DATE: October 8, 2024
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Steven E. White, Director
Department of Public Works and Planning
SUBJECT: Adopt the 2024 Fresno Council of Governments Fresno County Regional Active Transportation Plan
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Receive presentation by the Department of Public Works and Planning on the 2024 Regional Active Transportation Plan; and
2. Approve and authorize Chairman to execute Resolution adopting the 2024 Fresno Council of Governments Fresno County Regional Active Transportation Plan (the “2024 Regional ATP”), which includes “Chapter 16 - Unincorporated Fresno County Communities,” in order for the County of Fresno to remain eligible to submit project applications to the California Transportation Commission for funding through the State’s Active Transportation Program.
REPORT
Approval of the first recommended action is to receive a verbal presentation on the 2024 Fresno Council of Governments Fresno County Regional Active Transportation Plan.
Approval of the second recommended action will authorize the Chairman to execute a resolution adopting the 2024 Regional Active Transportation Plan (2024 Regional ATP) developed by Fresno Council of Governments (FCOG) in cooperation with its member agencies as a tool that provides a roadmap for improved walking and bicycling conditions in the region. Fresno County’s portion of the Regional ATP (Chapter 16 - Unincorporated Fresno County Communities) focuses on pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure needs in Biola, Cantua Creek, Caruthers, Del Rey, Easton, Friant, Laton, Raisin City, Riverdale, and Tranquillity.
The 2024 Regional ATP will be used by the Department of Public Works and Planning (Department) to identify projects and apply for future transportation grant funding opportunities within the County. In order for projects to be funded under the State’s Active Transportation program, the California Transportation Commission (CTC) requires that the projects be consistent with an adopted 2024 Regional ATP.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
Your Board may choose not to approve the 2024 Regional ATP at this time or request that Staff make changes to the County’s portion of the 2024 Regional ATP, which is Chapter 16 of the plan.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. Any future project funding applications developed based on information in the 2024 Regional ATP would be brought to the Board in separate actions for approval, along with detailed scopes, costs, and funding sources.
DISCUSSION:
The 2024 Regional ATP is intended to serve as a guidance document for active transportation in the County of Fresno. It serves as an implementation tool for each of FCOG’s member agencies’ General Plan Circulation Elements. Endorsement of Fresno County’s portion of the 2024 Regional ATP would promote the safety of walking and bicycling in Fresno County, and promote walking, and bicycling within the unincorporated communities. The 2024 Regional ATP prioritizes pedestrian and bicycle networks, focusing on area with the greatest need for infrastructure as determined by underserved areas. The 2024 Regional ATP promotes walking and biking for transportation and recreation by all members of the community by creating a connected and complete network of trails, walkways, and bikeways that provide safe, convenient, and enjoyable connections to key destinations and neighborhoods while also promoting pedestrian and bicyclist safety and collision reduction.
Specifically, the 2024 Regional ATP envisions a complete, safe, and comfortable network of paths, sidewalks, and bikeways that serves all residents of Fresno County. Specifically, this plan has been developed to:
• Create a network of safe and attractive, sidewalks, shared-use paths, and bikeways that connect Fresno County residents to key destinations, especially local schools, parks, and transit;
• Create a network of regional bikeways that allows bicyclists to safely ride between cities and other regional destinations;
• Create better connections to transit, especially for communities with limited access to other transportation options;
• Increase walking and bicycling trips and thus reduce vehicle miles traveled and improve air quality in the region by creating user-friendly facilities; and
• Increase safety by improving crosswalks and sidewalks and expanding the bikeway network.
The 2024 Regional ATP complies with the CTC 2023 Active Transportation Program Guidelines, and it is also in compliance with the 2022 Fresno Council of Governments Regional Transportation Plan and Sustainable Communities Strategy.
The 2024 Regional ATP before your Board for adoption was initiated by FCOG and completed by Fehr & Peers, a transportation planning consultant, and their subconsultant, civil engineering firm Mark Thomas & Company, who were engaged by FCOG. Department staff participated in the community selection, public outreach, and project selection. Because the 2024 Regional ATP was entirely funded by FCOG, resources were directed towards the County and the cities of Coalinga, Firebaugh, Fowler, Huron, Kerman, Kingsburg, Mendota, Orange Cove, Parlier, San Joaquin, and Sanger.
Due to limitations on FCOG’s funding, not every unincorporated community was studied to identify their needs for active transportation infrastructure. However, as funding becomes available, the Department intends to expand upon the County portion of the 2024 Regional ATP to include the active transportation needs of additional unincorporated communities and County islands.
The first Regional ATP was adopted by FCOG in 2018, but it was not presented to the Board of Supervisors for adoption. Applications have been submitted to, and funded by, the CTC on the basis that the applications were consistent with “an adopted regional plan” based on FCOG’s adoption of the 2018 ATP Regional and the County’s membership in FCOG. Over the last several years, the County has received ATP funding for projects in Laton, Biola, Riverdale, Calwa, Tranquillity, Del Rey, and in some county islands. The Department is now requesting that that the Board adopt the 2024 Regional ATP in order to be certain of the County’s eligibility for future ATP funding.
Adopting the 2024 Regional ATP benefits the County as it creates a comprehensive countywide vision for active transportation and supports applications for new funding to create sidewalks, shared used paths, bike lanes, better street crossing, and other improvements for walking and bicycling.
With your Board’s approval of the recommended actions, the Department will be able to provide FCOG with resolution approval, that expresses the Board’s commitment to, and support of, the Fresno County Regional Active Transportation Plan.
FCOG completed an Initial Study, filed in compliance with Section 21152 of the Public Resources Code, based on which it determined that the project will not have a significant effect on the environment, and adopted a Negative Declaration on May 30, 2024.
FCOG is the lead agency, and the Department is the responsible agency for the purposes of environmental review of the Project under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), pursuant to Public Resources Code§ 21000 et seq., and the State Guidelines for Implementation of the California Environmental Quality Act.
As to future transportation projects carried out under the 2024 Regional ATP, the Department will make its own environmental determination based on FCOG’s Negative Declaration, and the filing of the Department’s own Notice of Determination. Per CEQA Guidelines 15071, this study was made available for public review and comment.
OTHER REVIEWING AGENCIES:
The 2024 Regional ATP was adopted by FCOG at their May 30th, 2024, Board meeting.
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
Presentation
On file with Clerk - Resolution
On file with Clerk - Fresno County Regional ATP
On file with Clerk - Chapter 16 - Unincorporated Fresno County Communities from the ATP
On file with Clerk - Adopted FCOG Regional ATP Resolution
On file with Clerk - Adopted FCOG Negative Declaration Resolution
CAO ANALYST:
Salvador Espino