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
ANDREINA AGUILAR, Chief Engineering Technician
Public Works Department, Traffic & Engineering Services Division
SUBJECT
Title
RESOLUTION - Approve three (3) street corridors for thirty percent (30%) preliminary conceptual design as part of the Active Transportation Plan Update currently being developed. (Citywide)
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council approve a selection of three (3) street corridors for preparation of thirty percent (30%) engineered design plans as part of the Active Transportation Plan Update currently being developed by TJKM Transportation Consultants.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
An update of the City’s Active Transportation Plan (ATP) is currently underway. On November 16, 2023, the City Council approved a professional consulting services agreement with TJKM Transportation Consultants (TJKM) for the ATP update. The effort to update the ATP includes a Citywide evaluation of all existing and planned trails, bike lanes and sidewalk networks. The contract also includes funding to take three corridors to a thirty percent (30%) level of preliminary design. The Council approval for the consultant agreement included a motion for staff to return to Council for approval of these three corridors for preparation of 30% engineered design plans before proceeding. Staff recommends the City Council select three (3) street corridors for preparation of thirty percent (30%) engineered design plans as scoped in the professional consulting services agreement previously approved with TJKM. Through analysis of selection criteria and public input, TJKM and city staff provided a list of potential corridors for consideration.
BACKGROUND
The Active Transportation Plan (ATP) provides a comprehensive guide outlining the vision for active transportation in the City of Fresno with complete, safe, and comfortable networks of trails, sidewalks, and bikeways that serve all residents. The ATP is typically updated on a five-year cycle. The current update being developed will evaluate and enhance our current network to create a better-connected network for all modes of transportation within the city. On November 16, 2023, the City Council approved a professional consulting services agreement with TJKM Transportation Consultants (TJKM), for said update, with a motion for staff to bring back a list of corridors considered for preparation of thirty percent (30%) engineered design plans for Council approval to move forward.
The ATP Update contract included thirty percent (30%) engineered design of three (3) corridors to position the city for funding to complete one hundred percent (100%) design and ultimately construction of the projects.
Staff issued TJKM a Notice to Proceed on December 11, 2023. Since then, TJKM has collected and analyzed data, evaluated adopted planning documents, and conducted public outreach. The consultant is now at the point in the process to prepare thirty percent (30%) engineered design plans for three (3) selected corridors as part of their scope of work. TJKM has gathered information to develop selection criteria based on best practices. The selection criteria includes: street classification, lane configuration, vehicular average daily trips (ADT), posted speeds, adopted 2017 ATP, on-street parking, and others.
TJKM and staff have identified the following preliminary list of corridors that could be considered for selection and approval to be moved forward by Council, see Table 1.
Table 1: List of Corridors
|
List of Corridors |
Potential Limits |
Potential Bikeway Facilities |
|
First Street |
Olive Avenue to Friant Road |
Class IV (separated bike lane) and Class II (bike lane) |
|
Downtown Loop |
H Street, Belmont Avenue, First Street, Cesar Chavez Boulevard |
Combination of bicycle facilities |
|
Clinton Avenue |
Weber Avenue to Blackstone Avenue |
Class II (bike lane) |
|
Fruit Avenue |
Weber Avenue to Alluvial Avenue |
Class II (bike lane) |
|
West Avenue |
Weber Avenue to Alluvial Avenue |
Class II (bike lane) |
Based on analysis of selection criteria and public input, TJKM and staff provides the following as preferred corridors:
Table 2: Corridor Ranking
|
List of Corridors |
|
First Street |
|
Downtown Loop |
|
Clinton Avenue |
After receiving the approved list of corridors, TJKM will move forward with preparation of thirty percent (30%) engineered design plans to ultimately be included in the draft ATP Update. The corridors are not for full design and construction at this time. TJKM and staff will continue public outreach and engagement efforts as the plan continues to develop. It is anticipated that the final draft Active Transportation Plan Update will be brought to Council for adoption in late summer 2025.
Staff recommends the City Council approve three (3) street corridors for preparation of thirty percent (30%) engineered design plans as part of the Active Transportation Plan Update currently being developed.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
By the definition provided in the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15378, action does not qualify as a “project”.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference is not applicable because this item does not include an award of a construction or service contract.
FISCAL IMPACT
The recommended action does not affect the adopted FY2025 budget for the Public Works Department. All costs for the three corridor designs were included in the previously approved consultant contract.
Attachments:
Resolution
ATP PowerPoint Presentation