Purpose

Staff requests City Council approval of a resolution authorizing the submission of a grant application to the Department of Transportation (Caltrans) for the Fifth Cycle of the Safe Routes to School (SR2S) Grant Program.

 BACKGROUND

State Assembly Bill 1475 (1999) created a revised SR2S Grant Program to improve safety for children traveling to and from schools.  SR2S provides federal transportation funds for construction of school bicycle/pedestrian safety and traffic calming projects to improve safety at or near elementary schools.

SR2S is in its fifth and last cycle in Federal Fiscal Year 2004/2005.  Caltrans expects to fund about $20 million for SR2S projects statewide during this program cycle.  The maximum federal reimbursement per project is $450,000, and the typical reimbursement ratio for these projects is 90% for eligible project costs.  The applications must be submitted to the Caltrans District Office by February 27, 2004.

Proposals are granted funding based on the following factors:

1. Demonstrated needs of the applicant,

2. Potential for the reduction of child injuries and fatalities,

3. Potential for increased walking and bicycling among students,

4. Identification of safety hazards,

5. Identification of walking and bicycling routes to school, and

6. Project support by schools, elected officials, and law enforcement.

SR2S may fund six types of projects, including the following:

1. Sidewalk Improvements � new or widened sidewalks, sidewalk repairs, and curb and gutter improvements.

2. Traffic Calming and Speed Reduction � roundabouts, traffic circles, bulb-outs, raised pavements, signs, or pavement markings.

3. Pedestrian or Bicycle Crossing Improvements � traffic signals, crosswalks, medians, pavement markings, flashing beacons, pedestrian signal upgrades, or bicycle sensitive signal actuation devices.

4. On Street Bicycle Facilities � bikeways, street widening, geometric improvements, or pavement channelization.

5. Pedestrian Facilities � bicycle or pedestrian trails, bicycle parking facilities, signs, or pavement markings.

6. Traffic Diversion Improvements � improved pick-up or drop-off areas, and traffic diversion away from school access routes.

Burbank has been very successful in receiving SR2S funding in past years. In Fiscal Year 2002-03, Burbank was awarded a total of $139,500 in grant funds for projects involving sidewalk repair and construction and for safety improvements at several traffic signals on school walking routes.

ANALYSIS

Staff proposes to apply for grants in two program areas for this cycle.  The program areas will include sidewalk construction and repair to provide safe pathways to school for elementary students, and the improvement of bicycle facilities to encourage the use of bicycles for the school trip.  The proposed sidewalk improvements will involve four elementary schools and the bicycle system improvements will be used by students from six elementary schools and four middle and high schools.  The locations of these improvements are shown in Attachment 1.

Project 1 - Sidewalk Construction

The sidewalk improvement project will construct or repair sidewalk, near elementary schools, that will complete gaps in the sidewalk network.  The sidewalk projects are generally within two blocks of each school and are a part of a safe walking route to the school.  The sections of new sidewalk construction include:

            Joaquin Miller School

                        800-900 blocks of East Cedar Avenue (south side) � 1200 linear feet

                        600 block of South Kenneth Road � 1230 linear feet

                        800-900 block of East Providencia Avenue � 1200 linear feet

            Bret Harte School

                        1400-1500 block of North Lima Street � 100 linear feet

            William McKinley School

                        351 West Alameda Avenue � 100 linear feet

Thomas Edison School

                        2100 block West Chestnut Avenue � 1000 linear feet

                        600-900 block of North Lamer Street � 1000 linear feet

Project 2 � Bicycle Detection and Safety

The bicycle detection and safety project will enhance bicycle routes to schools that are included on our new Bicycle Master Plan of routes.  The project will focus on Type III routes (on-street, signed routes) and it will include bicycle detection at eleven locations, new bicycle route signing, and a school oriented safety education program.  Bicycle detection may include the installation at appropriate intersections of detection technologies designed to detect the presence of bicycles and adjust the signal timing to compensate for the presence of the bicycles.  The project will improve bicycle travel to and from various schools.

The total estimated capital cost for the sidewalk improvements is $260,000, and the bicycle route improvements will cost $82,000.  New sidewalk will fill important gaps in the existing sidewalk network and the sidewalk will be relatively maintenance free for a useful life of about 20 to 30 years.  The bicycle facilities will also be relatively maintenance free and the system has a useful life of 10 to 15 years.  Existing Public Works maintenance staff will complete the routine maintenance.   The construction of the improvements will begin by July 2005 and be complete by the end of the same year.

FISCAL IMPACT

The proposed school safety improvement project will cost a total of $342,000.  The SR2S program requires a ten percent local match, or $26,000 for the sidewalk project and $8,200 for the bicycle project.  Caltrans will evaluate projects during the summer and grant funds will be awarded in the fall of 2004.  The local match of $26,000 for the sidewalk construction will be taken from the 2004 sidewalk repair program (Project No. 370.PW21A.70002.0000.14548).  The local match of $8,200 for the bicycle project will be funded out of the Proposition C Transportation Fund. 

RECOMMENDATION

Staff recommends that the City Council adopt the attached proposed resolution authorizing the Public Works Department to apply for a Cycle 5 Safe Routes to School grant for the above projects.

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