07 Staff Report
PREPARED BY: Ying Smith
Transportation and Mobility Manager
Reviewed by: Town Manager, Assistant Town Manager, Town Attorney, and Parks and Public Works
Director
110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● (408) 354-6832
www.losgatosca.gov
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
MEETING DATE: 11/19/2019
ITEM NO: 7
DATE: November 6, 2019
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: Laurel Prevetti, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Authorize the Town Manager to Submit Grant Applications for the Measure B
Bicycle and Pedestrian Competitive Grant Program for Five Candidate
Projects
RECOMMENDATION:
Authorize the Town Manager to submit grant applications for the Measure B Bicycle and
Pedestrian Competitive Grant Program for five candidate projects.
BACKGROUND:
The voter-approved 2016 Santa Clara County Ballot Measure B included a Bicycle and
Pedestrian Program Category. The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) Board of
Directors adopted the 2016 Measure B Bicycle and Pedestrian Program Category Guidelines,
which direct the implementation and advise how the program category funds should be
allocated.
Following Board approval of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Program Guidelines, VTA staff has
worked with local jurisdictions in developing a competitive grant program for bicycle and
pedestrian capital projects. This program category is expected to be funded at approximately
$6.6 million per year within three 10-year funding cycles. Awarded projects will be funded in
the 10-year period in a priority order based on the project’s score and implementation
schedule.
The Capital Projects Competitive Grant Criteria (Attachment 1) were approved by the VTA
Board of Directors at the October 3, 2019 meeting. Town staff has actively participated in the
development of the criteria and worked to maximize Measure B funding opportunities to
support the Town’s transportation priorities. It is anticipated that a call for projects will be
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SUBJECT: Authorize the Town Manager to Submit Grant Applications for the Measure B
Bicycle and Pedestrian Competitive Grant Program for Five Candidate Projects
DATE: November 6, 2019
BACKGROUND (continued):
released soon with a submission deadline in January 2020. As such, staff is requesting Council
approval of the five candidate projects identified below for grant program submi ttal.
DISCUSSION:
This grant program has specific eligibility requirements. Candidate projects were identified and
listed in Attachment A of the Measure B ballot language (Attachment 2). Town staff reviewed
the priority projects in the Town’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan (BPMP) and is
recommending five candidate projects. These projects meet the eligibility requirements and
are considered to be the Town’s most competitive projects under the established criteria. The
candidate projects and their reference to the Town’s BPMP prioritizations are:
• Construction for the Los Gatos Creek Trail Connector to Highway 9
Town Priority: This is a high priority project in the BPMP and is included in the 2019/2020 –
2023/2024 Capital Improvement Program.
Status: The project is currently in the final design and environmental clearance phase.
Eligibility: Listed on Attachment A of 2016 Measure B
• Final design for the Highway 17 bike/pedestrian overcrossing
Town Priority: This project is included in the 2019/2020 – 2023/2024 Capital Improvement
Program.
Status: The project is currently in the feasibility analysis and conceptual design phase.
Eligibility: Blossom Hill Road is identified as a Priority Cross County Bicycle Corridor in the
Santa Clara Countywide Bicycle Plan
• Kennedy Road sidewalk between Los Gatos Boulevard and Englewood Avenue
Town Priority: “Add missing sidewalks along identified school walking routes” is one of the
high priority Town-wide improvements in the BPMP. Sidewalk improvements are included
in the 2019/2020 – 2023/2024 Capital Improvement Program.
Status: The project is currently in the conceptual design phase.
Eligibility: Sidewalk on Kennedy Road is included in the VTA’s Pedestrian Access to Transit
Plan as one of the recommended projects.
• Final design and Construction for the Winchester Boulevard Complete Streets project
Town Priority: The Town Council authorized proceeding with conceptual design at its
October 1, 2019 meeting.
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SUBJECT: Authorize the Town Manager to Submit Grant Applications for the Measure B
Bicycle and Pedestrian Competitive Grant Program for Five Candidate Projects
DATE: November 6, 2019
DISCUSSION (continued):
Status: The conceptual design phase will begin in December. Complete Streets
improvements between Blossom Hill Road and Albright Way will be most feasible to
implement in the near term.
Eligibility: Winchester Boulevard is identified as a Cross County Bicycle Corridor in the Santa
Clara Countywide Bicycle Plan.
• Construction for the Highway 9/Massol Avenue Rectangular Rapidly Flashing Beacon
Town Priority: This is a high priority project in the BPMP and is included in the 2019/2020 –
2023/2024 Capital Improvement Program.
Status: Final design is completed and was submitted to Caltrans for encroachment permit
application.
Eligibility: Listed on Attachment A of 2016 Measure B as one of the Highway 9 Pedestrian
Safety Improvements
Of the five recommended projects, the Highway 9/Massol Avenue project is “shovel ready.”
The remaining four projects are in design phase and it is a good strategy to move forward with
pursuing grant funding opportunities concurrent with the design process. As staff makes
progress in the design and engineering phases, staff will return to Council with design options
for Council consideration in selecting the final design concepts for the individual projects.
Given the competitiveness of this Measure B grant program, staff believes moving forward with
multiple applications will increase the Town’s ability to compete for the grant dollars for one or
more projects.
It is anticipated that preparing the applications will require significant staff time. The Council’s
decision will help staff focus resources to prepare grant applications on the selected projects.
The Town Council decision and the public feedback are also valuable in illustrating community
engagement and support.
CONCLUSION:
Staff is recommending authorizing submittal of grant applications for the above five candidate
projects in the Measure B Bicycle and Pedestrian Competitive Grant Program.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Town Council may choose all or some of these candidate projects to submit to the Measure
B competitive program.
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SUBJECT: Authorize the Town Manager to Submit Grant Applications for the Measure B
Bicycle and Pedestrian Competitive Grant Program for Five Candidate Projects
DATE: November 6, 2019
COORDINATION:
This report was coordinated with the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission (BPAC). The
BPAC unanimously supported staff’s recommendation at its October 3, 2019 meeting. After
staff clarified the eligibility requirements with VTA, the last two projects were added for
consideration.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact as a result of the recommended action. If the grant applications are
awarded, the Council will have the opportunity to review the funding agreement to accept the
grant funds and commit to local match funds.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:
This is not a project defined under CEQA, and no further action is required.
Attachments:
1. Measure B Bicycle and Pedestrian Capital Projects Competitive Grant Criteria
2. 2016 Measure B Ballot Language Attachment A