SR-01-13-2015-3B - 1000-01-01ID
City of City Council
Santa ®iouica°
City Council Meeting: January 13, 2015
Agenda Item: a®
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Martin Pastucha, Director of Public Works
Subject: Applications for 2015 Metro Call for Projects Grant Funds
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Adopt the attached resolution authorizing submittal of five applications for the
below referenced projects, seeking grant funds in the total maximum amount of
$17,022,074 from Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority
(MTA) 2015 Call for Projects.
2. Authorize the City Manager to implement all actions necessary to apply for and
accept the grant funds, if awarded, including the commitment to expend local
match obligations in the total maximum amount of $4,426,501, and to include
such grant funds and local match obligations in the City's future fiscal year
Capital Improvement Program (CIP) budgets.
Executive Summary
Historically, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Call
for Projects grant funding has provided the City with one of the best opportunities to
compete for Federal, State, and County transportation funding. Grant applications for
the 2015 Call for Projects Grant applications are due on January 16, 2015. The
attached resolution would authorize five applications for 2015 Call for Projects funds in
the total maximum amount of $17,022,074 with funding available in FY 2020 -21 or
earlier depending on MTA funding availability. Any awarded grants and the respective
local match obligations, totaling a maximum of $4,426,501 from various funding
sources, would be included in the City's future fiscal year CIP budgets and subject to
Council budget approval.
Background
Biennially, MTA provides public agencies with the opportunity to apply for funding in
several different modal categories related to transportation facilities or services within
Los Angeles County. For the 2015 Call for Projects, staff proposes to submit
applications in five of the modal categories, including:
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1. Regional Surface Transportation Improvements
2. Pedestrian Improvements
3. Transportation Demand Management
4. Bicycle Improvements
5. Transit Capital
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 category. Each application will be
evaluated on regional significance, project need, local match, cost effectiveness, and
land use and sustainability.
A local cash match is required for all applications. Although match amounts vary by
modal category, most require a minimum of a 20 percent match. 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; points awarded 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 "Bus Replacement"
application. The overmatch will garner an additional point and will utilize an additional
$136,786 of Big Blue Bus's Prop 1B capital funds. This year's Call for Projects does
allow in -kind "overmatching." Staff time will be used to develop in -kind match
commitments above 20 percent.
Discussion
Funding for Metro Call for Projects is primarily available for FY 2020 -21. However, MTA
has noted that it will try to accommodate requests for funding in earlier years if any de-
obligated funding becomes available. Project details outlined below indicate the earliest
fiscal year that projects would be ready to implement and that local match funding is
available; these dates will be listed in the grant applications. The timing availability of
funds will not be communicated to staff until after the MTA Board selects the winning
Call for Projects Grant applications and awards grants in September 2015. The grant
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application amounts outlined below are in 2014 dollars per the grant application, and
are escalated at 3 percent annually for six years, assuming the funding is not awarded
until FY 2020 -21. If funding is available earlier for awarded grant applications,
escalation amounts will be deducted accordingly and both grant amounts and required
local match amounts would be slightly lower than the numbers outlined here. It is also
possible for Metro to award a portion of grant funds sought for any given project.
Therefore, staff recommends that Council authorize the proposed grant application
amounts as maximum amounts to ensure conservative budgeting and planning for
potential local match requirements.
A subgroup of the CIP Committee, comprised of Department Heads and the Assistant
City Manager, has reviewed project summaries and funding for local matches. 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
eliminate any impact to the General Fund. The CIP Committee's recommendations
were submitted to the City Manager for review and are contained in this report.
The City's five applications are as follows:
1. Connections to Bergamot Expo Light Rail Station
Modal Application: Regional Surface Transportation Improvements
Project Total: $4,020,000
Grant Amount Requested: $3,216,000
Local Match Obligation: $804,000
Local Match Source: Prop C Local Return; possibly Transportation Impact
Fee revenues for bike portion
Proposed Funding Year- FY 2017 -18
Project Description: This project would design and construct the intersection
of Stewart, Nebraska and Olympic to include a widened
crosswalk for pedestrians and cyclists with clear driver
visibility, and a signalized pedestrian crossing from the
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east platform exit from the Expo Station across Olympic
Blvd. It would also construct protected bike lanes in
both directions on Stewart from Olympic Blvd. to
Colorado Avenue to connect to the regional bike path
and the Expo Station.
2. 17th Street Improvements for Pedestrian Access and Liqhtin
Modal Application: Pedestrian Improvements
Project Total: $2,200,000
Grant Amount Requested: $1,760,000
Local Match Obligation: $440,000
Local Match Source: Prop C Local Return
Proposed Funding Year FY 2016 -17
Project Description: This project would install pedestrian lighting on the west
side of 17th St. between Wilshire Boulevard and Pico
Boulevard (except on the 1 -10 bridge) and up to 18 curb
extensions at nine intersections for access and safety.
3. Santa Monica Localized Travel Assistance
Modal Application: Transportation Demand Management
Project Total: $450,000
Grant Amount Requested: $360,000
Local Match Obligation: $90,000
Local Match Source: Prop C Local Return
Proposed Funding Year FY 2016 -17
Project Description: This project would fund targeted multi -modal travel
planning assistance and incentives designed to reduce
the need for single occupant vehicle (SOV) travel to and
from Santa Monica. Trained travel advisors would
provide in- person travel planning support at the Expo
stations during peak periods and provide trial subsidies
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through targeted outreach events for groups that are
currently not regulated by the City's trip reduction
ordinance (i.e. residents, seniors, tourists, and
shoppers). Travel advisors would be trained on the
myriad of new transportation options available in Santa
Monica, including the growing variety of first and last mile
connections, and would utilize the City's grant- funded
web platforms, wayfinding, and kiosks that will be
available to support multi -modal trip planning.
4. Beach Bike Path Connection to Santa Monica Pier
Modal Application: Bicycle Improvements
Project Total: $1,100,000
Grant Amount Requested: $880,000
Local Match Obligation: $220,000
Local Match Source: Prop C Local Return; possibly Transportation Impact Fee
revenues for bike portion
Proposed Funding Year.- FY 2020 -21
Project Description: This project would fund design and construction of a
Beach Bike Path connection to the Santa Monica Pier.
This would allow for continuity of bicycle traffic from the
beach to Colorado and Ocean Avenues and would
improve regional bicycle access to the Downtown Expo
Station. Connectivity between the Beach Bike Path and
the Downtown station is currently disjointed.
5. Bus Replacement
Modal Application: Transit Capital
Project Total: $13,678,575
Grant Amount Requested: $10,806,074
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Local Match Obligation: $2,872,501
Local Match Source: Prop 1B Capital
Proposed Funding Year: FY 2016 -17
Project Description: This project would replace twenty -five (25) 40 -foot LNG
buses, purchased in 2004 and expected to exceed their
useful life in 2016 with new CNG buses. Staff has
recommended that an additional $136,786 of Big Blue
Bus's Prop 1B capital funds be added to the required
$2,735,715 cash match, for a total match of
$2,872,501. This overmatch will score more award points
during MTA's evaluation process and offer a more
competitive application.
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' budgets, contingent on Council budget adoption. Revenue budgets
will be included in subsequent years' operating budgets.
Prepared by: Sarah Johnson, Principal Administrative Analyst
Approved:
Forwarded to Council:
Martin Pastucha Rod Gould
Director of Public Works City Manager
Attachments: Resolution
Reference:
Resolution No. 10853
(CCS)