REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: SCOTT L. MOZIER, PE, Director
Public Works Department
GREGORY A. BARFIELD, MA, Assistant City Manager / Director
Department of Transportation
BY: Randall W. Morrison, PE, Assistant Director
Public Works Department, Engineering Division
LINDA TAYLOR, Administrative Manager
Department of Transportation
SUBJECT
Title
Actions pertaining to grant applications to the California State Transportation Agency funding programs
1. RESOLUTION - Approve a grant application for the Blackstone and McKinley BNSF Grade Separation Project for grant funds up to the amount of $80,000,000 from the California State Transportation Agency Port and Freight Infrastructure Program (Council Districts 1 and 7)
2. RESOLUTION - Approve a grant application for the Blackstone and McKinley BNSF Grade Separation Project for grant funds up to the amount of $80,000,000 from the California State Transportation Agency Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (Council Districts 1 and 7)
3. RESOLUTION - Approve a grant application for the FAX Zero-Emissions Technology Investment Project for grant funds up to the amount of $37,500,000 from the California State Transportation Agency Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (All Council Districts)
Body
RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt three resolutions approving grant applications to the California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA). The first two resolutions pertain to the Blackstone and McKinley BNSF Grade Separation Project for grant funds from the CalSTA Port and Freight Infrastructure Program (PFIP), and the CalSTA Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP). The total application amount for the project will be $80,000,000, balanced between the two CalSTA programs. The third resolution pertains to the FAX Zero-Emissions Technology Investment Project for grant funds up to the amount of $37,500,000 from the CalSTA Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program. Staff recommends that the City Council appoint the Director of Public Works and the Director of Transportation, or designee(s), as representative(s) of the City of Fresno to conduct negotiations, execute, submit and sign all documents including but not limited to applications, agreements, amendments, payment requests, and other documents which may be necessary for the completion of the proposed projects.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Staff is requesting authorization to submit one grant application for grant funds from the Port and Freight Infrastructure Program, and two grant applications for grant funds from the Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program. These grant funds are administered through CalSTA, and the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), where delegated by CalSTA. The City’s applications for the Blackstone and McKinley BNSF Grade Separation will seek $80,000,000, balanced between the Port and Freight Infrastructure Program and the Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program. The final requested amounts to each program will be determined during the application process; and will be based on development of the most competitive application, funding applicability, and availability. The City’s applications for the FAX Zero-Emissions Technology Investment Project will seek up to $37,500,000 from the Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program. The recommended actions will provide an opportunity to obtain additional project funding to supplement the funds already secured through the Measure C Grade Separation Program for the Blackstone and McKinley BNSF Grade Separation; and Federal and State funds already secured for the FAX Zero-Emissions Technology Investment Project.
BACKGROUND
California State Legislature enacted the Port and Freight Infrastructure proposal through Senate Bill 198 and provided policy direction for CalSTA to implement the Port and Freight Infrastructure Program. The program includes one-time funding totaling $1.2 billion dollars ($1,200,000,000) for port and freight infrastructure to be awarded in a single cycle, with $600,000,000 available for projects in 2022-2023, and $600,000,000 in 2023-2024. The funding shall be allocated to public agencies, with seventy percent for infrastructure projects supporting goods movement related to the Port of Los Angeles and/or Long Beach, and thirty percent for other high-priority projects supporting ports and goods movement infrastructure in the rest of the state. Eligible projects include port-specific high-priority projects, intermodal railyard expansion and electrification, goods movement railway corridor capacity projects, high-priority grade separations, and zero emission goods movement demonstration projects.
The Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program was created by Senate Bill 862 and modified by Senate Bill 9, to provide grants from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund to fund transformative capital improvements that will modernize California’s intercity, commuter, and urban rail systems, and bus and ferry transit systems, to significantly reduce emissions of greenhouse gases, vehicle miles traveled, and congestion. AB 180 amended the Budget Act of 2021 to appropriate $3.63 billion of General Fund to the Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program and $350 million of General Fund for High Priority Grade Crossing Improvement and Separation projects. This funding will be included in TIRCP Cycle 6 for the 2023 application cycle.
The Blackstone Avenue and McKinley Avenue corridors serve as primary routes for the community, the City’s Bus Rapid Transit system, emergency vehicles, and is also part of the Blackstone Smart Mobility Plan providing Class IV protected bicycle facilities along Blackstone Avenue through the project area. The project location has experienced the highest traffic volumes and number of accidents of any at-grade crossing on the BNSF corridor. The Blackstone Avenue and McKinley Avenue BNSF Grade Separation Project will eliminate two existing at-grade crossings by grade separating North Blackstone Avenue and East McKinley Avenue under the BNSF Mainline Track. Measure C funding awarded to the project to date totals $35,119,938 with an additional $44,380,062 in funding available for future amendments.
The FAX service area is comprised of several disadvantaged communities, low-income communities, and areas disproportionately burdened by pollution and traffic. Based on the goal of improving air quality and public health statewide, the California Air Resources Board has enacted the Innovative Clean Transit regulation, which mandates that large transit agencies such as FAX transition to zero-emissions hydrogen fuel cell bus (FCEB) or battery-electric bus (BEB) purchases by 2040. It is for these reasons that the City of Fresno has prioritized clean air projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and traffic idle times, increase transit ridership and reliability, encourage active transportation, and improve overall public health. The FAX Zero-Emissions Technology Investment Project includes the purchase and deployment of eight FCEBs and ten BEBs, installation of a hydrogen fueling station, and purchase and deployment of a hydrogen fuel station maintenance truck. FAX will leverage existing Federal Bus and Bus Facilities (Program 5339) funding of $3,000,000, California State of Good Repair (SGR) funding of $1,200,000, and California Low-Carbon Transit Operations Program (LCTOP) funding of $1,100,000. This is a total of $5,300,000 leveraged funding, all previously awarded and obligated to other scopes of the FAX Zero-Emissions Technology Investment Project.
The Port and Freight Infrastructure Program and the Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program do not have minimum match requirements, but matching funds will be considered in the project’s evaluation for the award of funds. The City intends to leverage Measure C funds as a local match for the Blackstone and McKinley BNSF Grade Separation Project, and existing Federal and State funds as a match for the FAX Zero-Emissions Technology Investment Project.
Applications for grant funds from the Port and Freight Infrastructure Program are due January 13, 2023, and applications for grant funds from the Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program are due February 10, 2023. The City Attorney’s Office has reviewed and approved the three resolutions as to form.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
Pursuant to California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15378, a grant application does not constitute a project for the purposes of CEQA.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference is not applicable to this resolution.
FISCAL IMPACT
The three proposed resolutions will have no impact on the General Fund. Should the grant(s) be awarded, matching funds, if needed, will be identified through future fiscal year capital budgets. Staff will proceed with applying for grant funds, assuming the funding levels will be available at the time of programming. No funds will be expended prior to allocation and formal notice to proceed documentation, ensuring the availability of funds before costs are incurred.
Attachments:
CalSTA PFIP Resolution - BMGS
CalSTA TIRCP Resolution - BMGS
CalSTA TIRCP Resolution - FAX
Vicinity Map - BMGS