Title
Report regarding a resolution accepting a grant award in the amount of $450,000 from the San Mateo County Transportation Authority (TA), authorizing the City Manager to execute a funding agreement with the TA and approve Budget Amendment #23.061 to add $655,000 for the Junipero Serra Boulevard and Westborough Boulevard Pedestrian and Bicycle Connectivity and Safety Project Feasibility Study (st2301). (Lawrence Henriquez, Senior Civil Engineer)
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RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
It is recommended that the City Council adopt a resolution accepting a grant award in the amount of $450,000 from the San Mateo County Transportation Authority (TA) and authorize the City Manager to execute a funding agreement with the TA; and approve Budget Amendment #23.061 to add $655,000 for the Junipero Serra Boulevard and Westborough Boulevard Pedestrian and Bicycle Connectivity and Safety Project Feasibility Study.
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BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION
The Junipero Serra Boulevard and Westborough Boulevard corridors lack pedestrian and bicycling facilities, which creates hardships for residents wishing to use alternate modes of transportation to reach destinations such as BART, Kaiser, shopping centers, schools, libraries, and recreation facilities. Therefore, bicycling and walking accessibility improvements such as high-visibility crosswalks, ADA-compliant curb ramps, protected bicycling facilities, pedestrian refuge islands, enhanced intersection layouts, and leading pedestrian signal light intervals will be considered through a feasibility study.
Bicycling and walking are affordable means of transportation for low-income and disadvantaged residents. Providing access to active transportation allows added freedom and independence for seniors, youth, and parents as well as for some people who cannot drive and those who have chosen not to drive. Creating safe conditions for walking and bicycling increases a community’s livability and age-friendly amenities in ways that are difficult to measure but should not be overlooked. Consequently, the City of South San Francisco Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan known as Active South City, identified this project location as one of its top eleven (11) priority projects. The existing conditions of the project site are currently not aligned with Active South City for active transportation safety, comfort, and equitable mobility.
Cycle 6 Pedestrian and Bicycle Program Funding:
The San Mateo County Transportation Authority (TA) issued a Call for Projects for the Cycle 6 Pedestrian and Bicycle Program on August 4, 2022. The goal of the Pedestrian and Bicycle Program is to fund projects that improve bicycling and walking accessibility and safety in San Mateo County, thus encouraging more residents to participate in active transportation. City staff submitted a grant application seeking $1,530,981 to proceed into the design phase. The TA approved a reduced grant award in the amount of $450,000 recommending that the City first complete a feasibility study prior to the start of design. The TA cited the importance of developing concept plans, increasing public engagement, developing an equity analysis, and ensuring a reasonable funding plan is established to strengthen the City’s prospects when pursuing the higher grant request for design.
The feasibility study will develop initial concept plans that will consider over six (6) miles of new or upgraded pedestrian facilities, over three (3) centerline-miles of separated Caltrans Class IV bike facilities along Westborough Boulevard and Junipero Serra Boulevard, and five (5) protected intersections. An integral part of the feasibility study will be the extensive public outreach activities that will be planned, which will consist of community meetings, a pop-up event, and a City Council community event.
The feasibility study anticipated schedule is as follows:
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DATE |
TASK |
|
June 2023 |
Project Kickoff / Data Collection/ Background Information |
|
July 2023 - February 2024 |
Public Outreach |
|
June 2023 - January 2024 |
Transportation Analysis and Concept Plan Developments |
|
January - February 2024 |
Feasibility Report |
|
February - March 2024 |
Grant Funding Identification for Design |
FISCAL IMPACT
The City will commit to funding a 30% local match of the awarded $450,000 San Mateo County Transportation Authority for the Pedestrian and Bicycle Program Cycle 6 funds in the amount of $135,000 from the Citywide Transportation Impact Fee (TIF). The following table details the project budget:
|
FUNDING SOURCE |
AMOUNT |
PURPOSE |
|
San Mateo County TA |
$450,000 |
Feasibility Study |
|
Citywide TIF |
$135,000 |
30% Local Match |
|
Citywide TIF |
$70,000 |
Project Management |
|
|
Total = $655,000 |
|
RELATIONSHIP TO STRATEGIC PLAN
Approval of this action will contribute to the City’s Strategic Plan goal of improved Quality of Life through the means of a feasibility study to advance initial conceptual plans for optional safe modes of transportation for bicyclists and pedestrians through the Junipero Serra Drive and Westborough Boulevard corridors.
CONCLUSION
Staff recommends the City Council adopt a resolution accepting a grant award in the amount of $450,000 from the San Mateo County Transportation Authority (TA) and authorizing the City Manager to execute a funding agreement with the TA and approve Budget Amendment #23.061 to add $655,000 for the Junipero Serra Boulevard and Westborough Boulevard Pedestrian and Bicycle Connectivity and Safety Project Feasibility Study.
Attachments:
1. Feasibility Study Vicinity Map