ... and other similar alterations that do not
create additional automobile lanes." This project does not involve expansion of the City's roadway network.
Lead Agency . . . .
Contact Person: April Miller, Public Works Director Area Code/Telephone/Extension: 415-485-3409
If filed by applicant:
1. Attach certified document of exemption finding.
2. Has a Notice of Exemption been filed by the public agency approving the project? Yes No
Signature: l}.,{,Uvtoriy 5. Date: 1 0/11 /2024
■ Signed by Lead Agency Signed by Applicant
Authority cited: Sections 21083 and 21110, Public Resources Code.
Reference: Sections 21108, 21152, and 21152.1, Public Resources Code.
Title: Junior Engineer
Date Received for filing at QPR: _____ _
POSTED to u{~TOJU \l) 10 1.-L
Revised 20 I I
CLERK
, Deputy