REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
February 6, 2024
FROM
TREVOR LEJA, Assistant Executive Officer, Department of Public Works - Transportation
SUBJECT
Title
Grant Awards from the California Transportation Commission for the Safe Routes to School Plan and Pedestrian Safety Improvements and Infrastructure
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Accept the 2022 Active Transportation Program Cycle 6 grant funds awarded by the California Transportation Commission to develop a Safe Routes to School Plan for schools in the unincorporated San Bernardino Valley areas, in the amount of $500,000.
2. Accept the 2022 Active Transportation Program Cycle 6 grant funds awarded by the California Transportation Commission for pedestrian safety improvements and infrastructure in the Bloomington area, in the amount of $3,383,000.
(Presenter: Noel Castillo, Director, 387-7906)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Operate in a Fiscally-Responsible and Business-Like Manner.
Ensure Development of a Well-Planned, Balanced, and Sustainable County.
Provide for the Safety, Health, and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The Department of Public Works (Department) is funded by Gas Tax revenue, fee revenue, and other state and local funding. This item will allow San Bernardino County (County) to receive the reimbursement of $3,883,000 from the California Transportation Commission (CTC), and administered by the State of California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), in 2022 Active Transportation Program (ATP) grant funds to develop a Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Plan for 21 identified schools in nine unincorporated areas of San Bernardino County (Project 1) and to construct pedestrian improvements surrounding both campuses of the Mary B. Lewis Elementary and Gerald A. Smith Elementary Schools in the Bloomington area (Project 2). The total estimated cost for Project 1 is $500,000, and the cost to implement Project 2 is $3,383,000. No local match was required for either grant application submission. As a plan project, the reimbursement for Project 1 is done through the submission of monthly invoices to Caltrans. For Project 2, the CTC must approve an allocation of funds for each project phase and reimbursement during each project phase is done through the submission of monthly invoices to Caltrans. Sufficient revenue and appropriation are included in the Department’s 2023-24 Road Operations budget (6650002000 H15219, H15250) and will be included in future recommended budgets.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Caltrans ATP is a competitive statewide program created to encourage the increased use of active modes of transportation, such as biking and walking. To be considered for funding, the ATP requires projects to be identified in an Active Transportation Plan (Plan).
Project 1 is to develop the Plan in collaboration with the County, parents, students, school staff, and other stakeholders and identifies safety measures that can be implemented within school attendance boundaries to provide a safer walking environment to school. Once the Plan is created, grant applications may be submitted to the ATP to seek funding for safety measure implementation.
On March 17, 2022, Caltrans announced the call-for-projects for Cycle 6 of the ATP. On June 14, 2022 (Item No. 63), the Board of Supervisors (Board) approved and authorized the submission of two grant applications to Caltrans in the amounts of $500,000 and $3,383,000, respectively, for Project 1 and Project 2. Project 1 is anticipated to begin in May 2024 with adoption by the Board anticipated in May 2026. Project 2 is anticipated to commence in May 2024 and is expected to be completed by May 2027.
Project 2 will install high visibility ladder-style crosswalks, Americans with Disabilities-compliant driveway, sidewalk, Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons and speed feedback signage in the areas surrounding both school campuses.
On Thursday, October 12, 2023, Caltrans notified the Department that the County’s funding requests for Projects 1 and 2 had been granted. With approval from the Board to accept the grant funds, the Department will use the funds to create and develop the SRTS Plan and construct the pedestrian safety improvements and infrastructure.
The recommended action meets the County’s and the Chief Executive Officer’s goals and objectives of operating in a fiscally-responsible and business-like manner by seeking grant funding for projects, and ensuring the development of a well-planned, balanced, and sustainable county by constructing facilities that encourage walking, as well as construct facilities that promote health and social activities.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Aaron Gest, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on January 8, 2024; Finance (Carl Lofton, Administrative Analyst, 387-5404) on January 22, 2024; and County Finance and Administration (Paloma Hernandez-Barker, Deputy Executive Officer, 387-5423) on January 22, 2024.