Staff Report
PREPARED BY: YING SMITH
Transportation and Mobility Manager
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 05/01/2018
ITEM NO: 06
DATE: APRIL 17, 2018
TO: MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
FROM: LAUREL PREVETTI, TOWN MANAGER
SUBJECT: ADOPT A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE TOWN MANAGER TO FILE AN
APPLICATION FOR 2018/19 METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION
COMMISSION TRANSPORTATION DEVELOPMENT ACT ARTICLE 3 FUNDS IN
THE AMOUNT OF $52,995 TO FUND A PORTION OF THE CONCEPTUAL
ENGINEERING PHASE FOR THE NINO AVENUE OR BLOSSOM HILL ROAD
BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE OVER HIGHWAY 17
RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt a resolution (Attachment 1) authorizing the Town Manager to file an application for
2018/19 Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) Transportation Development Act (TDA)
Article 3 funds in the amount of $52,995 to fund a portion of the Conceptual Engineering Phase
for the Nino Avenue or Blossom Hill Road Bicycle and Pedestrian Bridge over Highway 17.
BACKGROUND:
The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) issued a call for bicycle and pedestrian
projects on March 1, 2018 for the TDA Article 3 funding program. The deadline to submit
project applications to VTA was April 6, 2018 and staff submitted an application for funding of
the Conceptual Engineering Phase for the Nino Avenue or Blossom Hill Road Bicycle and
Pedestrian Bridge over Highway 17. A resolution adopted by the Town Council supporting
project submittals is due to VTA on May 26, 2018. VTA staff will review the project proposals for
eligibility, completeness, and compliance. The resulting countywide list of projects will b e
reviewed by the VTA Advisory Committees before adoption by the Board of Directors in June
and subsequently forwarded to the MTC.
PAGE 2 OF 4
SUBJECT: ADOPT A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE TOWN MANAGER TO FILE AN
APPLICATION FOR 2018/19 METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION
TRANSPORTATION DEVELOPMENT ACT ARTICLE 3 FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF
$52,995 TO FUND A PORTION OF THE CONCEPTUAL ENGINEERING PHASE FOR
THE NINO AVENUE OR BLOSSOM HILL ROAD BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN
BRIDGE OVER HIGHWAY 17
APRIL 17, 2018
S:\COUNCIL REPORTS\2018\05-01-18\06 TDA\Staff Report - Adopt a resolution authorizing the Town Manager to file an application for 2018-19
Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) Transportation Development Act (TDA) Article 3 funds V3 MM.docx
4/26/2018 1:25 PM MM
BACKGROUND (cont’d):
The Town is eligible for a portion of TDA funds based on population. The Town has been given a
“guarantee” share of $52,995, which includes banked funds from last year.
DISCUSSION:
The TDA Article 3 program provides great flexibility in the use of funds among all bicycle and
pedestrian funding programs. Eligible uses include construction and/or engineering of a bicycle
or pedestrian capital project, maintenance of a multi -purpose path which is closed to motorized
traffic, bicycle safety education programs, development of comprehensive bicycle or pedestrian
facilities plans, and restriping Class II bicycle lanes.
Town staff considered several options for potential use of the funds, including banking it for
additional years. The recommendation to use the funds towards the Conceptual Engineering for
the Nino Avenue or Blossom Hill Road (BHR) Bicycle and Pedestrian Bridge over Highway 17 is
based on an evaluation of the following:
Project Benefits and Needs
Crossing Highway 17 in the project vicinity presents several barriers for bicyclists and
pedestrians. Development of enhanced crossing through either a new or improved pedestrian
crossing is included in the Safe Routes to School Study, the Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan
(BPMP), the Town’s General Plan, the Traffic Impact Mitigation Fee program, and the Town’s
submittals to the VTA’s Valley Transportation Plan 2040.
