SR-01-08-2013-3ECity Council Meeting: January 8, 2013
Agenda Item: - "—
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Martin Pastucha, Director of Public Works
Subject: Applications for 2013 Call For Projects Grant Funds
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Adopt the attached resolution authorizing seven applications for grant funds in
the amount of $12,268,050 from Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation
Authority (MTA) 2013 Call for Projects.
2. Authorize the City Manager to execute all necessary documents to apply for the
grants and accept the grants, if awarded.
Executive Summary
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) 2013 Call for Projects
Grant applications are due on January 18, 2013. Historically, the Call for Projects grant
funding has provided the City with one of the best opportunities to compete for Federal,
State, and County transportation funding. The attached resolution would authorize
seven applications for 2013 Call for Projects funds in the amount of $12,268,050 with
funding available in FY 2018 -19. Any awarded grants and the respective local match
obligations from various funding sources would be considered as part of future fiscal
year Capital Improvement Program (CIP) budgets.
Discussion
Biennially, MTA provides public agencies with the opportunity to apply for funding in
eight different modals related to transportation facilities or services within Los Angeles
County. For the 2013 Call for Projects, staff proposes to submit seven applications in
six different modal categories:
1. Signal Synchronization and Bus Speed Improvements
2. Transportation Demand Management
3. Bicycle Improvements
1
4. Pedestrian Improvements
5. Transit Capital
6. Transportation Enhancement Activities
No applications will be submitted in the Regional Surface Transportation Improvements
modal or in the Goods Movement Improvements modal. Each modal category utilizes
various federal, state, and local funding sources and has unique requirements regarding
eligible project categories. Each modal category has specific questions with points
assigned to that modal. Each application will be evaluated on regional significance,
project need, local match, cost effectiveness, and land use and sustainability.
Each project will compete within a modal category. The "Bike / Mobility Hub at Expo
17th Street Station" application and the "Westward Extension of Expo Bike Path via 17th
Street and Michigan Avenue" application will both compete in the Bikeway
Improvements modal and, therefore, compete with each other for funding.
A local cash match is required for all applications. Although match amounts vary by
modal, most are approximately 20 %. Applications can earn additional points by
"overmatching," or offering cash in excess of the required match amount. One
significant change made by MTA to the 2013 Call for Projects application process is a
decreased emphasis placed on overmatching; award points for overmatching have
been cut in half from the 2011 Call for Projects process. Based on the decreased
benefit of overmatching and the loss of Redevelopment Agency funds to provide cash
matches, staff recommends overmatching only the "Replace 40 -foot Buses with
Alternative Fuel Buses" application. The overmatch will garner an additional point and
will utilize an additional $41,950 of Big Blue Bus's Prop 1B capital funds.
Funding is primarily available for FY 2018 -19; however, the MTA recently deobligated
funds in the 2012 Call for Projects Recertification /Deobligation process and those funds
are now available for the 2013 Call. MTA has noted that it will try to accommodate
FJ
requests for funding in earlier years, contingent on the awarded grant being in the same
modal as the funds that have been deobligated. Funding may be available as early as
FY 2014 -15 and will be allocated for five years. Based on the potential availability of
early funding, staff will apply for the funds in the fiscal years that would be best for each
project, but recognizes that these funds might not be available until FY 2018 -19. The
timing of the funds will not be communicated to staff until after the grants are awarded
on September 26, 2013.
The CIP Committee, comprised of Department Heads and the City Manager's staff, has
reviewed project summaries and source of funding details for local matches for each
application. Project descriptions were reviewed to ensure that the City's long -term
capital goals were met. Local match sources, amounts, and cash flows were reviewed
to ensure that local matching funds would be both eligible and available in the event of
award and to minimize the impact to the General Fund. The CIP Committee's
recommendations were submitted to the City Manager for review and are contained in
this report.
For those applications that are awarded funding, both the grant award amounts and the
local match requirements will be escalated from 2013 amounts based on an inflation
rate determined by MTA, typically around 3% per year.
The City's seven applications are as follows:
1. Citywide Signal Detection
Modal Application:
Signal Synchronization & Bus Speed Improvements
Project Total.
$600,000
Grant Amount Requested:
$480,000
Local Match Obligation:
$120,000
Local Match Source:
Prop C Local Return
Funding Year:
FY 2015 -16
Project Description:
This project would install bicycle detection at 20 to
3
30 intersections on transit corridors to reduce signal
delay for transit and autos. Santa Monica has
installed bike detection at 30% of signalized
intersections; this project would fund another 15 %.
