Purpose

To request City Council authorization to apply for State funding available under Article 3 of the Transportation Development Act (TDA), SB 821.

Background

The TDA funds are administered by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). Funding is available to local jurisdictions according to a formula based on population. These funds may be used for bicycle and pedestrian facilities, including bikeway commuter paths, bicycle commuter parking, sidewalk wheelchair ramps, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) required signage, and sidewalk repair and construction. The funds can also be used for engineering expenses and right-of-way acquisition related to the aforementioned types of improvements.

In the past, these funds have been allocated to the Public Works Department for the construction and repair of public sidewalks and pedestrian ramps, and to the Parks and Recreation Department for improvements to the City�s existing bikeway paths.

Analysis

Staff is requesting City Council authorization to apply for the City�s share of their TDA funds of $49,786 from FY 2001-2002, and $53,700 from FY 2002-2003. Staff proposes to use these funds to provide for a portion of the Chandler Accessway construction costs. Construction is expected to begin in October 2003, with an estimated completion date of May 2004. The FY 1999-2000 ($43,271), and FY 2000-2001 ($88,714) TDA allocations were also appropriated to the Chandler Accessway project. This additional authorization will bring the total TDA Grant Funds for Chandler to $192,200. The balance of the Chandler costs are fully funded with MTA Grant Funds, Development Impact Fees, and General Fund appropriations.

Article 3 funds are not automatically distributed to the local jurisdictions. Before the end of each fiscal year a jurisdiction must either request the drawdown of its Article 3 funds or reserve the funds for future use by filing a TDA Article 3 Bicycle and Pedestrian Funds Local Claim Form. The form also identifies the project to be funded. Funds may be drawn down once a project contract has been awarded.

Due to the delays in the Chandler Accessway project, staff has not requested to submit the form to MTA for draw downs of the appropriations for the past two years. Instead, staff requested MTA to reserve their funds. With the construction expected to begin this fall, Staff now requests City Council�s authorization to submit the MTA Claim forms for draw down of the FY 2001-2002 and FY 2002-2003 allocations.

Fiscal Impact

If the City Council authorizes the submittal of the TDA Article 3 Bicycle and Pedestrian Funds Local Claim Form, it will provide a revenue source of $103,486 to be used toward the construction costs for the Chandler Accessway project. No matching funds or future funding commitment from the City is associated with filing for, or receiving these funds.

Recommendation

Staff recommends that the City Council adopt the proposed resolution authorizing the Community Development Director to submit the claim form requesting the drawdown of the 2001-2002, and 2002-2003 Transportation Development Act Article 3 Bicycle and Pedestrian Funds.

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