REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: Scott L. MOzier, PE, Director
Public Works Department
BY: jill m. Gormley, TE, Assistant Director
Public Works Department, Traffic & Engineering Services Division
ANNE G. SEHM, Grants Administrator
Public Works Department, Administrative Division
SUBJECT
Title
RESOLUTION- Authorizing the Submission of a Grant Application to the United States Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) - Active Transportation Infrastructure Investment Program (ATIIP) Call for Projects not to exceed $2,000,000 in requests to fund a planning and design grant for conceptual and preliminary engineering tied to an approved plan for the Parkway Drive and Jane Addams Neighborhood; and Authorizing the Execution of a Grant Application and Grant Agreement documents by the Public Works Director or Designee (Council District 3).
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt a resolution authorizing the submission of a grant application to the United States Department of Transportation, FHWA - ATIIP call for projects not to exceed $2,000,000 in requests for funding a planning and design grant for conceptual and preliminary engineering tied to an approved plan for the Parkway Drive and Jane Addams Neighborhood; and authorizes the execution of all grant application and grant agreement documents by the Public Works Director or designee.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The ATIIP Call for Projects encourages projects that will help improve the safety, efficiency, and reliability of active transportation networks and communities; improve connectivity between active transportation modes and public transportation; enhance the resiliency of on- and off-road active transportation infrastructure and help protect the environment; and improve quality of life in disadvantaged communities through the delivery of connected active transportation networks and expanded mobility opportunities. The grant program is competitive, and the grant applications are due on June 17, 2024. Staff is requesting authorization to submit a grant application to the United States Department of Transportation, FHWA ATIIP to fund a planning and design grant for conceptual and preliminary engineering tied to an approved plan for the Parkway Drive and Jane Addams Neighborhood under the Planning and Design Grant funding category.
BACKGROUND
The ATIIP Grant call for projects was released in March 2024. There is a total of $44.5 million available for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 in ATIIP awards with up to $41.5 million available in the Construction funding category and up to $19.6 million available in the Planning and Design grant category. Funding made available for ATIIP FY 2023 is to be awarded on a competitive basis for eligible projects to provide safe and connected active transportation facilities in an active transportation network or active transportation spine per Section 11529(a) of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), enacted as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Pub. L. 117-58). Active transportation networks are facilities built for active transportation, including sidewalks, bikeways, and pedestrian and bicycle trails, that connect between destinations within a community or metropolitan region (BIL § 11529(l)(2)). An active transportation network can include a sidewalk network, bike lane network, or shared use path network within a community and must connect between destinations within a community or metropolitan region, such as by connecting neighborhoods and residences to high-demand destinations like schools, workplaces, commercial centers, recreation areas, medical centers, or other community areas. Active transportation spines are facilities built for active transportation, including sidewalks, bikeways, and pedestrians and bicycle trails, that connect between communities, metropolitan regions, or States (BIL § 11529(l)(3)). An active transportation spine can include a rail trail or rail-with-trail, walking path, or bike route and must connect between two or more communities, metropolitan regions, or States. An active transportation spine can be considered a backbone or primary active transportation route through a particular area or region.
The intent of this Project is to develop conceptual and preliminary engineering plans tied to an approved plan for the Parkway Drive and Jane Addams Neighborhood for active transportation infrastructure improvements. The City would rely on the adopted Downtown Neighborhoods Community Plan (DNCP, Council approved October 2016) and the Final Draft Parkway Neighborhood Master Plan visioning document, dated December 2023 to develop preliminary engineering plans for active transportation and infrastructure revitalization. With this approach, we aim to prepare preliminary and conceptual engineering plans as the initial phase in design which will lay the groundwater for securing funding in the future, enabling us to proceed with final designs and subsequent future implementation through various future grant funding opportunities.
The conceptual and preliminary engineering plans will serve as the foundation for implementing the recommendations in the approved DNCP and visioning Final Draft Parkway Neighborhood Master Plan document including but not limited to active transportation components such as bike lanes, sidewalk upgrades and infill, and road diets with a significant pedestrian focus for students traveling to and from Jane Addams Elementary School with enhanced facilities like high-intensity activated crosswalks, curbs, accessible ramps, and bike racks. The Department of Public Works aspires to build on the momentum of the recent repurposing of former hotels into affordable housing known as the “Promesa Commons” and the proposed Caltrans Parkway Drive at State Route 99 Pedestrian Bridge, intended to build a connection for West area residents to retail and services as well as shorten their active transportation commute to green space from one mile to 300 feet, reducing greenhouse gases and improving air quality along the way.
Community engagement was conducted as part of the DNCP and the visioning document, these efforts would continue as part of the development of the conceptual and engineering plans to include input from residents which is imperative in the overall redevelopment of the Project area. The scope of work included in the grant application will provide multiple opportunities for participation and public comment. Staff will work closely with Council offices and community partners to maximize outreach efforts and ensure representative and comprehensive engagement.
Grant scoring is weighted in favor of projects that can present a strong nexus between mobility and community connection, engaged community support, a commitment to increasing walking, biking, and other types of active transportation, financial completeness, equitable development, and other Department of Transportation Goals and priorities such as: safety for pedestrian and cyclist; access to jobs and key destination; economic competitiveness; environmental protection; and quality of life. Grant applications are due on June 17, 2024, the awards are anticipated to be obligated by an executed grant agreement by September 30, 2026.
The City Attorney’s Office has reviewed and approved this resolution as to form.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
Adoption of a resolution of support for a grant application is not considered a project pursuant to California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15378.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference is not included 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. The Project is located within Disadvantaged Community census tracts. Projects serving communities with a poverty rate of over 40 percent based on the majority of census tracts served by a project are eligible for the Federal share of 100 percent of the total project cost, thus no matching funds are required for the Project. Should the grant be awarded, ATIIP funds will be incorporated into the City of Fresno annual budget for the fiscal year(s) in which they will be available for reimbursement.
Attachments:
Resolution
Project Area Map