CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
MEETING DATE: June 17, 2015
PREPARED BY: Karl Bjarke, Public Works Director
APPROVED BY: City Manager
Title
VTA CALL FOR PROJECTS
END
RECOMMENDATION(S)
RECOMMENDATION
Provide direction on project candidates for Regional Transportation Plan update.
BODY
COUNCIL PRIORITIES, GOALS & STRATEGIES:
Ongoing Priorities
Enhancing public safety
Maintaining fiscal responsibility
Preserving and cultivating public trust
2015 Focus Areas
Stimulate Economic Development
Infrastructure Funding and Advocacy
Advance Regional Transportation
REPORT NARRATIVE:
The City received a May 13, 2015 letter from the Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) notifying the City that a Call-for-Projects would be issued for purposes of updating the Regional Transportation Plan, called Plan Bay Area 2040. That letter is attached. Plan Bay Area 2040 is the Metropolitan Transportation Commission's (MTC) regional transportation plan and is a roadmap to help Bay Area cities and counties plan for transportation needs that meet future population growth while preserving the character and diversity of communities.
Plan Bay Area 2040 is a state-mandated, integrated long-range transportation, land-use and housing plan that will support a growing economy, provide more housing and transportation choices and reduce transportation-related pollution in the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area. It builds on earlier efforts to develop an efficient transportation network and grow in a financially and environmentally responsible way. VTA, which has transportation oversight over Santa Clara County, provides a list of projects county-wide to MTC for consideration for Plan Bay Area 2040. VTA's plan is called the Valley Transportation Plan (VTP) 2040.
In 2011, the City provided a list of projects responding to the initial Call-for-Projects for the VTP 2040 program. Morgan Hill projects currently in the VTP 2040 Program are identified below:
Current Projects Category |
Project |
Local Streets and County Roads |
1. Butterfield Blvd. North Extension 2. Santa Teresa/Hale Avenue Extension |
Multi-modal Transportation Investment Projects |
1. City-wide Traffic Signal Operations Center 2. City-wide Wireless Traffic Signal Vehicle Detection |
VTA has informed the City that the purpose of this latest Call-for-Projects is twofold: (1) An update of the current VTP 2040 projects list and (2) New projects not in the current VTP 2040 Plan.
Staff proposes that the list of projects for Morgan Hill remain largely the same as the current list with the modification that a new project would replace one of the current projects in the Multi-modal Transportation Investment Projects category. The new project would be "Adaptive Traffic Signal Program City-wide" and would employ adaptive traffic signal technology into the City's traffic signals that enable timing adjustments as a reaction to traffic volumes and would allow for better coordination. This technology is readily available and would cost approximately $40,000 per signal, or approximately $1.7M for the entire City. The current project that would be replaced is the City-wide Wireless Traffic Signal Vehicle detection. An adaptive signal program could also be wireless and would accomplish the same goals.
The Council is requested to provide staff with input for the Call-for-Projects. VTA requires, however, that any new projects must result from a planning study and public review process.
Staff proposes the following projects for the May 2015 Call-for-Projects:
Proposed Projects
CategoryProject |
|
Local Streets and County Roads |
1. Butterfield Blvd. North Extension 2. Santa Teresa/Hale Avenue Extension |
Multi-modal Transportation Investment Projects |
1. City-wide Traffic Signal Operations Center 2. Adaptive Traffic Signal Program City-wide |
In addition, unless otherwise directed by the Council, staff will be including bicycle facility and connectivity projects included in the City's Bicycle and Trails Master Plan as appropriate in the Call-for-Projects categories. The projects submitted to VTA responding to the Call-for-Projects are due by the end of July 2015.
In the May 13, 2015 letter from VTA, they point out that it is their stated intention that this project solicitation process will be used to develop the candidate list of projects for a potential sales tax measure. The Envision Silicon Valley (ESV) initiative is VTA's outreach effort to help develop a potential ballot measure in 2016 to pay for transportation and transit improvements in Santa Clara County. The VTA Board of Directors recently adopted final draft goals for the ESV program. Those goals are listed below and on the attached document with more details.
Envision Silicon Valley Goals
1. Enhance Safety
2. Provide Congestion Relief and Improve Transportation Efficiency
3. Expand Transportation Choices and Improve Travel Experience
4. Expand Transit Ridership and Continue to Promote Quality Transit for Everyone - Including Low Income Areas
5. Actively Promote Healthy Communities, Environmental Sustainability and Plan for the Next Generation
6. Improve System Financial Sustainability and Maintenance
7. Continue to Support Silicon Valley's Economic Vitality
Funding goals for the ESV program have not been established yet. The recent Call-for-Projects for VTP 2040 and the Plan Bay Area launches the effort to start defining projects that could be included in the program. Staff anticipates that an annual allotment of road maintenance funds will be a part of the program as well. Staff will advocate for that as it participates in future forums regarding the ESV program.
Staff will be returning to Council with an opportunity to provide further input into the ESV process once funding goals and project types and categories are established. According to the most recent schedule, that opportunity will be in August or September of 2015. In the meantime any member of the public can provide input by accessing VTA's website at www.envisionsv.org or at the City's web page.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: Involve
At the March 18, 2015 Council meeting, a VTA representative provided an update to the Envision Silicon Valley program. Then, at its May 6, 2015 meeting, the Council was provided an update and was asked to provide any input. VTA has a site on its web page (www.envisonsv.org) to solicit input from the public on the Envision Silicon Valley program.
ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS:
The Council can decline to participate in VTP 2040. This action will likely prevent the City from receiving grants for projects.
PRIOR CITY COUNCIL AND COMMISSION ACTIONS:
March 18, 2015 Council meeting - Council hears from a VTA representative on the Envision Silicon Valley program.
May 6, 2015 Council meeting - Council was provided an update on Envision Silicon Valley.
FISCAL AND RESOURCE IMPACT:
The Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) has issued a Call-for-Projects to be submitted into the Valley Transportation Plan 2040 and the Plan Bay Area. By having projects in these long range transportation plans, the City will position itself to receive grant funds or to be included in other transportation funding efforts. For each project submitted a funding match will likely be required should a funding opportunity present itself.
CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act):
Not a Project
LINKS/ATTACHMENTS:
May 13, 2015 Letter from VTA
Draft Goals for the Envision Silicon Valley Program