2. Multi -Modal Wavfindin
Modal Application:
Transportation Demand Management
Project Total:
$1,475,000
Grant Amount Requested:
$1,180,000
Local Match Obligation:
$295,000
Local Match Source:
General Fund and Prop C Local Return
Funding Year.- FY 2014 -15
Project Description: This project would implement approximately two
signs per relevant intersection within a minimum
four block radius surrounding each of the three
Expo stations and install real -time parking signage
to direct drivers to the closest available parking in
the city's downtown parking structures.
3. Bike / Mobility Hub at Expo 17th Street Station
Modal Application: Bikeway Improvements
Project Total: $2,000,000
Grant Amount Requested: $1,600,000
Local Match Obligation: $400,000
Local Match Source: Prop C Local Return and TDA Article 3
Funding Year., FY 2016 -17
Project Description: This project is for the construction of a Mobility Hub
(b i ke/walk/transit/cars hare) on MTA -owned land
with secured bike parking spaces, multi -modal
travel information, and self - service bicycle
Ell
maintenance tools for the public. This phase
constructs a small main building with the most
critical tenant and access improvements while
allowing for the inclusion of future facilities
enhancements.
4. Westward Extension of Expo Bike Path via 17th Street and Michiaan Avenue
Modal Application: Bikeway Improvements
Project Total: $2,500,000
GrantAmount Requested: $2,000,000
Local Match Obligation: $500,000
Local Match Source: Bike Plan Designation — Grant Readiness
Funding Year: FY 2018 -19 and FY 2019 -20
Project Description: This project would fund a bikeway extension of the
Expo bike path south along 17th Street to Pico
Boulevard and westward along Michigan Avenue to
Lincoln Boulevard. The east -west portion of this
project would implement a phase 1 of the Michigan
Avenue Neighborhood Greenway (MANG) toward
the beach and the north -south portion connects the
station and regional bike path directly to Santa
Monica College. The project would include
intersection improvements, markings, wayfinding,
landscaping, and roadway reconfiguration.
5. Safety / Security Lighting for Transit Access — Colorado and 17th Street
Modal Application: Pedestrian Improvements
Project Total: $2,470,000
Grant Amount Requested: $1,974,000
Local Match Obligation: $496,000
5
Local Match Source: TDA Article 3 and possible future developer impact
fees or contribution from Santa Monica College
Funding Year: FY 2015 -16 and FY 2016 -17
Project Description: This project would increase pedestrian safety and
security in accessing the Expo light rail station at
17th Street with the installation of pedestrian lighting
on the north side of Colorado from 18th Street to
Lincoln Boulevard and on the west side of 17th
Street from Broadway Street to Pico Boulevard.
6. Replace 40 -foot Buses with Alternative Fuel Buses
Modal Application: Transit Capital
Project Total. $4,195,000
Grant Amount Requested: $3,314,050
Local Match Obligation: $880,950
Local Match Source: Prop 1 B Capital
Funding Year.- FY 2014 -15
Project Description: This project would replace nine 40 -foot NABI LNG
buses, purchased in 2002 and expected to exceed
their useful life in 2014, with five 60 -foot articulated
CNG buses. Staff has recommended that an
additional $41,950 be added to the required
$839,000 cash match, for a total match of
$880,950. This overmatch will score more award
points during MTA's evaluation process and offer a
more competitive application.
7. Expo Station Linkage to Downtown and Civic Center — 4th Street Enhancements
Modal Application: Transportation Enhancement Activities
Project Total.• $2,500,000
A
Grant Amount Requested: $2,000,000
Local Match Obligation: $500,000
Local Match Source: Prop C Local Return and possible future
transportation impact fees (TIF)
Funding Year: FY 2017 -18 and FY 2018 -19
Project Description: This project would fund the planning and
construction of upgrades on 4th Street between
Broadway and Olympic Drive to increase
pedestrian /bicyclist safety, to provide access and
mobility, and encourage walking and biking
between the Downtown, Civic Center, and the Expo
light rail station. This project also supports the
City's shared parking strategies. Facilities to be
upgraded include the east sidewalk just north and
south of the Expo station, the eastern sidewalk on
the 4th Street Bridge, and the roadway lane striping.
The MTA Board will adopt the selected Call for Projects on September 26, 2013. At that
time, staff will prepare an Information Item to notify Council of the Call for Projects grant
applications that have been awarded funding.
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Financial Impacts & Budget Actions
There is no immediate financial impact or budget action necessary as a result of the
recommended action. For those applications that are awarded funding by MTA, budget
changes for the awarded grant and required local match amounts will be included in
subsequent years' CIP budgets, contingent on Council budget adoption. Revenue
budgets will be included in subsequent years' operating budgets.
Prepared by: Stephanie Manglaras, Principal Administrative Analyst
roved:
Attachments: Resolution
0
Forwarded to Council:
Rod Gould
City Manager
Reference Resolution No.
10723 (CCS).