REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF THE COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO
AND RECORD OF ACTION
August 6, 2019
FROM
KEVIN BLAKESLEE, Director, Department of Public Works - Transportation
SUBJECT
Title
Morongo Basin Active Transportation Plan
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Adopt a resolution that accepts the Morongo Basin Active Transportation Plan, which identifies potential bike and pedestrian routes within the Morongo Basin, as complete.
(Presenter: Kevin Blakeslee, Director, 387-7906)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Promote the Countywide Vision.
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). Approval of this item will guide the County of San Bernardino (County) in selecting suitable projects for Active Transportation Program grant funding for the construction of pedestrian and bicycle projects in the Morongo Basin area, as such opportunities arise.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
In September 2016, the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) released a call for projects for the 2016 Sustainability Planning Grant, which provided funding to develop an active transportation plan (ATP). The County, the City of Twentynine Palms, the Town of Yucca Valley, Caltrans, the National Park Service, the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority, Copper Mountain College, and local bicycling advocacy groups met frequently to develop a draft scope of work to develop an ATP for the Morongo Basin (Basin). The plan helped to identify potential bike and pedestrian routes within the Basin and increase the Basin’s competitiveness for state and federal funding opportunities. In October of 2016, the County agreed to serve as the applicant agency on behalf of all the entities. Thereafter, on November 16, 2016 the Chief Executive Officer approved the County’s submittal of a grant application to SCAG.
In February 2017, SCAG announced that the County’s application for funding was approved, resulting in a $200,000 grant award. Pursuant to the SCAG grant guidelines, the County adopted Resolution No. 49 on May 2, 2017 accepting the grant funds, which was signed by the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors (Board). SCAG, acting as the lead agency in the grant implementation, retained all grant funds awarded to the County, released the Request for Proposals to hire the consultant, hired the consultant, paid all invoices, and oversaw administration of the grant.
The Morongo Basin ATP was developed through a process of public outreach and community input to identify active transportation improvements within and between all of the communities which comprise the Morongo Basin, in order to plan pedestrian and bike routes, improve safety, supply healthy options, connect people to places, enhance the local environment and promote a vibrant economy. This plan serves as the master plan for where and how future active transportation projects may be funded and implemented around the Basin’s service areas. Local public agencies, Caltrans, private organizations and individuals from Basin communities were consulted regarding route selection and facility implementation, particularly around the Morongo Basin Unified School District, Yucca Valley School District and the Joshua Tree National Park. The Morongo Basin includes the Town of Yucca Valley, the City of Twentynine Palms and eight unincorporated communities: Morongo Valley, Yucca Valley Area, Pioneertown, Rimrock, Landers, Joshua Tree, Twentynine Palms Area, and Wonder Valley.
Active Transportation Plans are required to be compliant with California’s Active Transportation Program guidelines established by the California Transportation Commission and the Regional Transportation Plan (RTP). The guidelines provide that a plan must include specified components, including a description of existing and proposed bicycle and pedestrian facilities, community engagement in development of the plan, coordination with neighboring jurisdictions, collision analyses, and a description of destinations served by the plan. The Morongo Basin ATP is compliant with the state’s Active Transportation Program guidelines.
If accepted by the Board, the Morongo Basin ATP will be submitted to the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority (SBCTA) for incorporation into the San Bernardino County Non-Motorized Transportation Plan (NMTP), a countywide plan of bikeways, trails and pedestrian paths administered by SBCTA. The NMTP serves as a guide for implementation of a countywide bicycle and pedestrian network. The Morongo Basin ATP does not commit the County to construct or fund any of the proposed projects, but serves to identify potential projects that may be eligible for grant funding. This will greatly enhance opportunities for future grant funding to be secured for construction of the projects listed in the Morongo Basin ATP. Approval of this item meets the goals and objectives of the County and Chief Executive Officer by securing grant funds in collaboration with other agencies to develop an active transportation plan in the basin.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by Land Use Services (Karen Watkins, Planning Manager,
387-4218) on May 3, 2019; County Counsel (Suzanne Bryant, Deputy County Counsel,
387-5455) on June 13, 2019; Finance (Wen Mai, Administrative Analyst, 387-4020) on July 9, 2019; and County Finance and Administration (Matthew Erickson, County Chief Financial Officer, 387-5423) on July 19, 2019.