DATE: April 22, 2025
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Steven E. White, Director
Department of Public Works and Planning
SUBJECT: Authorize FY 2025-26 Transit Oriented Development Funding Application and Adopt Resolution required by Fresno Council of Governments
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Retroactively authorize the Department of Public Works and Planning’s submittal of a FY 2025-26 Transit Oriented Development Program application to the Fresno Council of Governments for the Pedestrian/Bike Improvements on Chestnut Avenue from Shields Avenue to Clinton Avenue Project ($1,227,487); and
2. Adopt a Resolution required by Fresno Council of Governments regarding the County’s support of, and commitment to, the project application submitted to the FY 2025-26 Transit Oriented Development Program.
REPORT
Approval of the first recommended action will retroactively authorize a funding application submitted by the Director of the Department of Public Works and Planning (Department) to the Fresno Council of Governments (FCOG) for Transit Oriented Development (TOD) program funding to meet the program deadline of March 4, 2025. Approval of the second recommended action will adopt a resolution required by FCOG for the receipt of the TOD project application. This item pertains to a location in District 3.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
If the recommended actions are not approved, the TOD application submitted to FCOG will be withdrawn from funding consideration.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. If the application is approved for TOD funding, the $1,227,487 requested funding for the project will be awarded with $247,633 to be paid out by the County’s Measure C allocation.
DISCUSSION:
The TOD program was created by the 2006 Measure C Extension Plan. TOD projects support community-based transit projects that are developed through an inclusive planning process with broad private-public partnerships and outreach. TOD projects also improve the range of transportation choices by supporting transit facilities and improving links between facilities and activity nodes. Additionally, TOD projects support well-designed, high-density housing and mixed uses near transit.
In addition to encouraging transit supportive land use surrounding the high-capacity transit corridors to boost transit ridership in the Fresno County region, the Measure C TOD program also strives to support livable, viable and sustainable transit oriented healthy communities that promote walking, biking, and the use of public transit and reduce private vehicle dependence. Such TOD communities promote health and well-being and reduce risks for chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. The projects funded by the TOD program serve as models that reduce vehicle trips, improve air quality and provide access to physical activity opportunities through integrated land use and transportation planning.
The TOD program will generate $16.9 million during the 20-year lifespan of the Measure C program based on the estimation in December 2012. It is estimated that the TOD program is accruing about $850,000 annually. There is $1,520,000 available in the program for the 13th funding cycle.
This half-mile stretch of Chestnut Avenue has almost no sidewalks, no bike lanes, but it has six transit stops. Some of the transit stops are on lawns or medians, forcing riders to stand on grass or in an unsafe place next to high-speed traffic, forcing pedestrians and bicyclists into unsafe situations, a condition that does not exist in the City-maintained parts of the street north and south of the project area. The project would aim to improve safety for transit riders, pedestrians, and bicyclists who may pass through the area to get to or from school, work, or nearby businesses.
The proposed project would build sidewalks and bike lanes on a half-mile County-maintained section of the street that has none, but which is adjacent to City-maintained segments which have both. Therefore, this project would fill a gap in safety infrastructure. There are also six transit stops within this stretch, some of which are in unsafe locations and must be made ADA compliant. The County will partner with Fresno Area Express (FAX) on this project. The project will complement the planned 40/41 split project by FAX that will improve bus stops along Chestnut Avenue. The total estimated cost of the project is $1,475,120 which includes the Design, Right-of-way, and Construction phases. The Department is requesting $1,227,487 in TOD funds, with a 15% local match on the Construction phase, paid for with Measure C funds. If only partial funding is awarded, the Department will seek other funding sources to fully construct the project.
With your Board’s approval of the second recommended action, the Department will be able to provide FCOG with a resolution, as required by their guidelines, that expresses the Board’s commitment to, and support of, the TOD program and the project the County submitted for the TOD Capital Improvement Grant. The resolution confirms your Board’s approval of the underlying program of the project, as expressed in the TOD application the County submitted. This will ensure that the application is eligible for consideration in the regional TOD program.
As reflected in the application, letters of support for the project were provided by Fresno Unified School District, Scandinavian Middle School, and the Fresno Bicycle Coalition.
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
Location Maps
On file with Clerk - TOD Application
On file with Clerk - Resolution
CAO ANALYST:
Salvador Espino