TITLE
Recommendation to approve submittal of the recommended list of grant applications to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority; and authorize City Manager to administer and execute all necessary documents to accept, and expend all Metropolitan Transportation Authority grant funds in connection therewith, and to take all other actions necessary to implement the use of such funds. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) has initiated the 2009 Transportation Improvement Program Call for Projects. The Call for Projects is the primary mechanism through which discretionary federal, State, and county transportation funds are allocated to local agencies and Caltrans for specific major capital improvement projects. Generally, Metro sponsors this competitive grant process every two years, and the last Call was in 2007.
The deadline for submission of the Call for Projects is April 24, 2009. The Call for Projects allocates discretionary funding for the upcoming five to six years to regionally significant projects in several categories, ranging from freeways to pedestrian improvements. Projects are eligible for funding within the following categories:
Freeways, Regional Surface Transportation Improvements, Signal Synchronization and Bus Speed Improvements, Transportation Demand Management, Bikeway Improvements, Pedestrian Improvements, Transit Capital· and Transportation Enhancement Activities.
Within each category, Metro will rank project applications using several major criteria, with a major emphasis on regional significance and mobility improvement. Metro has also specified that all applicants meet certain requirements, including:
1. Applicants must fund a minimum of 20 percent of the total project costs for each project, referred to as local match. The local match proposed for the entire City's project applications are non-General Fund dollars that are restricted in use by eligibility requirements, such as Transportation funds and Redevelopment funds.
2. A Project Study Report (PSR) or Equivalent (PSRE) is required for all applications.
This is documentation of project study, scope and detailed cost breakdown, and is typically a minimum 6-to 12-month process. Requests for funding for the 1-710 Corridor Improvements are not included because the EIR/EIS for the full corridor is underway now. The realignment of the Shoemaker Bridge and ramps serving downtown Long Beach is currently in design and funding is being sought directly through a federal earmark request.
3. Metro has added a new Sustain ability consideration for every category to consider each jurisdiction's efforts toward sustainability, recycling, emission reduction, greenhouse gas emissions, and resource conservation policies.
4. If an agency is submitting more than one application within a category, each project must be prioritized. Departments identified potential projects, and staff from the applying departments ranked the projects within each modal category based on an assessment of each project's competitiveness under Metro's selection criteria, including benefit to the transportation system, regional significance and inter-modal integration. Metro retains the prerogative to vary from the priorities of the submitting agency.
The schedule for the 2009 Call for Projects is as follows:
April 24, 2009 Applications due
July 2009 Metro staff completes preliminary project and funding
recommendations
July 8 - 15, 2009 Public review and appeals of Metro staff rankings by Technical
Advisory Committee (TAC)
Mid-August, 2009 Metro Board Review of Staff and T AC Recommended
Projects and Rankings
September 24, 2009 Metro Board makes final funding decisions for the Call for
Projects
City departments have developed a list of projects for submission for funding consideration (Attachment 1). The projects selected had some completed preliminary work that would satisfy Metro's PSR/PSRE requirements.
This matter was reviewed by Assistant City Attorney Michael J. Mais on March 27, 2009, and by Budget and Performance Management Bureau Manager David Wodynski on March 26, 2009.
SUSTAINABILITY
The projects submitted for grant funding will primarily focus on improving the bicycle and pedestrian environment in Long Beach to encourage the use of alternative modes of transportation that will reduce or eliminate greenhouse gas emissions.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is requested at the April 14, 2009 meeting, in order to submit grant applications to Metro by the submittal deadline of April 24, 2009.
FISCAL IMPACT
The City will be required to provide a minimum 20 percent match for any project awarded funding. Match amounts for each project indicated on the attachment would be included in future capital budgets subject to funds awarded. The local match proposed for all project applications is non-General Fund dollars that are restricted in use by eligibility requirements, (e.g., Redevelopment Funds and Transportation Funds).
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
MICHAEL P. CONWAY
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS
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PATRICK H. WEST |
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CITY MANAGER |