DATE: August 6, 2024
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Steven E. White, Director
Department of Public Works and Planning
SUBJECT: FY 2023-24 Mid-Cycle Carbon Reduction Program Applications ($1,676,256)
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Retroactively approve and authorize Director of Public Works and Planning’s previous submittal of two applications to the Fresno Council of Governments for the FY 2023-24 Mid-Cycle Carbon Reduction Program for the Central Avenue and Chestnut Avenue Left Turn Phasing and Intersection Improvements Project located just south of Malaga, CA ($1,000,000); and for the Caruthers, CA Sidewalk Project ($676,256).
.REPORT
Approval of the recommended action will retroactively approve and authorize the submittal of two funding applications by the Director of the Department of Public Works and Planning (Department) to the Fresno Council of Governments (FCOG) for FY 2023-24 Mid-Cycle Carbon Reduction Program (CRP). These funding applications were submitted, contingent upon your Board’s approval, to meet the deadline of June 4, 2024. This item pertains to locations in Districts 3 and 4.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
The CRP applications were submitted to FCOG to meet the application deadline; however, your Board may choose to withdraw some or all of the applications from funding consideration. On June 27, 2024, the CRP Committee tentatively approved both projects to receive the requested funding amounts; however, if your Board does not endorse one or both of the projects submitted to the CRP program, the Department will notify FCOG and withdraw the application(s) from funding consideration.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. Both of the projects were tentatively awarded their requested amounts, so the CRP program will provide reimbursement of the majority of project costs. The local match amounts would be paid out of the County’s SB-1 allocation. Sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues are included in the Department’s Roads Org 4510 FY 2023-24 Adopted Budget and future proposed budgets. More about costs for each project are detailed in the Discussion section below.
DISCUSSION:
The CRP program was developed as a companion program to the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Program, which funds a wide range of projects designed to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from on-road highway sources, including many projects the County has completed since its inception. The program helps to fund projects which improve air quality by reducing ozone precursor emissions, including nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds, carbon monoxide, and particulate matter emissions or particulate matter precursor emissions Applications are submitted to compete for funding against other projects submitted for programming within the region. The region consists of the County and the 15 incorporated cities within the County.
Acting in its role as a Metropolitan Planning Organization, FCOG programs and monitors delivery of the Federal transportation projects for the region. As a requirement for acceptance of an agency’s project submittal for certain Federal and/or State programs, FCOG requires that the governing board of each submitting agency approve a resolution, in accordance with AB 1012 legislation, committing to meet project delivery deadlines to highlight the importance of allocating enough resources to each project so its goals are achievable. Your Board signed Resolution No. 23-370 on November 28, 2023 which satisfies this requirement and was included in the application packets.
FCOG issued their Regional Competitive 2023-24 Mid-Cycle Call-for-Projects on April 25, 2024. CRP project submittals were due June 4, 2024 and the Department submitted two applications for the following projects:
• Central Ave & Chestnut Ave Left Turn Phasing and Intersection Improvements ($1,000,000)
At the intersection of Central Avenue and Chestnut Avenue, just south of the disadvantaged community of Malaga, CA, the project includes full replacement of the existing traffic signal to incorporate installation of left-turn phasing on all 4 legs of the intersection, including high visibility backplates and accessible pedestrian signal (APS) push buttons. Right turn lanes will be added on the west, south and east legs of the intersection and ADA-compliant curb ramps with curb & gutter will be constructed on all four corners. The total estimated cost of the project is $1,473,678, with $148,815 in funding approved for the Design and Right-of-Way phases in the first round of FY 2023-24 funding last Fall. The Department requested $1,000,000 for the Construction phase under the assumption that was the maximum amount allowed for each application. The remainder of the project costs, $324,863, will be paid for with SB-1 funding.
• Caruthers Complete Streets ($676,256)
In the disadvantaged community of Caruthers, CA, the project would construct sidewalks with curb & gutter and replace non-ADA-compliant curb ramps and driveway approaches in various locations. A storm drain system would be installed as part of the project to address drainage from the new gutters that will be installed. Roadway reconstruction or widening will be necessary to be able to correct the drainage pattern to the new storm drainage system. The total estimated cost of the project is $10,905,968; however, the Department opted to apply only for the Design and Right-of-Way phases at a cost of $676,256 and apply for the Construction phase in a future cycle or with a different funding program, such as CMAQ or ATP.
On June 27, 2024, the CRP judging committee tentatively approved both projects to receive their requested funding amounts. Before the funding awards are officially announced, however, they must be approved by the Transportation Technical Committee (TTC), the Policy Advisory Committee (PAC), and be officially approved by FCOG’s Policy Board. The funding awards are anticipated to be announced either before or shortly after this item is presented to your Board.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #75, November 28, 2023
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
Location Maps
On file with Clerk - CRP Application - Central Ave & Chestnut Ave Left Turn Phasing and Intersection Improvements
On file with Clerk - CRP Application - Caruthers Complete Streets
CAO ANALYST:
Salvador Espino