Funding Strategies
Implementing long-term and complex capital projects requires a strategic financing plan that
allows for phased project implementation with completion of early phases creating greater
opportunity for grant funding of future phases. Unlike most funding sources which give
preference to “shovel ready” projects, TDA Article 3 (this grant) allows for funding of design.
PAGE 3 OF 4
SUBJECT: ADOPT A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE TOWN MANAGER TO FILE AN
APPLICATION FOR 2018/19 METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION
TRANSPORTATION DEVELOPMENT ACT ARTICLE 3 FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF
$52,995 TO FUND A PORTION OF THE CONCEPTUAL ENGINEERING PHASE FOR
THE NINO AVENUE OR BLOSSOM HILL ROAD BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN
BRIDGE OVER HIGHWAY 17
APRIL 17, 2018
S:\COUNCIL REPORTS\2018\05-01-18\06 TDA\Staff Report - Adopt a resolution authorizing the Town Manager to file an application for 2018-19
Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) Transportation Development Act (TDA) Article 3 funds V3 MM.docx
4/26/2018 1:25 PM MM
DISCUSSION (cont’d):
As the first step in carrying out this long-term improvement, staff recommends a Conceptual
Engineering phase to evaluate several alignment options, which may include a bicycle and
pedestrian bridge on Nino Avenue, a bicycle and pedestrian bridge on BHR, a nd widening BHR
bridge. The result of this phase will be selection of a preferred project which takes into
consideration the benefits to existing and future users, environmental and right-of-way
constraints, cost, public input, and stakeholder input. This phase will initiate the project
development process and prepare the project to be “shovel ready.” The cost of this phase is
estimated to be approximately $200,000 and will take up to 18 months to complete. The
balance of $147,005 would come from Traffic Impact Mitigation Fees.
Completion of this first phase will enhance the Town’s future access to a combination of funds
available through competitive opportunities. In future years, additional funds will be needed for
environmental clearance, right-of-way, and final design. It is estimated that additional $800,000
will be required to complete all engineering and design work, over approximately three to five
years. The construction cost will be in the $5 to $10 million range.
CONCLUSION:
Staff recommends that the Council adopt a resolution authorizing the Town Manager to file an
application for 2018/19 MTC TDA Article 3 funds in the amount of $52,995 to fund a portion of
the Conceptual Engineering Phase for Nino Avenue or Blossom Hill Road Bicycle and Pedestrian
Bridge over Highway 17.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:
The adoption of the resolution to file an application for funding is not a project under the
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The bridge project itself is a project under CEQA
and environmental analysis will be prepared in the future phase of the project development.
PAGE 4 OF 4
SUBJECT: ADOPT A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE TOWN MANAGER TO FILE AN
APPLICATION FOR 2018/19 METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION
TRANSPORTATION DEVELOPMENT ACT ARTICLE 3 FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF
$52,995 TO FUND A PORTION OF THE CONCEPTUAL ENGINEERING PHASE FOR
THE NINO AVENUE OR BLOSSOM HILL ROAD BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN
BRIDGE OVER HIGHWAY 17
APRIL 17, 2018
S:\COUNCIL REPORTS\2018\05-01-18\06 TDA\Staff Report - Adopt a resolution authorizing the Town Manager to file an application for 2018-19
Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) Transportation Development Act (TDA) Article 3 funds V3 MM.docx
4/26/2018 1:25 PM MM
FISCAL IMPACT:
The proposed project funding to be included in the Town’s Five Year Capital Improvement Plan
to be considered by Town Council on May 15, 2018 is as follows:
Highway 17 Bicycle and Pedestrian Bridge
Project 818-0803
Sources Budget Costs
Traffic Mitigation Fund $147,005
TDA Article 3 Fund $52,995
Total Project Budget $200,000
Expenditures
Consultant for Engineering $200,000
Total Project Expenditures $200,000
Remaining Balance
Attachment:
1. Draft Resolution - Request to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission for the
allocation of Fiscal Year 2018/19 Transportation Development Act Article 3
Pedestrian/Bicycle project funding.