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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPW MTC Regional Active Transportation Program Cycle 7 Resolution of Local SupportAgenda Item No: 4.e Meeting Date: May 5, 2025 SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT Department: Public Works Prepared by: Grey Melgard, Associate Civil Engineer, April Miller, Public Works Director City Manager Approval: __________ TOPIC: METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION (MTC) REGIONAL ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM (ATP) CYCLE 7 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 DOWNTOWN SAN RAFAEL NORTH-SOUTH GREENWAY GAP CLOSURE 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 Downtown San Rafael North-South Greenway Gap Closure Project as described in the Project’s Regional Active Transportation Program grant application. BACKGROUND: The Downtown San Rafael North-South Greenway Gap Closure Project (“Project”) would implement a two-way bike facility, enhanced pedestrian crossings, wider sidewalks, and new signage along Mission Ave. (Tamalpais Ave. to Hetherton St.), Tamalpais Ave. (Mission Ave. to 4th St.), and 4th St. (Tamalpais Ave. to Grand Ave.) in downtown San Rafael. The Project would close a gap in the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District’s (SMART) Pathway/Great Redwood Trail and complete one of the remaining gaps in the Marin’s North-South Greenway. The Project looks to provide more accessible connections for active transportation users wishing to reach the SMART pathway as well as the transit hub in downtown San Rafael, where thousands of people connect to local and regional transit services every day. The State of California established the Active Transportation Program (ATP) in September 2013. Approximately 40% of the funding is distributed to the large, urbanized area competitive program, which is managed by the ten largest Metropolitan Planning Organizations (“Regional ATP”), including the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC). Cycle 7 program guidelines for the Regional ATP were approved by the California Transportation Commission (CTC) on March 27, 2024, and included $14.4 million in available funds for the region. MTC received 35 applications ____________________________________________________________________________________ FOR CITY CLERK ONLY Council Meeting: 05/05/2025 Disposition: Resolution 15405 SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Page: 2 for the Regional ATP totaling approximately $324 million, twenty-three times the available amount. In February 2025, MTC staff recommended the Project to CTC for funding as part of the Regional ATP Cycle 7 at the requested amount of $4,355,000. ANALYSIS: The Project was selected for funding recommendation by MTC staff using the scores provided by the CTC from the evaluation process for the state application as a baseline, with a regional score added by MTC staff. Projects could receive a maximum score of 110 points, and the Project received a final score of 96. Final consideration by the full MTC Commission occurred on February 26, 2025, with the adoption of MTC Resolution No. 4633. 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’s Regional ATP application. COMMUNITY OUTREACH: The Project is part of a collaborative effort between the City of San Rafael and SMART concerning the Downtown Transit Center Relocation Project. Ongoing communication between the City and SMART will improve the experience of active transportation users in a high-density, highly complex environment in Downtown San Rafael. The Project was discussed with the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) during the March 2024 meeting with the intent of applying for the Regional ATP grant. The Project will conduct additional outreach to impacted communities and residents as progress is made through the environmental and planning phases. ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION: In May 2024, the City filed a notice of exemption (NOE) with the County of Marin for the Downtown San Rafael North-South Greenway Gap Closure Project for categorical exemption based on existing facilities (CEQA Guidelines § 15301). The NOE is included in Attachment 2. FISCAL IMPACT: The Regional ATP application requires adopting the Resolution of Local Support. The City is currently positioned to receive $4,355,000 to fund the Project. Total project costs are estimated at $5,444,000; the City of San Rafael has committed to funding $1,088,791 of this cost as a 20% local match and it is anticipated this funding will come from Gas Tax (Fund 206). The City has programmed these funds across fiscal years 2026-27 through 2028-29 to complete the respective phases of the Project. OPTIONS: The City Council has the following options to consider regarding this