13 Staff Report - Regional Transportation Fund for Clean Air ProgramMEETING DATE: 5/16/05
pow H of ITEM NO. 13
~oA 'os COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
DATE: MAY 2, 2005
TO: MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
FROM: DEBRA J. FIGONE, TOWN MANAGER
SUBJECT: ADOPT RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING TOWN MANAGER TO
PARTICIPATE IN THE REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION FUND FOR
CLEAN AIR (TFCA) PROGRAM AND RECEIVE TFCA GRANT FUNDING
FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROMOTING BICYCLE TRANSPORTATION IN
LOS GATOS
RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt resolution authorizing Town Manager/Executive Director to participate in the Regional
Transportation for Clean Air (TFCA) Program and receive TFCA grant funding for the purpose of
promoting bicycle transportation in Los Gatos.
BACKGROUND:
Transportation Fund for Clean Air (TFCA) Regional Funds are distributed annually to public
agencies to implement projects to reduce vehicular air pollution. The Town of Los Gatos has used
these funds in the past for vehicle purchases, and most recently, for the Town-wide bicycle racks.
Recently, the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) requested several local agencies
to j oin them in a county-wide incentive program to promote alternative ride-share modes, that would
be grant funded by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. Alternative transportation modes
include bicycling, van-pooling, and car-pooling. Each municipality was encouraged to create a
program that could work in their specific locale. The overarching goals of this regional TFCA
program are to reduce vehicle cold-starts, pollution, and traffic congestion.
The Town of Los Gatos and the cities of Palo Alto, Milpitas, and San Jose submitted various ideas,
including employer vanpool, school carpooling, and bicycle incentive projects. Los Gatos' Public
Works Department suggested a bicycle incentive program, to utilize the new town-wide bike racks.
• za
6t C
PREPARED BY:
C J HN E. CURTIS
irector of Parks and Public Works
Reviewed by: Assistant Town Manager /Attorney Clerk Administrator
S' inance Community Development Revised: 5/4/05 7:43 am
Reformatted: 5/30/02 N:\B&E\COUNCIL REPORTS\TFCA Grant Report 2005.wpd
PAGE 2
MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
SUBJECT: ADOPT RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING TOWN MANAGER TO
PARTICIPATE IN THE REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION FUND FOR CLEAN
AIR (TFCA) PROGRAM AND RECEIVE TFCA GRANT FUNDING
MAY 2, 2005
VTA's project was approved by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, (the TFCA funding
agency) and is to be effective April 2005 through March 2006. The regional project has been
awarded $49,000, of which the Town of Los Gatos' share is $12,000. BAAQMD grant fiends will
reimburse agencies for the incentives issued to participants, but not for staffing costs.
DISCUSSION:
The Town of Los Gatos Parks and Public Works Department's regional TFCA project is a "Bicycle
Rewards Program." Participants must be residents of Los Gatos, or employees of a Los Gatos
business with a valid drivers license who use a vehicle as their mode of transportation. Participants
meet with staff to review program guidelines and process. After participants verify they have
exchanged round-trip vehicle trips for round-trip bicycle trips, they may request incentive "rewards."
Incentives are valued at $9.44 per every ten (10) round trip exchange ($9.44 is equal to two VTA
tokens). The incentives are redeemable for either transit passes or bicycle supplies (safety or
maintenance). Participants choose which incentive(s) they wish to receive by filling out a form, and
staff will make arrangements to obtain and distribute them to qualifying participants. Bicycle
merchandise will be purchased from Los Gatos bicycle shops to keep sales tax dollars in town. A
maximum of one hundred (100) round-trip exchanges per person are available at this time. This
program incentive and duration will be dependent upon available grant funds.
CONCLUSION:
Staff recommends that the Council/Redevelopment Agency adopt Resolution to apply for TDA
Grant funding.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:
Is a project as defined under CEQA. A Notice of Exemption has been filed.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no direct fiscal impact. Indirect impacts are staffing time to implement the program and to
track program costs. Account numbers 270-0010-45116 and 270-0010-65017 have been arranged by
Finance specifically for this grant fund's revenue and expenses, respectively.
