Title
Report regarding adoption of a resolution of a request to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission for the allocation of Fiscal Year 2019-2020 Transportation Development Act Article 3 Pedestrian/Bicycle project funding totaling $400,000 for the South San Francisco East Grand Avenue-Caltrain Bicycle and Pedestrian Access Project. (Christina Fernandez, Assistant to the City Manager)
label
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
It is recommended that City Council adopt a resolution requesting from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission an allocation of Fiscal year 2019-2020 Transportation Development Act Article 3 (TDA 3) Pedestrian/Bicycle project funding totaling $400,000 for the East Grand Avenue-Caltrain Bicycle and Pedestrian Access Project.
Body
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION
The City Council adopted a resolution on November 25, 2019 accepting TDA III grant funds in the amount of $400,000; however, staff was recently informed by the awarding agency (City/County Association of Governments) that specific language in the resolution is required by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC). Staff consulted with the City Attorney and it was determined the need to return to the City Council in order to adopt the language required by the MTC.
The City/County Association of Governments (C/CAG) issued a Call for Projects for eligible pedestrian and bicycle projects under the TDA article 3 program on May 10, 2019. There is $1,950,000 available for FY 2019-2020. The 21 jurisdictions within San Mateo County were invited to submit applications. Applications were limited to one for Planning projects and one for Capital projects per jurisdiction. The maximum grant award for a Planning project was $100,000 (required a 50% cash match) and for a Capital project was $400,000. City staff attended a May 23, 2019 workshop to learn more about the grant opportunity. City staff held several meetings to discuss the importance of several bicycle and pedestrian projects within the City. Staff then determined internally that bicycle and pedestrian improvements for the East Plaza of the Caltrain station to the be most compelling project. City staff submitted a grant application for the East Grand Avenue-Caltrain Bicycle and Pedestrian Access Project on July 25, 2019.
South San Francisco’s employment hub east of the 101 (“East Area”) is the largest employment district in northern San Mateo County. Originally dominated by heavy industrial uses, today it includes three key land uses: Business and Technology Park, Business Commercial, and Mixed Industrial. This part of the City is a highly successful employment center, and includes the headquarters of biotech firm Genentech, as well as other biotech and tech businesses, various office uses, hotels and other supporting uses. All these uses can be served by improved bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure.
Given the higher frequency of trains (up to 8 trains per hour projected in 2021) and increased ridership (1,028% increase projected in 2040) anticipated with the opening of the new South San Francisco Caltrain station, immediately adjacent to the project area, the City is preparing to improve bicycle and pedestrian access to the new Caltrain station by connecting downtown and Caltrain to the major employers, San Francisco Bay Trail, and the South San Francisco Ferry Terminal in the East Area via improved facilities.
This project closes a gap in the area wide bike and pedestrian plan and will facilitate seamless travel for bicyclists and pedestrians between the South San Francisco downtown, Caltrain station and the East Area. Providing enhanced, safe and convenient bicycle and pedestrian access to the new Caltrain station and connecting other parts of the City to the East Area economic hub, estimated to increase from 28,000 to more than 55,000 employees by the year 2040, is critical to addressing current and future transportation needs.
In the project area, the South San Francisco (SSF) Caltrain Station improvement project is funded and under construction and is anticipated to be completed in November 2020. This Caltrain Station project will provide a new bicycle and pedestrian undercrossing connecting the East of 101 Area (East Area), Caltrain station and downtown area by a safe and convenient connection from both the train station as well as the SSF Downtown area. (Attachment 1 - Caltrain Station renderings)
This grant will provide the funds for the East Grand Avenue-Caltrain Bicycle and Pedestrian Access Project (“Project”), which will construct pedestrian and bicycle improvements that will close the gap between the new pedestrian and bicycle facility connection from the South San Francisco Caltrain station and the pedestrian and bicycle connections in the area of East Grand Avenue/Gateway and East Grand Avenue/Forbes Blvd/Harbor Way.
The Project will construct an approximately 15 foot wide Class I (off street) pedestrian/bicycle path on the north side of East Grand Avenue from Poletti Way to the intersection of East Grand and Grand Avenues (approximately 750 feet in length).
The southwest corner of the intersection of the East Grand and Grand Avenue intersection will be reconstructed with a smaller turning radius. The pedestrian striping for the western and southern crossing of the intersection will be replaced. The concrete median, and “slip lane” that currently provides a free right turn movement at the southeast corner will be removed and replaced with a design similar to the west side corner, eliminating a free right turn and requiring a “stop-on- red” before allowing vehicle to turn right, reducing pedestrian crossing distance across East Grand Avenue and enhancing pedestrian safety.
On East Grand Avenue, heading east from the intersection of East Grand and Grand Avenues, the roadway will be improved to add buffered Class II bike lanes with plastic channelizers and green lane transition markings in both directions through the East Grand Avenue/Harbor Way/Forbes Avenue intersection (about 1,1,50 feet in length in each direction).
The City has a funded project for Class II bicycle lanes on East Grand beyond Harbor Way/Forbes Avenue (to be constructed in early 2020) and existing facilities on Gateway Blvd to the south of East Grand. (Attachment 2 - Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvement renderings)
The project’s anticipated schedule is as follows:
1/2020 Begin Environmental Clearance
1/2020 Begin Design/PS&E
3/2020 Environmental Clearance
1/2021 ROW Certification
3/2021 Ready to Advertise Construction Contract
6/2021 Start Construction
12/2021 End Construction
*The project is expected to complete construction prior to grant funds expiration.
FISCAL IMPACT
The total cost of the East Grand Avenue-Caltrain Bicycle and Pedestrian Access project totals $986,000. TDA III grant funds would cover $400,000 in construction costs. The remaining balance of $586,000.00 would be covered by local funds.
RELATIONSHIP TO STRATEGIC PLAN
Acceptance of the grant award furthers the City’s goals of providing excellent bike paths, pedestrian ways, and multi-modal transportation options.
CONCLUSION
It is recommended that City Council adopt a resolution requesting from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission an allocation of Fiscal year 2019-2020 Transportation Development Act Article 3 (TDA 3) Pedestrian/Bicycle project funding totaling $400,000 for the East Grand Avenue-Caltrain Bicycle and Pedestrian Access Project.
Attachments:
1. Caltrain Station renderings
2. East Grand Avenue-Caltrain Bicycle and Pedestrian Access renderings