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Agenda Item # 7

BOARD MEMORANDUM

RECOMMENDATION:

Recommend adoption of the revised Tier 1 Bicycle Projects and Schedules.

BACKGROUND:

In October 2000, the VTA Board of Directors adopted the Santa Clara Countywide Bicycle Plan and a $32-million Bicycle Expenditure Program (BEP).   The BEP is the funding mechanism for the Tier 1 list of projects in the Countywide Bicycle Plan over a ten-year period (2001-2010).

Funds for the BEP come from four primary sources: 1996 Measure B Bicycle Program; Transportation Fund for Clean Air (TFCA) 40% Program; Transportation Development Act Article 3 (TDA 3); and TEA-21 Transportation Enhancement funds.

The Board also adopted several policies in conjunction with the BEP and the Tier 1 Project List:

1. Each project funded through the BEP requires a minimum 20% match from non BEP-funds; 
2. The Tier 1 list would be reviewed and re-adopted every two years to add or delete projects and to adjust BEP funding projections;
3. Tier 1 projects must start work on the environmental phase within two years of adoption in Tier 1, or by September 2004 (whichever is later); and
4. Tier 1 projects must start work on construction within five years of adoption in Tier 1, or by September 2007 (whichever is later).

In April 2004, the VTA Board of Directors adopted a revised Tier 2 Bicycle project list as well as a policy to dedicate funding from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission’s Regional Bicycle/Pedestrian Program (2005-2030) towards Tier 2 projects.   Proposed policy changes in the Countywide Bicycle Program as a result of these developments are addressed in a separate agenda item. (These changes include the proposed merger of the two tiers as one list, and the merger of the MTC funding into the BEP.)

DISCUSSION:

Revised BEP Projections
Staff has updated the revenue projections for the BEP.   Since the TFCA and TDA 3 funds are dedicated to the BEP based on percentages of the annual fund estimates, there is some variability.   The latest projections for the BEP for Tier 1 projects are shown in Table 1:

Revisions to Tier 1
Attachment A shows the proposed revised Tier 1 project list and BEP allocations.  There were no new projects submitted, and the Hetch Hetchy Path Project was dropped by the City of Los Altos. 

The City of Campbell is proposing a major scope change to switch project locations from Hamilton Avenue/Highway 17 to Campbell Avenue/Highway17. The revised project would widen the Campbell Avenue bridge over Los Gatos Creek, to accommodate installation of new bike lanes and sidewalks.  This project is also in the VTP 2030 Local Streets and Roads Program.  The Campbell BPAC and City Council has endorsed the change. At the October 13, 2004 meeting, the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee also endorsed this project change.

Requests for BEP Allocation Increases
VTA received over $8 million in requests for increasing BEP allocations.  Most requests were for escalation of costs, which has occurred in many recent construction projects.  With other projects, the requests are new cost estimates from recently completed feasibility studies.

Staff recommends that increases be granted to all Tier 1 projects in this current Biennial Review, since the cost increases are justifiable, and there is enough funding capacity in the current projections of the BEP. However, in future Biennial Reviews, staff recommends that allocation increases be limited to 25% of the total project cost (see separate agenda item.)  At the October 13, 2004 meeting, the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee concurred with the VTA staff recommendation on this issue.

Tier 1 Project Schedules
Attachment B shows the current schedule of each Tier 1 project.  Only one project, the Los Gatos Creek Trail Reach 5 in the City of San Jose, failed to meet the deadline for starting environmental work by September 2004.  The City’s fiscal policy is “to not accept funds requiring a match without first securing all elements of the funding package.” The 20% local match for this project was located, and will be brought to City Council for approval in late October 2004.  The feasibility study for the project will be initiated next year.  Staff recommends keeping this project on the Tier 1 list with its original BEP allocation.  At the October 13, 2004 meeting, the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee concurred with the VTA staff recommendation on this issue.

ALTERNATIVES:

The Committee may recommend changes to the proposed list, or choose not to recommend it to the Board.

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