REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
September 15, 2016
FROM: SCOTT L. MOZIER, PE, Director
Public Works Department
BY: SCOTT W. KRAUTER, PE, Special Projects Engineer
Public Works Department, Administration Division
SUBJECT
Title
RESOLUTION - Authorizing the submission of a grant application to the Fresno Council of Governments for Regional Surface Transportation Program (RSTP) funds to retrofit eligible city street lights to Light Emitting Diode (LED) and authorize the execution of application and related documents by the Public Works Director or designee (Citywide)
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt a resolution authorizing the submission of an application for grant funds to the Fresno Council of Governments (Fresno COG), utilizing savings in the City’s Regional Surface Transportation Program (RSTP) funds that will be used to retrofit street lights to energy efficient LED light sources along major streets throughout the City and authorize the execution of all application related documents by the Public Works Director or his designee.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Staff is requesting authorization to submit an RSTP application to Fresno COG to use excess/carryover grant funds that represent savings on previously completed projects, in order to replace existing light fixtures on approximately 3,100 street lights along major streets throughout the City of Fresno with energy efficient and better quality LED light sources. The existing street lights are high pressure sodium (HPS) fixtures that on average utilize more than double the power of modern LED fixtures. It is recommended that the Council adopt the resolution in support of the grant application being submitted to support the Major Street LED Lighting Retrofit Project.
BACKGROUND
Fresno COG, acting in its role as a Metropolitan Planning Organization, programs all future federal transportation revenues that are allocated to the Fresno Region. These funds are reimbursable Federal-aid funds, subject to the requirements of Title 23, United States Code. Eligible uses of the funds include preliminary engineering, capital costs and construction costs associated with an eligible activity, which includes asphalt concrete pavement overlays and reconstruction, capacity enhancing projects, traffic signals and safety projects, transit improvements, landscaping and street lighting projects. It should be noted that these funds are limited to major transportation corridors and cannot be used to repair or maintain residential streets. The RSTP program provides lifeline funding distributed to each city and county on a formula basis for the agency to program on eligible projects.
The Major Street LED Lighting Retrofit Project being recommended for Council’s approval would utilize $1.2 million of RSTP lifeline funds, generated from savings on previously completed capital projects over a period of years, to retrofit approximately 3,100 existing HPS streetlights to LED light sources. For the application, it is proposed that the City would complete retrofits along up to twelve major street corridors that meet project eligibility requirements (see attached).
If approved, this project would be a major step towards the conversion of all 42,000 street lights in the City of Fresno. Once completed, this project is estimated to generate $280,000 in annual energy savings which represents a return on investment of less than five years. These savings, which are currently funded with gas tax, could then be either reinvested to support additional LED streetlight retrofit projects or fund neighborhood sidewalk or street repairs.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
This resolution is only to apply for grant funding. If successful, staff would return to Council with the environmental assessments and other requirements deemed necessary to carry out the projects.
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
The proposed $1.2 million project will utilize a toll credit program through Fresno COG, resulting in no local match required against RSTP funds. Any indirect costs not paid by the grant will be funded by gas tax or Measure C funds as appropriate for a street light project. If approved, staff will return to the Council with a request to amend the City’s annual budget to recognize the new grant funding.
Attachments:
RSTP LED Application Resolution
RSTP LED Application Project Map