To: Board of Supervisors
From: Brian M. Balbas, Public Works Director/Chief Engineer
Report Title: APPROVE the Miranda Avenue Safe Routes to School Project and take related actions under CEQA, Alamo area.
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
ADOPT Resolution to APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Public Works Director, or designee, to submit a 2024/2025 Transportation Development Act (TDA) Grant Application to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission in the total amount of $120,000 for the fiscal year 2024/2025 for the Miranda Avenue Safe Routes to School Project.
APPROVE the Miranda Avenue Safe Routes to School Project, and AUTHORIZE the Public Works Director, or designee, to advertise the Project, Alamo area. [County Project No. WO1025, DCD-CP#24-04] (District II)
DETERMINE the Project is a California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), Class 1(c) Categorical Exemption, pursuant to Article 19, Section 15301 of the CEQA Guidelines, and
DIRECT the Director of Department of Conservation and Development (DCD), or designee, to file a Notice of Exemption (NOE) with the County Clerk, and
AUTHORIZE the Public Works Director, or designee, to arrange for payment of a $25 fee to DCD for processing, and a $50 fee to the County Clerk for filing the NOE.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Estimated Project cost: $1,070,000. (86% Alamo Area of Benefit (AOB) Funds, 11% Transportation Development Act Funds, 3% Local Road Funds)
BACKGROUND:
Miranda Avenue is the primary road used by students, parents, and faculty traveling to Stone Valley Middle School. Contra Costa County staff have coordinated with the school’s faculty who reported that students often travel along the existing unpaved shoulder throughout the school year. These students have been observed walking near motorists and bicyclists. The proposed improvements will provide a separate pathway that accommodates all pedestrian users in all-weather situations. This project will enhance safety and accessibility along the west side of Miranda Avenue, serving pedestrians and bicyclists between Stone Valley Road and Stone Valley Middle School. The improvements include the construction of a 5-foot-wide pedestrian pathway compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) at a length of approximately 1,650 feet. The existing bike lane adjacent to the pathway will be restored to a five-foot width.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
If TDA funding is not obtained, the Project will not be constructed.
THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
and for Special Districts, Agencies and Authorities Governed by the Board
body
IN THE MATTER OF approving and authorizing the Public Works Director, or designee, to submit a grant application to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) in the amount of $120,000 for Fiscal Year 2024/2025 for the Miranda Avenue Safe Routes to School;
WHEREAS, Article 3 of the Transportation Development Act (TDA), Public Utilities Code (PUC) Section 99200 et seq., authorizes the submission of claims to a regional transportation planning agency for the funding of projects exclusively for the benefit and/or use of pedestrians and bicyclists; and
WHEREAS, the MTC, as the regional transportation planning agency for the San Francisco Bay region, has adopted MTC Resolution No. 4108, Revised, entitled “Transportation Development Act, Article 3, Pedestrian/Bicycle Projects,” which delineates procedures and criteria for submission of requests for the allocation of “TDA Article 3” funding; and
WHEREAS, MTC Resolution No. 4108, Revised requires that requests for the allocation of TDA Article 3 funding be submitted as part of a single, countywide coordinated claim from each county in the San Francisco Bay region; and
WHEREAS, Contra Costa County desires to submit a request to MTC for the allocation of TDA Article 3 funds to support the projects described in Attachment B to this resolution, which are for the exclusive benefit and/or use of pedestrians and/or bicyclists;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that Contra Costa County declares it is eligible to request an allocation of TDA Article 3 funds pursuant to Section 99234 of the Public Utilities Code;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that there is no pending or threatened litigation that might adversely affect the project or projects described in Attachment B to this resolution, or that might impair the ability of Contra Costa County to carry out the project;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that Contra Costa County attests to the accuracy of and approves the statements in Attachment A to this resolution;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a certified copy of this resolution and its attachments, and any accompanying supporting materials shall be forwarded to the congestion management agency, countywide transportation planning agency, or county association of governments, as the case may be, of Contra Costa County for submission to MTC as part of the countywide coordinated TDA Article 3 claim.