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Home My WebLink About2009/03/24 Item 9CITY COUNCIL AGENDA STATEMENT ~~~ CITY OF CHULA VISTA 3/24/09, Item ITEM TITLE: RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA APPROVING THE SLBMITTAL OF GRANT APPLICATIONS FOR STATE SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL FUNDING CYCLE 8 TO IMPROVE PEDESTRIAN FACILITIES AT VARIOUS ELIGIBLE LOCATIONS SUBMITTED BY: DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS REVIEWED BY: CITY MANAGER ASSISTANT CIT ANAGER 5 T 4/STHS VOTE: YES ^ NO SUMMARY Califomia legislated a Safe Routes to School (SR2S) program in 1999 with the enactment of AB 1475. The goals of the program are to reduce injuries and fatalities to school children and to encourage increased walking and bicycling among students. The City proposes to apply for State grant funding from SR2S and has identified three locations in which to install traffic calming improvements and missing infrastructure such as sidewallcs, curbs, gutters and pedestrian ramps. These locations are adjacent to Lauderbach Elementary School, Montgomery Elementary School, and Rice Elementary School. The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) administers the Safe Routes to School Program to fund the construction of bicycle and pedestrian safety and traffic calming projects. This report will inform Council that staff is preparing the grant applications and plans to submit them to the Caltrans District Office before the April 15, 2009 deadline. Staff will return to Council again if and when any funds are awarded to the projects. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW The Environmental Review Coordinator has reviewed the proposed activity for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and has determined that the activity is not a "Project" as defined under Section 15378 (b)(4) of the State CEQA Guidelines, because the proposal consists of funding solicitation without the assurance that these funds will be procured for future projects. Therefore, pursuant to Section 15060(c)(3) of the State CEQA Guidelines the activity is not subject to CEQA. Thus, no environmental review is necessary. 9-1 3/24/09, Item Page 2 of 3 RECOMMENDATION Council adopt the resolution. BOARDS/CObIMISSIONS Not applicable. DISCUSSION The Safe Routes to School (SR2S) program began in 1999 with the enactment of Assembly Bill 1475. In 2007, Assembly Bill 57 was passed. The concept of the program is to increase the number of children who walk or bicycle to school by funding projects to improve safety and remove the barriers that prevent children from doing so. A call for Cycle 8 grant applications was announced on January 15, 2009. Eligible applicants include cities and counties and the eligible projects are infrastructure projects. The maximum reimbursement percentage for any SR2S project is ninety percent where the maximum amount allocated to any single project is $900,000. The grant also requires a local match often percent, which would come from TransNet funds.. $48.50 million worth of projects will be selected from Cycle 8 applicants. The City will focus on making infrastructure improvements around the elementary schools. The infrastructure projects are capital improvements within elementary schools that make it safer or more convenient for children and adults who walk or bicycle to school. These projects are based on the data gathered through WalkSanDiego's community walking audit effort. For Cycle 8 of the State Safe Routes to School Program, it is recommended that the City apply for funding for the following three pedestrian improvement projects. This grant application is focused on improvements within the vicinity of elementary schools neighborhoods as required by the program. The deadline for the application is April 15, 2009. 1. Lauderbach Elementarv School Neighborhood: The school is located at the intersection of Fourth Avenue and Palomar Street. The proposed project location is at Fourth Avenue and Orsett Street. The scope of work of the proposed project consists of installing traffic calming at Fourth Avenue and Orsett Street which includes but is not limited to advanced warning signs with beacons, school zone signs, curb bulbouts for safe crossing, striping, pedestrian signaUbuttons, Portland Cement Concrete monolithic sidewalk, curb and gutter, driveways, ADA pedestrian ramps, asphalt concrete pavement, traffic control, and other miscellaneous items of work necessary for the project. 2. Montgomerv Elementarv School Neighborhood: The school is located at Fourth Avenue between Anita Street and Montgomery Street. The proposed project location is Fourth Avenue and Montgomery Street. The scope of work of the proposed project consists of installing traffic calming at Fourth Avenue and Montgomery Street which includes but is not limited to advanced warning signs with beacons, school zone signs, curb bulbouts for safe crossing, striping, pedestrian signal buttons, Portland Cement Concrete monolithic sidewalk, curb and gutter, driveways, ADA pedestrian ramps, asphalt concrete pavement, traffic control, and other miscellaneous items of work necessary for the project. 9-2 3/24/09, Item Page 3 0 3 Rice Elementary School Neiehborhood: The school is located at Fourth Avenue between L Street and Moss Street. The proposed project location is on Moss Street between Third Avenue and Fourth Avenue. This segment of Moss Street lacks sidewalks, curb and gutters and ADA compliant pedestrian ramps. The scope of work of the proposed project consists of installing Portland Cement Concrete monolithic curb, gutter and sidewalks, ADA pedestrian ramps, asphalt concrete pavement, and other miscellaneous items of work necessary for the project. DECISION MAKER CONFLICT Staff has reviewed the property holdings of the City Council and has found no property holdings within 500 Feet of the boundaries of the properties, which is the subject of this action. FISCAL IMPACT There is no impact to the General Fund. If the resolution is approved, the City will apply for State Safe Routes to School funding. If a grant is awarded, staff will return to Council with a recommendation to accept and appropriate the grant funds and the ten percent local match into the Capital Improvement Program. ATTACHMENTS None Prepm~ed by:.Amy D. Partosan, Administrative Analyst!!, Public Works Dept. J:I EngineerlAGENDAICAS1009103-14-091Snfe Routes To Schoot CycleB AgenAn Stntement.doc 9-3 RESOLUTION NO. 2009- RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA APPROVING THE SUBMITTAL OF GRANT APPLICATIONS FOR STATE SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL FUNDING CYCLE 8 TO IMPROVE PEDESTRIAN FACILITIES AT VARIOUS ELIGIBLE LOCATIONS WHEREAS, Safe Routes to School (SR2S) is a California legislated program which was enacted by Assembly Bill 1475; and WHEREAS, the goals of the program aze to reduce injuries and fatalities to schoolchildren and to encourage increased walking and bicycling among students; and WHEREAS, a call for Cycle 8 grant applications was announced on Januazy 15, 2009 and aze due to the Caltrans District Office by April 15, 2009; and WHEREAS, City staff recommends applying for state grant funds and has identified three locations in which to correct missing infrastructure such as sidewalks, curbs, gutters and pedestrian ramps; and WHEREAS, these locations are: (i) at the intersection of Fourth Avenue and Palomaz Street, adjacent to Lauderbach Elementary School; (ii) at the intersection of Fourth Avenue and Montgomery Street, neaz Montgomery Elementary School; (iii) and Moss Street between Third Avenue and Fourth Avenue; and NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Chula Vista does hereby approve the submittal of grant applications for state Safe Routes to School Funding Cycle 8 to improve pedestrian facilities at various eligible locations. Presented by Richazd A. Hopkins Director of Public Works Approved as to form by V~1,/) ~ Bart C. Miesfel 'City Attorney 9-4