REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
December 10, 2015
FROM: SCOTT L. MOZIER, PE, Director
Public Works Department
THROUGH: ROBERT N. ANDERSEN, PE, Assistant Director
Public Works Department, Capital Management Division
JIM SCHAAD, Assistant Director
Department of Transportation
BY: RANDY BELL, PE, Capital Projects Manager
Public Works Department, Capital Management Division
SUBJECT
Title
RESOLUTION - Authorizing the submission of applications for grant funds from the Fresno Council of Governments (COG) 2015/16 Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) improvement program and the Regional Surface Transportation Program (RSTP) “Call for Projects” and authorizing the execution of all application related documents by the Public Works Director and the Transportation Director or their designees (Citywide)
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt a resolution authorizing the submission of applications for grant funds from the Fresno COG 2015/16 CMAQ Program and RSTP “Call for Projects” and authorize the execution of all application related documents by the Public Works Director, the Transportation Director, or their designees.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Fresno COG typically issues a Call for Projects every two years to solicit applications for transportation projects under two Federal programs, the RSTP and the CMAQ Programs. The Fresno COG Policy Board officially initiated the 2015/16 CMAQ and RSTP Call for Projects, for projects to be programmed with funding scheduled to become available in 2018/19 and 2019/20 fiscal years through the Federal Transportation Act.
Applications are due to Fresno COG by January 7, 2016. Staff has evaluated the City’s transportation priorities as compared to the RSTP and CMAQ program eligibility requirements and project selection criteria. Based upon this prioritization process, staff has developed a list of recommended Public Works and Transit projects which are 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 will come to the Fresno Region. Funds for both the RSTP and the CMAQ 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.
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. It supports two important goals of the Department of Transportation: improving air quality and relieving congestion. The RSTP program was established by California State statute utilizing Surface Transportation Program Funds that are identified in Section 133 of Title 23 of the United States Code.
RSTP eligibility generally includes asphalt concrete pavement overlays and reconstruction, capacity enhancing projects, traffic signals and safety projects, transit improvements and landscaping. CMAQ and RSTP 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, on the other hand, is tied to a project rather than to a member agency. Acquisition of regional bid funds is based on a project’s ability to compete well against other projects submitted for programming within the region.
The estimated available funding to be programmed by Fresno COG is as follows:
§ CMAQ Regional Bid $18,464,775
§ CMAQ Lifeline $ 4,248,110 to the City of Fresno (total $7,913,475 for the region)
§ RSTP Regional Bid $ 8,960,778
§ RSTP Lifeline $ 7,215,485 to the City of Fresno (total of $13,441,168 for the region)
Projects which are selected by Fresno COG for funding will be programmed in the 2018/19 and 2019/20 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.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDING
This item is not a “project” for the purposes of the California Environmental Quality Act.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference was not considered because this resolution does not include a bid or award of a construction or services contract.
FISCAL IMPACT
A local match will be required for all projects selected for funding by Fresno COG. The CMAQ and RSTP programs currently require a local match contribution of 11.47% of the project direct and indirect 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.
Attachments:
Resolution
Proposed List of Projects