REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
June 11, 2024
FROM
BEAHTA R. DAVIS, Director, Regional Parks Department
SUBJECT
Title
Grant Application to the State of California Department of Transportation for the Active Transportation Program Cycle 7 Call for Projects to Construct Pedestrian and Bicycle Infrastructure for the Santa Ana River Trail
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Approve and authorize the submission of a grant application to the State of California Department of Transportation for the Active Transportation Program Cycle 7 for the Santa Ana River Trail Phase IV project located between Orange Street in Redlands and Opal Avenue in Mentone in the amount of $11,088,000.
2. Authorize the Chair of the Board of Supervisors, Chief Executive Officer, Assistant Executive Officer, or Director of the Regional Parks Department to sign and electronically submit the grant application and any required subsequent non-substantive amendments, supporting materials, as well as all other ancillary documents, subject to County Counsel review.
3. Direct the Director of the Regional Parks Department to transmit the grant application and any non-substantive amendments in relation to the State of California Department of Transportation Active Transportation Program Cycle 7 grant to the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors within 30 days of execution.
(Presenter: Beahta R. Davis, Director, 387-2340)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Pursue County Goals and Objectives by Working with Other agencies and Stakeholders.
Operate in a Fiscally-Responsible and Business-Like Manner.
Provide for the Safety, Health, and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will result in the use of Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The estimated total cost for the Santa Ana River Trail Phase IV Project (Project) is $11,088,000, which includes State of California Department of Transportation (State) grant funding in the amount of $8,759,520, and local matching funds in the amount of $2,328,480. The Regional Parks Department (Department) is requesting additional Discretionary General Funding to cover the 21% matching funds in the amount of $2,328,480. Should the grant funds be awarded, the Department will return to the Board of Supervisors (Board) for award acceptance and any necessary budget adjustments.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
In 2006, California voters passed the Safe Drinking Water, Water Quality and Supply, Flood Control, River and Costal Protection Act of 2006 (Proposition 84). This act authorized $45,000,000 in general obligation bonds for the entire Santa Ana River Trail (SART). Since then, the County has completed Phases I and II of the SART, and is currently working on completion of Phases III and IV.
Phase I constructed 3.5-miles of new bike/walking trail between the Riverside/San Bernardino County line and La Cadena Avenue in Colton, and was completed in April 2007. Phase II extended the trail 4.5-miles from La Cadena Avenue in Colton, to Waterman Avenue in San Bernardino, and was completed in October 2023. Phase III began in April of 2023 and extended the trail an additional 3.8 miles from Waterman Avenue in San Bernardino, to California Street in Redlands. Phase III is in its final stage of construction and expected to be completed in late 2024. Phase IV (a) extends the trail 3.9-miles from California Street to Orange Steet in Redlands, and is expected to begin early 2026. Phase IV (b & c), for which this grant funding is being requested, will extend the trail 3-miles from Orange Street to Opal Avenue in Redlands, bringing the SART near its final goal of connecting to the San Bernardino Mountains and completing the Coast to Mountains objective.
The recommended item will allow San Bernardino County (County) to submit an application to the 2025 federally-funded Active Transportation Program (ATP) Cycle 7 grant for work on the SART Class I, II, III, and IV bike path, which includes concrete/asphalt paving, retaining walls, access ramps, slope protection, fencing, signing, striping, culverts, and a bridge. Funding for the Project will formalize the proposed route joining previously completed sections of the SART and continuing the development of the east west corridor. When the Class I, II, III and IV bike path is constructed, a new non-motorized route will be created dedicated to cyclists and pedestrians, providing a safe path for travel to local schools, hospitals, and businesses.
This item will authorize the Chair of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, Assistant Executive Officer, or the Director of the Department to sign and submit the grant application, any required subsequent non-substantive amendments, supporting materials, as well as all other ancillary documents, to the State. If the grant application is successful, funds will be provided to the County on a reimbursement basis to fund SART Phase IV (b & c) costs for the benefit of county residents and visitors.
The ATP program provides competitive grant funding for infrastructure projects to encourage increased use of active modes of transportation, such as walking and biking. The objectives of the program are to increase the proportion of biking and walking trips, increase mobility and safety for non-motorized users, advance the efforts to achieve greenhouse gas reduction goals, and enhance public health. Because the ATP is a competitive grant program, submission of an application is not a guarantee of funding. On March 21, 2024, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) announced the call for projects for the seventh round of the ATP program and applications are due to Caltrans no later than June 17, 2024. Grant awards will be announced in June 2025. Submission of the grant application commits the County to constructing the Project if grant funds are awarded. Since submission of the grant would be considered binding, per County Policy No. 5-13, the Department requests Board approval to submit the grant application.
This action meets the County’s and Chief Executive Officer’s goals and objectives of operating in a fiscally-responsible and business-like manner by seeking grant funding for projects, ensuring development of a well-planned, balanced, and sustainable county by constructing facilities that encourage walking and biking, should the grant funds be awarded to construct the Project; and, providing for the safety, health and social services needs of county residents by providing opportunities for healthy activities with construction of the SART, should the Project be awarded grant funding.
PROCUREMENT
N/A
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Suzanne Bryant, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on May 14, 2024; Finance (Elias Duenas, Administrative Analyst, 387-4052) on May 21, 2024; and County Finance and Administration (Valerie Clay, Deputy Executive Officer, 387-5410) on May 21, 2024.