REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
August 22, 2019
FROM: SCOTT L. MOZIER, PE, Director
Public Works Department
THROUGH: RANDALL W. MORRISON, PE, Assistant Director
Public Works Department, Engineering Division
BY: FRANCISCO V. MAGOS II, PE, MBA, Public Works Manager
Public Works Department, Engineering Services
SUBJECT
Title
RESOLUTION - Approving the Submittal of Functional Classification Changes for Local Streets and Roads to the California Department of Transportation (Council Districts 3 and 7).
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt a resolution approving the submittal of functional classification changes for local streets and roads to the California Department of Transportation.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Staff is seeking the necessary authorization from Council for the submission of a functional classification change to local streets and roads as shown in Exhibit “A” and listed on Exhibit “B” hereto, generally bounded by State Route 180 to the north, State Route 41 to the east and south and State Route 99 to the west, most commonly known as Downtown Fresno. The proposed functional classification change is necessary to ensure State and Federal agencies have accurate information relating to streets in Downtown Fresno. Most Federal-Aid funding sources establish eligibility based on functional classification designations, and therefore the proposed update of the roadways within the Downtown Fresno area is essential to maintain eligibility for future Federal-Aid funding opportunities. This update is timely due to the recent opening of Fulton Street and adoption of the Downtown Specific Plans.
BACKGROUND
The 1991 Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) required the reclassification of the entire public road system from Federal-Aid Systems to the National Highway System (NHS). ISTEA retained the Interstate System as a subsystem of the NHS, but abolished the Federal-Aid primary, secondary, and urban designations. It aligned Federal-Aid eligibility with functional classification. In addition to Federal-Aid allocation, functional classification is also used in planning highway systems, determining jurisdictional responsibility, and developing fiscal planning. Traffic service patterns on a roadway and the roadway’s function can change over time. Periodic updates ensure that the Federal and State database is consistent with locally adopted plans, such as the City of Fresno General Plan and Downtown Specific Plans.
The procedure for upgrading the California Road System (CRS) maps involves seeking concurrence from the Fresno Council of Governments (Fresno COG) along with submitting a request form to Caltrans with a City Council resolution approving the submittal. Caltrans Headquarters then reviews the request and forwards it to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) for approval and updating of the maps. The action will change the CRS functional classification maps for the affected streets and roads indicated in Exhibit “A” and listed in Exhibit “B” and will start the process to reclassify the roads so that they accurately reflect the usage consistent with traffic counts and changed land use. The attached resolution is the first step in the process. As such, it is recommended that updates be submitted regularly so that State and Federal agencies have accurate information regarding City streets.
The roadways identified as part of this functional classification change are generally bounded by State Route 180 to the north, State Route 41 to the east and south and State Route 99 to the west. The functional classification of these roadways in the Downtown Fresno area will align with the adopted City of Fresno General Plan Land Use and Circulation Map, dated January 22, 2019. Since Federal-Aid funding establishes eligibility based on functional classification designations, the proposed update of the roadway classifications within the Downtown Fresno area is essential to maintain eligibility for future Federal-Aid funding opportunities.
The most recent functional classification change resolution was approved by City Council in April 2011 for the proposed Veterans Boulevard alignment and several adjacent streets in northwest Fresno. Staff is also working to identify other street segments in the City that need to be reclassified and will be requesting authorization from the City Council to submit these updates over the next several months.
The City Attorney has reviewed this staff report and attachments and approved to form.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
This item is not a project as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act guidelines.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference was not considered because this action does not include a bid or award of a construction or services contract.
FISCAL IMPACT
This Council action will have no impact to the General Fund. The proposed functional classification updates are located in Council Districts 3 and 7. All costs, generally staff time, associated with this update are included in the adopted FY2019 Public Works Department operating budget.
Attachments:
Resolution Functional Classification Change
Exhibit “A” Functional Classification Map
Exhibit “B” Functional Classification Change Request Form