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Agenda Item # 8

BOARD MEMORANDUM

RECOMMENDATION:

Review and recommend that the VTA Board of Directors approve amendments to the Countywide Bicycle Expenditure Program project list as presented below.

BACKGROUND:

In 2000, the VTA Board adopted the Countywide Bicycle Plan. The Plan included three tiers of projects that were evaluated using the Board’s adopted Evaluation Criteria and prioritized by the VTA Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC). The Board also adopted a $33-million Bicycle Expenditure Program (BEP) to fund Tier 1 projects from 2001 through 2010. The BEP includes funds from 1996 Measure B sales tax, Transportation Funds for Clean Air (TFCA), Transportation Development Act Article 3 (TDA3), and federal Transportation Enhancements funds (TE).  Tier 2 and Tier 3 projects were unfunded.

In 2004, the Regional Bicycle/Pedestrian Program (RBPP) was established by Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) to provide $200 million in federal funds to fund regional bike/pedestrian projects during the 25-year period 2005-2030 of the Regional Transportation Plan (RTP). The RBPP is split into a 25% regional program and a 75% county share program; the share for Santa Clara County is projected to be $50 million over the 25-year period.

At its April 23, 2004 meeting, the VTA Board adopted policy to dedicate funds from the RBPP towards Tier 2 Bike Projects and the Pedestrian Projects in the VTP 2030 program. 

At its December 9, 2004 meeting, the Board consolidated the Tier 1 and Tier 2 project lists into a single list, and adopted several overall program policy changes, including a 25% limit on future BEP allocations for project cost increases and a regular 3-year program update cycle.

DISCUSSION:

The Board’s BEP policies include a provision for amendments outside of the normal 3-year funding cycle.   To date four Member Agencies have requested amendments.  The table below summarizes those requests. 

Proposed BEP Project List Amendments

A portion of the funds from the Milpitas Pedestrian/Bicycle Crossing will be reprogrammed to Milpitas’s Coyote Creek Trail Project, Reach 1. The remaining funds will be reprogrammed within the BEP.  Funding for the proposed amendments will come from the savings realized with the Milpitas. The status of each project, the action requested, and the VTA staff recommendations are presented below.

Member Agency:  Milpitas

Project: Pedestrian/Bike Crossing of Union Pacific Railroad (near Great Mall).

Status: Environmental studies are currently underway, however potential changes in the configuration of the project are significantly impacting the project’s progress.  The bike/ped crossing design is no longer feasible at this point.  Additionally, the City is unable to provide the necessary 20% match for BEP funds at this time. The City estimates that the project will not be deliverable for at least five year and halting all work until such time as these issues are resolved.  At the city’s request $100,000 is being reprogrammed to the city’s Coyote Creek Trail project (Reach 1).  The remaining funds will be reprogrammed in the BEP. 

Action Requested:   The City requests that the project be deleted from the Bicycle Expenditure program.  The City will re-apply when conditions allow delivery of the project.

VTA Staff Recommendation:   Approve the city’s request to delete the project from the BEP.

Member Agency: Cupertino

Project: Mary Avenue Bicycle/Pedestrian Bridge over I-280.

Status: Project is environmentally cleared, design is 35% completed, and it is scheduled to go to construction in January 2006.  The design work to date has enabled the City to refine its costs estimates. The total project cost is now $8,750,000. 

Action Requested:   The City is requesting an additional $1,560,000 for a total BEP allocation of $7,000,000.  This is a 29% increase in BEP allocation.

VTA Staff Recommendation:   Approve increasing the BEP allocation by the amount requested.

Member Agency: Saratoga

Project: Cox Avenue Railroad Crossing.

Status: Project is environmentally cleared, and design is 100% complete.  The City expects to award a construction contract by June 30, 2005.  The Union Pacific is requiring an additional $110,000 for the City to complete the purchase of Right of Way for a segment of the project.

Action Requested: The City is requesting an additional $95,000 in BEP funds to complete the project.  This is a 25% BEP allocation increase.

VTA Staff Recommendation:   Approve increasing the BEP allocation by the amount requested.

Member Agency: Los Altos Hills

Project: El Monte/Moody Road Bicycle/Pedestrian Path Project.

Status: Potential new BEP project to design and construct a bicycle and pedestrian path on Moody Road/El Monte Road from Rhus Ridge Road in the town of Los Altos Hills to Summerhill Drive in the City of Los Altos.  The current project cost estimate is $840,000.  The town has begun design on Segment #1 – Moody Road Path & Bike Accommodation.  Construction of Segment #1 is expected to begin in March 2006.

Action Requested:   Amend the BEP to add the El Monte/Moody Road Bicycle and Pedestrian Path project.

VTA Staff Recommendation:   Approve amending the project into the BEP as requested. 

ALTERNATIVES:

The Board may amend or not approve the staff recommendations.

FISCAL IMPACT:

These amendments do not impact the overall BEP. Funds remaining from this action will be set aside as contingency for future amendments.

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