DATE: September 6, 2022
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Steven E. White, Director
Department of Public Works and Planning
SUBJECT: Retroactively Authorize Active Transportation Program Project Funding Application for the 2023 ATP Cycle 6 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 four 2023 Active Transportation Program Cycle 6 Applications to the California Department of Transportation; Del Rey Sidewalk Project, Tranquillity Sidewalk Project, Calwa Sidewalk Project, and Cantua Creek & El Porvenir (Three Rocks) Sidewalk Project; and
2. Adopt a Resolution required by Fresno Council of Governments regarding the County’s approval of and commitment to the projects, relating to Fresno County’s application to the Active Transportation Program ($14,382,000).
REPORT
Approval of the first recommended action will retroactively authorize four funding applications submitted by the Director of the Department of Public Works and Planning to the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) for Active Transportation Program (ATP) funding to meet the program deadline of June 15, 2022. Approval of the second recommended action will adopt a resolution required by the Fresno Council of Governments (FCOG) for the receipt of the ATP project applications for the regional bid. The regional bid funding application will be submitted to FCOG on November 18, 2022. Should Caltrans not fund the projects, FCOG will review and may fund the projects at the regional level. This item pertains to locations in Districts 1, 3, and 4.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
If the recommended actions are not approved, the ATP applications submitted to Caltrans will be withdrawn from funding consideration and will not be submitted to FCOG.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. If any of the applications are approved for ATP funding, 100% of the funding for the approved project will be awarded to the Department. In the event a local match is required, the Department of Public Works and Planning - Road Fund 0010 will cover those costs.
DISCUSSION:
The ATP was created in 2013 with Senate Bill 99, Chapter 359 and Assembly Bill 101, Chapter 354. The ATP consolidated several existing federal and state transportation programs, including the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP), Bicycle Transportation Account (BTA), and State Safe Routes to School (SRTS), into a single program with a focus on making California a national leader in active transportation. In 2017, the passage of Senate Bill (SB)1, the Road Repair and Accountability Act, added additional funding to the program.
The purpose of the ATP is to encourage increased use of active modes of transportation by achieving the following goals:
• Increase the proportion of trips accomplished by biking and walking
• Increase safety and mobility for non-motorized users
• Advance the active transportation efforts of regional agencies to achieve Greenhouse Gas (GHG) reduction goals, pursuant to SB 375 (of 2008) and SB 341 (of 2009)
• Enhance public health
• Ensure that disadvantaged communities fully share in the benefits of the program
• Provide a broad spectrum of projects to benefit many types of active transportation users
On March 16, 2022, Caltrans issued the Cycle 6 call for projects for ATP funding. In order to meet the application deadline of June 15, 2022, the applications were submitted for funding consideration prior to being brought before your Board for approval. These project locations and scopes were prioritized because they are located in disadvantaged communities, have community support, and can be delivered within strict project timelines. Using the Healthy Places Index, each community scored in the 25th percentile or lower for healthy communities, which factors characteristics such as clean environment, housing, education, social, and transportation conditions across the state. The residents of these communities are generally low-income, identify as Hispanic or Latino, and have limited access to grocery stores, medical care, and public transportation:
Del Rey Sidewalk Project ($2,982,000)- Install new concrete sidewalk, replace damaged or non-ADA compliant sidewalks, and replace existing non-ADA compliant ramps.
Tranquillity Sidewalk Project ($4,547,000)- Install new concrete sidewalk, replace damaged or non-ADA compliant sidewalks, and replace existing non-ADA compliant ramps.
Calwa Sidewalk Project ($3,377,000)- Install new concrete sidewalk, replace damaged or non-ADA compliant sidewalks, and replace existing non-ADA compliant ramps.
Cantua Creek & El Porvenir Sidewalk Project ($3,476,000) - Install new concrete sidewalk, replace damaged or non-ADA compliant sidewalks, and replace existing non-ADA compliant ramps.
This is an extremely competitive grant program, as reflected by the fact that, in the previous funding Cycle 5, 454 applications were submitted to Caltrans totaling $2.3 billion in requested funds. However, only 50 projects were selected, for a funding total of $440 million, every dollar of which (100%) benefitted disadvantaged communities. (At least 25% of the funds must be awarded to disadvantaged communities.) FCOG was then allocated $4.5 million which they awarded to the five highest-ranked regional projects.
For the current Cycle 6, while only 433 applications were submitted, the requests totaled $3.1 billion. As the total funding allocation is anticipated to be $1.65 billion for Cycle 6, the odds of being selected should be increased as compared to the previous Cycle 5. Applications will be reviewed and scored by the CTC, and the best scoring candidate projects will receive funding, to be announced on October 21. Any projects not approved for statewide funding will then be considered for the $7 million in funds allocated to the region. FCOG will review and score the projects and the best candidates will receive funding at the regional level.
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 ATP and the projects the County submitted for ATP Cycle 6. The resolution confirms your Board’s approval of the underlying program of the projects, as expressed in the ATP applications the County submitted to the ATP Cycle 6.
Letters of support for the project(s) were provided by the Del Rey Community Services District, the Calwa Park and Recreation District, Calwa Elementary School, Golden Plains Unified School District, and Tranquillity High School. In addition, Department staff performed in-person community outreach in Calwa, Tranquillity, and through the use of an online survey of active transportation needs.
In previous cycles, ATP Project funds have previously been awarded to the County for projects in the communities of Biola, Calwa, Cantua Creek, Dunlap, Lanare, Laton, and Riverdale.
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
Location maps
On file with Clerk - Resolution
On file with Clerk - Project app: Del Rey Sidewalk Project
On file with Clerk - Project app: Tranquillity Sidewalk Project
On file with Clerk - Project app: Calwa Sidewalk Project
On file with Clerk - Project app: Cantua Creek & El Porvenir Sidewalk Project
CAO ANALYST:
Salvador Espino