Attachments:
1. Resolution authorizing participation in the Regional Transportation for Clean Air Program
2. Frequent Bicycling Rewards Program Information sheet
RESOLUTION
RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN COUNCIL
OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS
AUTHORIZING TOWN MANAGER TO PARTICIPATE IN THE
REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION FOR CLEAN AIR (TFCA) PROGRAM
AND RECEIVE TFCA GRANT FUNDS FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROMOTING
BICYCLE TRANSPORTATION IN LOS GATOS
WHEREAS, the Town of Los Gatos is a supporter of clean air efforts and wishes to
take action to enhance air quality in the San Francisco Bay Area; and
WHEREAS, the Town of Los Gatos wishes to jointly participate in the Regional
Transportation Fund for Clean Air (TFCA) Program, sponsored by the Santa Clara Valley
Transportation Authority (VTA) as approved by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, for
the purpose of providing incentives to qualifying bicycling participants of that program to increase
and support bicycle transportation throughout Town; and
WHEREAS, this regional project is effective April 1, 2005 through March 31, 2006.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, THAT: The Town Manager is
authorized to participate in the Regional Transportation Fund for Clean Air (TFCA) Program and
receive TFCA grant funds to promote bicycling as a transportation mode in Town.
PASSED AND ADOPTED at a meeting of the Town Council of the Town of Los
Gatos, California, held on the day of , 2005 by the following votes:
COUNCIL MEMBERS:
AYES:
NAYS:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
SIGNED:
MAYOR OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS
LOS GATOS, CALIFORNIA
ATTEST:
CLERK ADMINISTRATOR OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS
LOS GATOS, CALIFORNIA
ATTACHMENT ONE
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S A N T A L L A A A
WkyYmNsportation Av"ty
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Bicycle Rewards Program
Information
BAY AP EA
AtKQUA:L[TY
TRANSFOATAioN
F U N D F O R
C LEAN A IF,
The Town of Los Gatos, with the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Agency (VTA), has been awarded a
$12,000 grant from the Transportation for Clean Air Fund, TFCA, managed by the Bay Area Air Quality
Management District. The following provides information on the grant's purpose and plans.
Bicycle Rewards Program Purpose:
This Bicycle Rewards program's purpose is to reduce vehicle emissions by providing incentives to people
who change their transportation to riding a bike instead of driving a vehicle. The program is available to
residents of Los Gatos (or people who work for Los Gatos businesses). Participants must sign-up to agree to
reduce the number of vehicle round-trips by changing their mode of transportation from driving a vehicle in
or about Town to bicycling. Acceptable round-trips include trips to work, school and errands, such as to the
Library or to a store. Recreational use is not an allowable purpose. This program is effective beginning April,
2005 until grant funds are exhausted or through the end of this calendar year, whichever comes first.
Participants must have a valid drivers license and currently use a vehicle for their transportation.
How to Become a Participant
An application form is required in advance of participating. Additionally, participants must provide
verification of their valid drivers license and Los Gatos residency or employment. Participants will briefly
meet with Town staff to review program requirements and process, to ensure documentation requirements
are understood. Call (408) 399-5776 for more information or to schedule an appointment.
Incentive Details
Incentives will be available for each 10 round-trip bicycle trips that are exchanged for 10 vehicle round-
trips. The amount of the incentive is equal to two (2) VTA transit passes, good for all-day travel on VTA
($9.44). Incentives are issued after participants submit an Incentive Reimbursement Request form.
Participants choose to receive incentives based upon their reward amount, either VTA transit passes or
bicycle safety or maintenance merchandise from Los Gatos Bicycle shops. A list of authorized merchandise
is given to participants, who may request to redeem their reward after each 10 round-trip increment, or can
accumulate their rewards for higher priced items. A maximum of 100 round-trip rewards per participant is
available during Phase One.
If funding is available, a second phase will be implemented in the summer allowing participants who have
completed 100 round-trips to continue to participate and receive awards for an additional 100 round-trips.
The second phase will be announced if funding is available.
Special Incentive for First 50 Participants Who Complete 10 Round-trip Exchanges
An extra incentive will be rewarded to the first 50 participants who reach 10 bicycle round- trips - a gift
valued at $20.00 will be rewarded: bicycle safety equipment (safety lights or other equipment).
For more information call (408) 399-5776 Mondays through Thursdays from 8AM-4PM.
April 4, 2005
ATTACHMENT TWO