Purpose

Staff requests Council approval of a resolution accepting a Safe Routes to School Cycle Five Grant from the California Department of Transportation and amending the Fiscal Year 2004-05 budget.

BACKGROUND

The Safe Routes to School Grant program is designed to improve and enhance the safety of pedestrian and bicycle facilities and related infrastructure on identified school travel routes.  California Assembly Bill 1475 established the program in 1999, and the program currently provides a total of $20 million annually to local governmental agencies based on a statewide competition for the construction funds. The Safe Routes to School grant program provides 90 percent financing for projects deemed of significant importance to school safety. The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) administers the grants through the Local Programs office.

In February 2004, City Council authorized staff to apply for Safe Routes to School grants in the Bicycle Enhancements program area.  On November 5, 2004 Caltrans notified staff that the grant application was approved for the total requested funding of $73,800 in the Fifth Cycle of the Safe Routes to School funding program for FY 2004/2005.  The grant was among a total of 97 approved projects in the state selected from 385 applications.  The grant funds must be used before February 2006.

In August 2004, the City Council authorized staff to apply for State funding available under Article 3 of the Transportation Development Act (TDA), SB 821.  These funds will be used to provide for the local match portion of two different grants, including $8,200 for the Safe Routes to School Grant.

ANALYSIS

The proposed improvements will be constructed on six Class III bicycle routes included in the Burbank Bicycle Master Plan.  The routes are Keystone Street, Pacific Avenue, Maple Street, Amherst Drive, Orange Grove Avenue, and Providencia Avenue.  The project also includes bicycle safety programs conducted at each elementary school in the form of a �bicycle rodeo�.   The improvements include:

Bicycle Route Signing ($5,400) � The City will purchase bicycle route signs and bicycle legend pavement stencils for installation by City forces along all project routes.

Traffic Signal Bicycle Detection ($62,000) � Bicycle video detection is planned at four traffic signals and inductive loop detection is planned at seven locations.  These improvements will automatically change traffic signals for bicyclists to make crossing major streets much easier.

Bicycle Friendly Drainage Grates ($2,500) � Existing storm drain grates will be changed to grates with a transverse bars to facilitate bicycle travel over them.

Bicycle Safety Education Program ($12,100) � The education program, conducted at all eleven elementary schools, will include an assembly focused on bicycle safety and a bicycle rodeo.

FISCAL IMPACT

The Safe Routes to School grant program funds 90 percent of the total construction cost of each project.  The total cost of the project is $82,000, $73,800 of which is covered by the Safe Routes to School grant.  The remaining $8,200 is the local contribution required by the grant.  The local contribution will be reimbursed by the TDA funds.  This project will be fully funded by grants.

The $73,800 covered by the grant will be initially fronted by the City from Fund 105 (Proposition C Transportation Fund).  Caltrans will reimburse the City for these costs at the end of the project.  The $8,200 local contribution will also be initially funded from Proposition C Transportation Fund.  TDA funds will reimburse the City for the local match portion.  The proposed resolution appropriates $82,000 from account number 105-CD000-48010-1080 (Safe Routes to School Grants) to project number 105-CD33A-70005-15521 (Safe Routes Project).

RECOMMENDATION

Staff recommends that the Council approve the proposed resolution accepting the Safe Routes to School Cycle Five Grant and amending the Fiscal Year 2004-05 budget.

Attachment

Bicycle Routes Serving Schools Map

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