This report requests authorization to submit an application package to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) as part of the 2003 Call For Projects grant funding process. This is a semi-annual opportunity for local transportation agencies to request grant funding for specified projects. Staff recommends that applications for the San Fernando Bikeway project, the I-5 / SR-134 Traffic Management Program, and the Burbank-Glendale ITS Integration be submitted in this funding cycle. Additionally, as the March 28, 2003 submittal deadline approaches, it is possible that the City may be asked to support applications by the City of Los Angeles for an extension of the LA River Bikeway, and by the Arroyo Verdugo Cities sub-region for a transit-related project.

The MTA Call for Projects application process is a competitive process whereby local agencies in Los Angeles county who provide transportation services may submit grant applications for transportation funding. By federal and state statutes, MTA is required to prepare a Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for Los Angeles County and uses the Call for Projects process to program revenues in the TIP across a number of transportation modes. Historically, the City of Burbank has successfully applied for a number of grants through prior Call for Projects. These grant funds are being used to fund a number of street, bicycle, and transit improvements that are currently underway throughout the City. The 2003 Call for Projects is an opportunity for the City to apply for grant funds expected to be allocated in future years.

MTA ranking criteria for the 2003 Call for Projects emphasizes Regional Significance and Mobility Improvement as the primary criteria for awarding funding. Thus, competitive projects must show a strong regional benefit and exhibit coordination with multiple jurisdictions, and must provide mobility improvements to the transportation system on a regional scale. Staff feels that the projects selected for inclusion in the 2003 Call for Projects provide both local circulation benefits as well as help to improve regional mobility. In preparation of these projects, staff also consulted with the Traffic Division of the Public Works Department. Traffic Division staff are currently performing scope and cost estimates for the I-5 / SR-134 Traffic Management Program and the Burbank-Glendale ITS Integration, and will be assisting with completion of project applications.

Due to the current state economic climate and budget shortfall, funds allocated from this Call for Projects process may not be available for programming for a number of years. If Council were to approve this application package and MTA were to award funding, it is expected that the funds to construct these projects may not be made available until as late as 2008. However, staff feels that despite this possibility, it is important to proceed with the application process to take advantage of any grant funds that ultimately do become available with an improving economic cycle. It should also be noted that funding for certain modal categories might be advanced at an earlier date.

Staff began preparing the application package for the MTA Call for Projects by identifying projects that meet the long-term transportation goals of the city and also satisfy funding categories that are funded through the Call for Projects program. Currently, staff has begun feasibility and cost estimates for three proposed transportation projects that, if approved by Council, would be eligible for MTA Call for Projects funding and could score favorably in the project ranking criteria.

• San Fernando Bikeway

This application would request grant funds to construct a 3-mile Class I bike path extending from the northern city limits to the Regional Intermodal Transportation Center (RITC) via San Fernando Blvd.,Victory Place, and the Los Angeles Flood Control channel adjacent to the MTA railroad Right of Way. Staff identified this route to connect to the City of Los Angeles� San Fernando Bikeway, which is planned to extend from near Sylmar to Burbank�s city limit. This project would connect the Los Angeles segment, a portion of which is funded for construction, to the Metrolink and bus facilities at the RITC. This project is consistent with the City�s policy of expanding and enhancing bicycle facilities and will be an integral part of the new Bicycle Master Plan that will be revised as part of the Transportation Element update in the coming months. As part of the preliminary design of this route, staff has concluded that this path could also connect to a proposed extension of the Chandler Accessway, linking that facility to the San Fernando Bikeway and ultimately the RITC as well. If approved by Council, this bikeway would allow commuters using Metrolink an attractive method to extend their viable commute options by bicycle. Staff had initially delayed the completion of a preliminary engineering cost estimate for this project upon learning that the Call for Projects was being delayed and possibly cancelled. However, as the Call will indeed be proceeding for this year, a consultant has now been hired to conduct a more thorough feasibility study of the route, and a cost analysis for the bikeway is currently underway. Staff expects to have a more complete cost estimate available for this project to present to Council on March 18, 2003.

