REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
July 26, 2018
FROM: JIM SCHAAD, Director
Department of Transportation
SCOTT MOZIER, Director
Public Works Department
BY: DARLENE CHRISTIANSEN, Senior Management Analyst
Department of Transportation
SHELBY MACNAB, Grants Administrator
Public Works Department
SUBJECT
Title
RESOLUTION - Authorizing the submission of applications for the Fresno Council of Governments (COG) 2018/19 Measure C New Technology Reserve Grant Program for Advanced Transit Projects
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends Council adopt a resolution authorizing and in support of applications for the Department of Transportation, the Public Works Department, and the City of Fresno in partnership with Fresno City College to the 2018/19 Measure C New Technology Reserve Grant Program (New Technology Grant Program), and authorize the Director of Transportation and the Director of Public Works or designees to execute all application-related documents.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Measure C Transportation Expenditure Plan includes the New Technology Reserve Fund. The program is administered by the Fresno COG in conjunction with the Fresno County Transportation Authority (FCTA). The purpose of this program is to fund advanced transit and transportation projects that have the potential for broad benefits to Fresno County residents and will assist the region in meeting its air quality goals.
The City’s Department of Transportation (DOT) submitted an application in the first cycle of this program two years ago and was awarded funding for the incremental cost of the newly developed near-zero CNG bus engines. In this second cycle, the City would submit three applications: one from the DOT for a microtransit pilot project; one from the Department of Public Works (DPW) for a Downtown Fresno adaptive real-time traffic synchronization system; and one in partnership with Fresno City College West Satellite Campus for an advanced propulsion systems training center project.
BACKGROUND
Fresno County voters approved Measure C, a ½ cent transportation sales tax, in 1986 and again in 2006. Fresno COG prepared the Measure C Expenditure Plan, a guide to how $1.2 billion in Measure C transportation dollars will be spent through the year 2027. It was prepared with COG partners, the cities, the County, Caltrans, the Fresno County Transportation Authority (administrators of the tax), and other community stakeholder groups. In its first 20 years, Measure C delivered more than $1 billion of improvements to state highways and county roadways and has helped the building of additional lanes and freeway improvements throughout the County. As a result of the successful original measure, Fresno County voters chose to extend Measure C for an additional 20 years. The Measure C Extension (2007-2027) not only funds improvements of local roadways by repairing potholes and paving streets and sidewalks, but also funds ride-share incentive programs and environmental enhancement programs. The Fresno County Transportation Authority (FCTA) is the entity created by legislation to administer the Measure C Program(s) and ensure the revenue is received and distributed appropriately. Fresno COG is responsible for the implementation of several Measure C programs including the Measure C New Technology Reserve Grant Program (New Technology Grant Program). In this second award cycle, the New Technology Grant Program makes $6,400,000 available for potential award in Fiscal Year 18/19.
Proposed applications include:
1. DOT application to the New Technology Grant Program for a Microtransit Demonstration Project. The intent of a microtransit service is to address the “first-mile, last-mile” transportation gap at the start and end of every trip that is difficult to serve with traditional public transit in a cost-effective way. Coverage to low-density areas becomes more achievable and will promote greater use of the FAX system. FAX, in partnership with TransLoc, Inc. will soon complete a microtransit simulation to identify areas in the City that microtransit could be implemented. Utilizing the results of this simulation, the Measure C New Tech grant funds would be used to fund the one-year demonstration project.
2. DPW application to fund a state-of-the-art Adaptive Signal Control Technology (ASCT) system which will be added to the existing time-of-day Advanced Transportation Management System (ATMS) system in Downtown Fresno along Fresno Street, Van Ness and the Downtown Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridor. The ASCT adaptive system will employ the latest wireless vehicle detection technology for real-time monitoring and continuous synchronization. As a result of these improvements, traffic equipment will respond dynamically to changing conditions to optimize traffic flow. This will bring key downtown corridors to the same level of adaptive real-time synchronization as the Shaw Ave corridor, improving operations and reducing energy consumption and vehicle emissions. A map included as an exhibit with this staff report identifies the project area which includes:
• Fresno Street from Divisadero to Broadway
• Van Ness from Divisadero to Ventura
• The BRT corridor along N Street, P Street, and Stanislaus Street
The ASCT wireless detection equipment proposed in the grant is considered new technology because it has not yet be utilized in Fresno for adaptive traffic synchronization. It requires significantly less roadway modification to install, which is ideal in the Downtown area.
3. DOT with FCC joint application for an Advanced Propulsion Systems Training Center project. The vehicle industry has a shortage of skilled technicians trained to maintain today’s complex automotive propulsion systems. To address this shortfall, this project will develop facilities, curriculum and training equipment/aids to educate current and future vehicle technicians on advanced vehicle propulsion systems including battery-electric and other zero-emission vehicles. The curriculum will compliment FCC’s existing automotive certification programs which are to be relocated to the new West Fresno Satellite Campus. Electric bus supplier Proterra Inc. has committed to partner in this effort. Additionally, there will be sharing of resources including, but not limited to: curriculum materials, training equipment/aids, parts, and components, etc., in collaboration with existing FCC Educational Partnerships:
• NAFTC - National Alternative Fuels Training Consortium (the FCC Automotive Technology Department is a National Training Center for NAFTC)
• General Motors/General Motors Service Technical College/General Motors Automotive Service Educational Program - (FCC is an approve GM ASEP College)
• Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) Performance Institute - (FCC is an approved Mopar CAP College)
• Hunter Engineering Company - (FCC is an approved HEC Training Center)
• Bosch Diagnostics - (FCC is an approved Beta Test Center and Training Facility for Bosch Diagnostics)
The City Attorney has reviewed the resolution as to form.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
This Resolution and authorization to submit grant applications is not a “project” for the purposes of the California Environmental Quality Act, pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15378. Any resulting projects will undergo CEQA analysis.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference was not considered because this Resolution and authorization does not include a bid or award of a construction or services contract.
FISCAL IMPACT
This request will have no impact to the General Fund in the 2019 fiscal year. If the Public Works project receives a grant award, local matching funds will be identified through future fiscal year capital budgets. If the Transportation Department and/or Fresno City College projects receive awards, General Fund dollars would not be utilized for local match.
Attachments:
Resolution
Public Works Project Area Map