To: Board of Supervisors
From: Warren Lai, Public Works Director/Chief Engineer
Report Title: APPROVE the Arlington Crosswalks Improvements Project and take related actions under CEQA, Kensington and East Richmond Heights areas.
☒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 2025/2026 Transportation Development Act (TDA) Grant Application to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission in the total amount of $120,000 for the fiscal year 2025/2026 for the Arlington Crosswalks Improvements Project.
APPROVE the Arlington Crosswalks Improvements Project, and AUTHORIZE the Public Works Director, or designee, to advertise the Project, Kensington and East Richmond Heights area. [County Project No. WO1025, DCD-CP#25-01] (District I)
DETERMINE the project is a California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), Categorical Exemption, pursuant to Article 19, Section 15301(c) of the CEQA Statutes and 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: $448,000. (27% Transportation Development Act Funds, 73% Local Road Funds)
BACKGROUND:
This project proposes to install Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFB) and restripe pedestrian crosswalks at the following intersections: (1) Arlington Boulevard and Elm Lane in East Richmond Heights; (2) Arlington Avenue and Westminster Avenue in Kensington; and (3) Westminster Avenue and Windsor Avenue in Kensington. Curb extensions and detectable warning surfaces will also be added at the intersection of Arlington Boulevard and Elm Lane.
The three intersections identified above are used by students residing in the East Richmond Heights and Kensington areas who attend Mira Vista Elementary, Arlington Christian School, and Kensington Hilltop Elementary School. Students and community members have reported feeling unsafe crossing these intersections, particularly as the area frequently experiences heavy fog that obscures motorists’ vision and awareness of pedestrians crossing the road. The proposed improvements will enhance safety and accessibility for all pedestrians at these intersections, in all-weather situations.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
If the Public Works Department is not authorized to submit the application, grant funding will not be available, which will delay the design and construction of this project.
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 2025/2026 for the Arlington Crosswalks Improvements;
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.