• I-5 / SR-134 Traffic Management Program

This application, submitted in cooperation with the cities of Glendale and Los Angeles, requests grant funds to install signal improvement infrastructure along arterials located in the Interstate 5 corridor as well as streets serving the junction of Interstate 5 with State Route 134. These arterials serve as important reliever routes to the freeway in times of increased congestion, or provide the missing freeway-to-freeway movements of the I-5 / SR-134 interchange. Many of the improvements in this project were identified in the recently completed I-5 / SR-134 Congestion Management Study. This study, released in June 2002, was jointly conducted by the cities of Burbank, Glendale, and Los Angeles, along with Caltrans, to address circulation issues in the vicinity of the South Burbank / West Glendale / Griffith Park area. The improvements outlined in this study are to be augmented by improvements along Glenoaks Blvd, Flower Street, San Fernando Blvd., and other Route 5 corridor streets to improve local and regional circulation. This project is consistent with the City�s policy of maintaining a Level of Service D at all intersections by increasing capacity at intersections impacted by these two freeways. Additionally, the I-5 corridor is currently being studied by MTA as part of their Short Term Transportation Plan, and this project is compatible with these efforts.

• Burbank-Glendale Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Integration

This application, submitted in conjunction with the City of Glendale, seeks to fund system integration, incident management, and advanced logic control of the current and planned ITS systems in both cities. The proposed project would also enable this combined system to interface intelligently with the systems in place in the cities of Pasadena and Los Angeles.

In addition to the three projects outlined above, it is possible that the following projects may be submitted to MTA by outside agencies. Staff feels that these additional projects would also serve important benefits to the City of Burbank, and if supported by the City Council, would require a letter of support for the application.

• Los Angeles River Bikeway Extension

This project could be submitted by the City of Los Angeles to extend the Los Angeles River Bikeway from its current terminus at Riverside Drive westward toward Barham Blvd. This project, part of a larger plan to extend the bikeway from Downtown Los Angeles to the west San Fernando Valley, would include a connection to Burbank and facilitate an on-street connection to the Chandler Accessway. Alternatives for this connection have been outlined in the Los Angeles River Bike Path Extension and Connector Analysis sponsored by the City, and are included in the City�s update of its Bicycle Master Plan. Like the San Fernando Bikeway project, this project is compatible with the goals of improving bicycle transportation facilities in the city.

• Verdugo Arroyo Transit Improvement Program

The Verdugo Arroyo sub-region member cities are currently studying the existing transit operations throughout the sub-region in an effort to identify needed enhancements and modifications to transit service delivery. This study, when complete, may result in a joint Call For Projects application to fund a number of possible technology-oriented improvements to transit scheduling, routing, and traveler information systems.

The proposed 2003 MTA Call for Projects Application Package includes a number of important transportation projects that meet regional mobility goals and trip reduction mandates, and are compatible with the long-term transportation goals of the City. The ITS projects represent a cost-effective method of adding capacity to existing local and regional transportation infrastructure through increasing system efficiency, while the bikeway projects bolster the viability of bicycle transportation as a means of reducing vehicle trips. This grant application package demonstrates a tremendous leveraging of transportation development impact fees and Proposition A and C local return funds, and staff feels that the projects described above present to MTA a well-rounded package of regional transportation improvements that provide local benefits to the City.

Staff presented the projects included in the 2003 MTA Call for Projects at their meeting on December 16, 2002, where the Commission expressed their support for proceeding with the grant application package.

Staff is not seeking Council authorization for any local fund expenditure at this time. If Council were to approve this application package and a project were to be successful in receiving MTA grant funds, the City would be required to provide a 20% local match in order to accept the grant money for that project. This 20% local match is expected to be available from a combination of Proposition A and C local return funds as well as Transportation Impact Fees. Further, submittal of this grant application package does not commit the City to the identified projects. Any project that is successful in receiving MTA grant funds will be brought back to the City Council for authorization to accept the grant funds and the allocation of the required local match.

Staff recommends that the Council adopt the proposed resolution authorizing the submittal of the City�s application package.

go to the top