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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. rl 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).