Staff Report - BPMP Prioritization Final
PREPARED BY: LISA PETERSEN
TOWN ENGINEER
Reviewed by: Town Manager, Assistant Town Manager, Town Attorney, Parks and Public Works
Director, and Finance Director
110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● 408-354-6832
www.losgatosca.gov
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
MEETING DATE: 10/17/2017
ITEM NO: 4
DATE: OCTOBER 17, 2017
TO: MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
FROM: LAUREL PREVETTI, TOWN MANAGER
SUBJECT: PPW JOB NO. 813-0231 – BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENT
PROJECT
A. APPROVE THE PRIORITIZATION FOR THE BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN
IMPROVEMENT PROJECT
B. AUTHORIZE A REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE BUDGET ADJUSTMENT IN
THE AMOUNT OF $75,000 FROM THE TRAFFIC MITIGATION FUND TO
CONDUCT A HIGHWAY 9 CORRIDOR STUDY
C. AUTHORIZE THE TOWN MANAGER TO AWARD A CONTRACT FOR A
HIGHWAY 9 CORRIDOR STUDY IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED
$75,000.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the Town Council:
1. Approve the prioritization for the Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvement project.
2. Authorize a revenue and expenditure budget adjustment in the amount of $75,000 from the
Traffic Mitigation Fund to conduct a Highway 9 Corridor Study.
3. Authorize the Town Manager to award a contract for a Highway 9 Corridor Study in an
amount not to exceed $75,000.
BACKGROUND:
Within the Fiscal Year 2017-18 Capital Improvement Program budget, the Town Council
allocated $300,000 for bicycle and pedestrian improvements around the Town. The first round
of projects was to include a study on private school busing to reduce traffic congestion in Town
as well as bicycle and pedestrian improvements on Blossom Hill Road (BHR) near Fisher Middle
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SUBJECT: PPW JOB NO. 813-0231 – BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENT PROJECT
PRIORITIZATION OF PROJECTS
OCTOBER 17, 2017
BACKGROUND (cont’d):
School, Fisher School Frontage Improvements, Highway 9 and Massol Avenue Crosswalk
Improvements, East Main Street Speed Tables, Shannon Road and Shady View Road
Intersection Improvement, Daves Avenue and Poppy Lane Left Turn Lane Installation, Hilow
Road Improvements, Hilow Road and Marchmont Drive Bicycle Route and Cherry Blossom Lane
Bikeway Improvements. Estimated construction costs for these projects were included in the
Traffic Around Schools Study and totaled $300,000.
Since completion of the Traffic Around Schools Study, construction costs in the region have
continued to skyrocket. Additionally, the Study did not include the costs for design, staff time,
construction contingency or construction management. Staff reworked the costs and
determined with escalation and the inclusion of the other necessary costs, the Town would be
unable to complete all the listed projects this fiscal year. Based on the high priority given to the
private school busing feasibility study by Council, this project was kept in this fiscal year’s list of
projects to complete. Staff requested the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission (BPAC)
prioritize the remaining projects to determine what should be completed with the remaining
funding.
DISCUSSION:
Prioritization of Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvement Projects
The BPAC assembled an Ad Hoc Committee to prioritize the project list for the Bicycle and
Pedestrian Improvement Project. The goal was to create a list of projects to develop into
capital projects that would fit within the project budget, starting with the Commission’s highest
priority project and working down to include as many additional first-round projects as feasible.
The Commission’s criteria for the prioritization included the number of people who would be
impacted by the project, safety, and whether the improvement would benefit both pedestrians
and bicyclists. The Ad Hoc’s priority list was presented to the BPAC on June 1, 2017 and the
Commission voted unanimously to support the priority list. The school bus feasibility study and
the BPAC’s priority list and the revised project costs are as follows:
1. Private School Busing Feasibility Study $ 50,000
2a. Dedicated right turn lane and widened sidewalk on BHR @ Roberts East $178,220
2b. Road Diet and Class IV Bike Lane on BHR from LGB to Roberts $155,194
3 East Main Street Speed Tables $117,962
4. Roberts Road – Fisher Middle School Frontage Improvements $ 67,564
5. Shannon and Shady View Lane Intersection Improvements $ 23,887
6. Cherry Blossom Bike Lanes $108,633
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SUBJECT: PPW JOB NO. 813-0231 – BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENT PROJECT
PRIORITIZATION OF PROJECTS
OCTOBER 17, 2017
DISCUSSION (cont’d):
Following review of the total project costs, BPAC members who attended the October 5, 2017
BPAC meeting agreed that, along with the busing feasibility study, the Town should complete
priority 2a (Dedicated right turn lane on BHR @ Roberts Road) and priority 4 (Roberts Road –
Fisher Middle School Frontage Improvements) with the remaining $250,000 in funding. Town
staff has received numerous concerns regarding the right hand turning movement onto Roberts
Road from Blossom Hill Road by Fisher School. Completing the improvements on Blossom Hill
Road and the striping improvements on Roberts Road at Fisher Middle School (which is
adjacent to the Blossom Hill Road improvements) allows for continuity of the improvements
and will increase safety in an area that has been a focus of concern for residents.
Along with the busing feasibility study, the total cost of the improvements would meet the
$300,000 budget allocated to the Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvement Project. The feasibility
study for private school busing is currently underway and a consultant contract for this work is
anticipated to be in place by November of this year.
Completion of a Highway 9 Corridor Study
The Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvement Project also identified providing crosswalk
improvements on Highway 9 at Massol Avenue. Staff is recommending completing a Corridor
Study of Highway 9 from the western Town limits to east of Highway 17 (Caltrans eastern
jurisdiction limit near Alberto Way) that would include a study of the Massol Avenue
intersection and the other intersections along this corridor. This study would identify
improvements that could be completed to provide a safer and more effective intersecti on at
Massol Avenue and the other intersections. Additionally, the study will recommend short-term
and long-term solutions to the traffic flow challenges along the Highway 9 corridor. The study
will incorporate a review of the summer cut-through traffic effect on the corridor and
summarize how this has shaped the study’s final conclusions.
Although this corridor is within Caltrans jurisdiction, Caltrans has indicated they cannot provide
funding for traffic studies in this area. Staff is proposing to fund the Corridor Study with Town
Traffic Impact Fees. Completion of the study would better position the Town to receive State
and Federal funding for any identified safety and traffic flow recommendations. Staff
anticipates the cost of the study will be under $75,000. Staff will provide Council with
milestone progress updates of the study as these are completed. Staff has also been in
communication with the City of Monte Sereno and the completion of the study would be done
in coordination with the City.
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SUBJECT: PPW JOB NO. 813-0231 – BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENT PROJECT
PRIORITIZATION OF PROJECTS
OCTOBER 17, 2017
CONCLUSION:
The recommendations would allow for continued progress on the associated projects. For
those projects that remain unfunded, Town staff will continue to explore funding opportunities
through grants and future budget proposals.
COORDINATION:
This report was developed in coordination with the Finance Department and the Bicycle and
Pedestrian Advisory Commission.
FISCAL IMPACT:
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:
This is a project as defined under CEQA and is Categorically Exempt [Section 15301(c) Existing
streets, sidewalks, trails and similar facilities]. A Notice of Exemption will be filed.
Budget Costs
Adopted Budget 300,000$
Requested Transfer from Traffic Mitigation Fund 75,000$
Total Project Budget 375,000$
Bicycle & Pedestrian Improvement Projects 300,000$
Highway 9 & Massol Intersection Study 75,000$
Total Estimated Project Costs 375,000$
Bicycle & Pedestrian Improvements
Project 813-0231