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 2011 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 local capital improvement projects. Generally, Metro sponsors this competitive grant process every two years, and the last Call for Projects was in 2009.
The 2011 Call for Projects allocates discretionary funding for FY15 and FY16 to local projects in several categories, including: Goods Movement, Regional Surface Transportation Improvements, Signal Synchronization and Bus Speed Improvements, Transportation Demand Management, Bikeway Improvements, Pedestrian Improvements, Transit Capital and Transportation Enhancement Activities. The project categories apply to new construction only, and are not eligible for maintenance activities.
Within each category, Metro will rank project applications using several criteria, with an emphasis on regional significance and mobility improvement. Metro has also specified that all applicants meet certain requirements, including:
- 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 City's project applications are non-general fund dollars that are restricted in use by eligibility requirements, such as Transportation funds and Redevelopment funds.
- A Project Study Report (PSR) or Equivalent (PSRE) is required for all applications. This is documentation of project, scope and detailed cost breakdown, and is typically a minimum 6 to 12 month process.
- In compliance with AB 32 and SB375, Metro has formalized a new Sustainability consideration for every category to consider each jurisdiction's efforts toward sustainability, recycling, emission reduction, greenhouse gas emissions reduction and resource conservation policies.
- If an agency is submitting more than one application within a category, each project must be prioritized. Two city 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 2011 Call for Projects is as follows:
January 28, 2011 Applications due
June 2011 Metro staff completes preliminary project and funding
recommendations
July 19-28, 2011 Public review and appeals of Metro staff rankings by Technical Advisory Committee (TAC)
Mid-August, 2011 Metro Board Review of Staff and TAC Recommended Projects and Rankings
September 22, 2011 Metro Board makes final funding decisions for the
Call for Projects
City departments have developed a list of projects for submission for funding consideration (Attached). The projects selected had some completed preliminary work that would satisfy Metro's PSR/PSRE requirements.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Linda Trang on December 21, 2010, and by Budget Management Officer Victoria Bell on December 29, 2010.
SUSTAINABILITY
The projects submitted for grant funding include a number of projects focused on sustainability and alternative transportation modalities, which are intended to reduce or eliminate greenhouse gas emissions.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is requested at the January 18, 2011 meeting, in order to submit grant applications to Metro by the submittal deadline of January 28, 2011.
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, such as Redevelopment Funds and Transportation Funds. Staff will return to City Council and request budget appropriations for projects as they are awarded.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
MICHAEL P. CONWAY
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS
APPROVED:
PATRICK H. WEST
CITY MANAGER