matter: 1.Adopt the resolution of local support authorizing filing an application for funding assigned to MTC, committing any necessary matching funds, and stating the assurance to complete the Downtown San Rafael North-South Greenway Gap Closure 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 Downtown San Rafael North-South Greenway Gap Closure Project as described in the Project’s Regional Active Transportation Program grant application. SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Page: 3 ATTACHMENTS: 1.Resolution of Local Support Downtown San Rafael North-South Greenway Gap Closure Project 2.Notice of Exemption RESOLUTION NO. _____ 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 DOWNTOWN SAN RAFAEL NORTH-SOUTH GREENWAY GAP CLOSURE PROJECT WHEREAS, the City of San Rafael (herein referred to as APPLICANT) is submitting an application to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) for $4,355,000 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 Downtown San Rafael North-South Greenway Gap Closure Project (herein referred to as PROJECT) for the Regional Active Transportation Program (ATP) Cycle 7 (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 inclusion 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 5th day of May 2025, by the following vote, to wit: AYES: Councilmembers: NOES: Councilmembers: ABSENT: Councilmembers: __________________ Lindsay Lara, City Clerk □ Notice of Exemption To: Office of Planning and Research P.O. Box 3044, Room 113 Sacramento, CA 95812-3044 21--2oz '{-ID I Appendix E From: (Public Agency): City of San Rafael 111 Morphew Street San Rafael, CA 94901 Print Form County Clerk County of : _M_a_r_in ______ _ 3501 Civic Center Drive, Room 234 (Address) [F ~ [L ~ [Q) San Rafael, CA 94903 Project Title: Downtown San Rafael North-South Greenway Gap Closure Project Project Applicant: City of San Rafael Valley Department of Public Works Project Location -Specific: Mission Avenue, Tamalpais Avenue, Fourth Street Project Location -City: San Rafael, CA Project Location -County: Marin Description of Nature, Purpose and BeneficiariE;J_s of Project: MAY 3 O 2024 SHl::LLY $COTT MA~TYCLERK BY: __ ~_, Deputy This is a public project with the City of San Rafael acting as the applicant and Lead Agency. The work consists of construction of a separated bikeway along Mission Avenue between Heatherton Avenue and Tamalpais Avenue, along Tamalpais Avenue between Mission Avenue and Fourth Street, and along Fourth Street from Tamalpais Avenue to Grand Avenue . This initiative aims to bridge an existing gap in the regional North-South Greenway, as well as connect to other existing bicycle facilities. 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)); l!I 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 separated 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: Apnl 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 : Mariana S. Date: 05/28/2024 Title: Junior Engineer • 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. Date Received for filing at OPR: _____ _ Revised 2011 From: Warren Wells < > Sent: Friday, May 2, 2025 10:01 AM To: Distrib- City Clerk <city.clerk@cityofsanrafael.org> Subject: Public Comment - 5/5/2025 - Item 4.e Mayor Kate and Members of the City Council, I am writing on behalf of the Marin County Bicycle Coalition to express our organization's strong support for the Downtown San Rafael North-South Greenway Gap Closure Project, which will provide much needed separated bikeways on 4th Street, Tamalpais Avenue, and Mission Avenue. MCBC and our volunteers had been pushing for the city to prioritize this project as the Grand Avenue bikeway neared completion. I provided a letter of support for the city's application to the Active Transportation Program, and was overjoyed to learn that the application was successful in an extremely competitive year, which speaks to the quality of the project and the application submitted by the DPW. I understand that the project will present some challenges, such as the removal of on- street parking and modification of bus stops, but I applaud the city for moving forward with this absolutely critical piece of the bikeway network. This project will tie in perfectly with recent investments made by the city to knit together the Canal and Downtown neighborhoods, as well as the upcoming transit center relocation project. I thank Director Miller and the rest of the staff at the DPW, and look forward to working with staff and the city council to help bring this project to completion. Sincerely, Warren J. Wells, AICP -- Warren J. Wells, AICP Policy & Planning Director Marin County Bicycle Coalition phone/text (415) 456-3469 | marinbike.org We're creating a healthy, connected, and sustainable Marin by promoting bicycling for everyday transportation and recreation. Love to ride? Join MCBC today!