01-19-1999 - 1999 Transportation Improvement Program Call for ProjectsCity of West Covina
Memorandum
TO: City Manager and City Council
FROM: Public Services Department
Engineering Division
AGENDA
ITEM NO. B-6g
DATE January 19, 1999
SUBJECT: 1999 TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM
CALL FOR PROJECTS
SUMMARY: The Public Services Department proposes to apply for competitive funds
through the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority —
1999 Transportation Improvement Program Call for Projects. If awarded,
the funds would be utilized to partially fund several projects within the City
including a Safe Routes to School Study, a landscaped median on South
Azusa Avenue and a'Street Sign Bridge for Vincent Avenue.
BACKGROUND
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation authority annually 'accepts
applications for project funding as part of the Transportation Improvement Program. The
1999 Call for Projects is a competitive process through which various federal, state, and
county transportation funds are awarded to the most promising projects. The MTA has
estimated that a total of $509 million dollars for transportation improvement and/or
enhancements will be made available to eligible agencies.
For West Covina, funds available through the MTA are proposed to be utilized for several
projects. The. last Safe Routes to Schools Study was done in 1978. With the changes in
the location, size, and use of schools, a new study is needed to provide for the safety of
school pedestrians. The study is very labor intensive and will need to be done by a
consultant. Included in the study are interviews with transportation officials from each
School District, each school principal, each. PTA transportation committee, parents and
students as well as developing, distributing, gathering and analyzing information forms
from every student on their current means of going to and from school. The ultimate
result is a report that each school uses to educate their students on the safest routes to
use to and from school. The report -will also identify other improvements such as
sidewalks, crosswalks and crossing guards that are needed to make those routes as safe
as practical. The proposed study is estimated to cost $100,000. The project is eligible
under the Bikeways and Pedestrian Improvements modal category which requires a
minimum 20% local match and with a countywide funding, of only $24 million is expected
to be highly competitive.
The Central Business District Traffic Study to reduce congestion identified a need for a
sign bridge over Vincent Avenue for northbound traffic to make it easier for vehicle
operators to more easily determine their appropriate lane sufficiently in advance of the
Route 10 Freeway so as to avoid unnecessary lane changes within the most congested
section of Vincent Avenue. Funding of $135,000 was provided in the 1997-1998 Capital
Improvement Program but, for a site specific architecture, the sign will cost about
$250,000. This project -is eligible under the Surface Transportation Improvement modal.
category which requires a minimum 356/6 local match and has a countywide funding of
$150 million. It is also.expected to be a highly competitive category.
The City Council has identified South Azusa Avenue from Aroma Drive to Amar Road as
a desirous _location for landscaping of the median island and funded $120,000 of the`'" -
estimated $610,000 ,cost in the 1996-1997 Capital Improvement Program. This project is
eligible under the Transportation Enhancements modal category which requires a'
minimum 20% local match and with a countywide funding of $10 million is likewise
expected to .be a highly competitive category.
Each modal category has specific weights and considerations, which pertain to the
particular evaluation criteria utilized within each mode as well as the level of local
matching funding.
City Council and City Manager
Page Two
January 19, 1999
ANALYSIS
The 1999 Call for Projects application is due by January 29, 1999 to the MTA. By July of
1999, the Board expects to announce funding recipients.
Of the three applications, the sign bridge for Vincent Avenue and the landscaping on
South Azusa. Avenue most closely conform to the "Regional' nature of the Call for
Projects. Both streets provide routes through several- cities and both have connections to
the Federal Interstate System.
FISCAL IMPACT
Since sufficient funding has been established for ,the sign bridge and the landscaping to
meet the local matching requirements, there will be no further fiscal impact for these
capital improvements. However, with the failure of the local tax election :to maintain.
landscaping and traffic signals, additional currently unidentified operating funds would be
required.
The City receives an approximate $40,000 annual allocation of Transportation
Development Act (TDA) funding which is normally used for sidewalk construction. Within
the application for the Safe Routes to Schools Study, $25,000 in TDA funds would be
indicated as a local match leaving $15,000 in the 1999-2000 fiscal year to construct
sidewalks.
ALTERNATIVES
The City Council could decide -to not submit all or some of the. applications. Since there is
no financial commitment by the City as part of the applications,. but only with a
subsequent agreement to use any possible funding, there is no apparent reason to not .
submit an application:
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council adopt the following resolution:
RESOLUTION NO.9&!5-Y- A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WEST COVINA, CALIFORNIA,.
AUTHORIZING THE SUBMITTAL OF APPLICATIONS
THROUGH THE METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION
AUTHORITY FOR THE 1999 TRANSPORTATION
IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.
Thomas M. Maye
City Engineer
REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY:
W. Collier
Services Director
99-106