REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
January 25, 2018
FROM: SCOTT L. MOZIER, PE, Director
Public Works Department
BY: RANDALL W. MORRISON, PE, Assistant Director
Public Works Department, Engineering Division
SHELBY MACNAB, Senior Management Analyst
Public Works Department, Administration Division
SUBJECT
Title
RESOLUTION - Authorizing submission of lifeline applications for grant funds for the 2017/18 Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program and the Surface Transportation Block Grant Program Call for Projects from the Fresno Council of Governments (Citywide)
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt a resolution authorizing the submission of lifeline grant applications to the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program (CMAQ) and the Surface Transportation Block Grant Program (STBG), and authorize the execution of all application related documents by the Public Works Director, or designees.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Fresno Council of Governments (COG) issues a Call for Projects every two years to solicit applications for transportation projects under two Federal programs, CMAQ and STBG. STBG was formerly known as the Regional Surface Transportation Program or RSTP. On September 28, 2017, the Fresno COG Policy Board officially initiated the 2017/18 CMAQ and STBG Call for Projects, for projects to be programmed in the Federal Transportation Improvement Plan (FTIP) with funding scheduled to become available in 2020/21 and 2021/22 fiscal years through the Federal Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act.
Lifeline applications are due to Fresno COG by February 5, 2018 (STBG) and April 10, 2018 (CMAQ). Staff has evaluated the City’s transportation needs as compared to the STBG and CMAQ program eligibility requirements and project selection criteria. On October 19, 2017, the Council adopted a similar resolution authorizing project applications for the Regional Bid funding available through Fresno COG. The same list of projects from the Public Works Department as previously approved by Council is attached to the resolution. It is recommended that the Council adopt the resolution in support of the grant applications being submitted for the proposed projects.
BACKGROUND
Fresno COG, acting in its role as a Metropolitan Planning Organization, is in the process of programming the future federal transportation revenues that are allocated to the Fresno County region. Funds for both CMAQ and STBG are reimbursable Federal-aid funds, subject to the requirements of Title 23, United States Code. Eligible uses of the funds include preliminary engineering, right-of-way acquisition, capital costs and construction costs associated with an eligible activity.
STBG eligibility generally includes asphalt concrete pavement overlays and reconstruction, capacity enhancing projects, traffic signals and safety projects, transit improvements and landscaping. The STBG program was established by California statute utilizing Surface Transportation Program Funds that are identified in Title 23, Section 133 of the United States Code. The purpose of the CMAQ program is to fund transportation projects or programs that will contribute to attainment or maintenance of the national ambient air quality standards for ozone, carbon monoxide and particulate matter.
CMAQ and STBG programs include both “lifeline” and “regional bid” funding approaches. The fundamental difference between lifeline funding and regional bid funding is that lifeline funding is distributed to each city and county on a formula basis for the agency to program on eligible projects. Regional bid funding is a competitive application process between member agencies. This resolution authorizes applications for lifeline funding. A resolution was adopted for regional bid applications on October 19, 2017.
The estimated available lifeline funding to be programmed by Fresno COG is as follows:
§ CMAQ Lifeline $ 4,710,271
§ STBG Lifeline $ 9,104,362
Projects selected by Fresno COG for funding will be programmed in the 2020/21 and 2021/22 Federal fiscal years. Staff will reflect the grant awards in the five-year capital budget as presented to the Council as part of the Mayor’s proposed budget, and will request the Council to appropriate the received grant funding in the future fiscal years when the Federal funds become available.
The City Attorney’s office has reviewed and approved the resolution as to form.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15378, this resolution authorizing applications for grant funding is not a project for the purposes of the California Environmental Quality Act.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference is not implicated because this resolution does not include a bid or award of a construction or services contract.
FISCAL IMPACT
This resolution will have no immediate impact on the General Fund. A local match will be required for all projects selected for funding by Fresno COG. The CMAQ and STBG programs currently require a local match contribution of 11.47% of project costs. Local match funds will be identified through future fiscal year capital budgets, but are typically funded through gas tax, Measure C and development impact fees as appropriate for the particular project. Should the grant be awarded, local matching funds will be identified through future fiscal year capital budgets.
Attachments:
Resolution
Project List