REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
February 8, 2022
FROM
BRENDON BIGGS, Director, Department of Public Works - Transportation
SUBJECT
Title
Advance Expenditure Agreement with the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority for the Needles Highway Segment 1C Pavement and Drainage Improvement Project, Needles Area
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Approve an Advance Expenditure Agreement (Agreement No. 22-1002711) with the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority, effective upon execution by both parties until final reimbursement is received, to provide for reimbursement to San Bernardino County, in an amount not to exceed $900,000 for a pavement and drainage improvement project on Needles Highway, from David Drive north to 0.1 mile north of Not’cho Road in the Needles area, once the Measure “I” 2010-2040 Colorado River Subarea Major Local Highways Program funding becomes available.
(Presenter: Brendon Biggs, Director, 387-7906)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Ensure Development of a Well-Planned, Balanced, and Sustainable County.
Pursue County Goals and Objectives by Working with Other Agencies and Stakeholders.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The pavement and drainage improvement project on Needles Highway, from David Drive north to 0.1 mile north of Not’cho Road (Project) will initially will be funded by the County’s Gas Tax revenues. The San Bernardino County Transportation Authority (SBCTA) will reimburse the County up to $900,000 in Measure “I” 2010-2040 Colorado River Subarea Major Local Highways Program (MLHP) funding, once funding becomes available, and SBCTA will reimburse the County for the remainder of Project costs with Surface Transportation Program (STP) funding that will be readily available through the regular reimbursement process during the right-of-way and construction phases of the Project. Sufficient appropriation and revenue for the Project are included in the Department of Public Works 2021-22 Road Operations and Measure I budgets (6650002000 H15179 and 6650002148 TX1822) and will be included in future recommended budgets.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The County and SBCTA desire to enter into an Advance Expenditure Agreement (AEA) (SBCTA Agreement No. 22-1002711) which allows the County to move forward with the Project Approval and Environmental Document (PA/ED) and Plans, Specifications, and Estimate (PS&E) phases in anticipation of receiving reimbursement of MLHP funds once the Colorado River Subarea account collects sufficient funding. The MLHP for the San Bernardino Mountains/Desert Subareas, which includes the Colorado River subarea, is funded by 25% of the Measure “I” 2010-2040 revenue collected within the subareas. SBCTA manages the program and reserves the funds in a special account to be used by local jurisdictions for Major Local Highways projects that benefit the subareas. Measure “I” revenues in the Colorado River Subarea allocated to the MLHP approximately $85,000 per year. Currently, there is not sufficient funding in the SBCTA MLHP Colorado River Subarea fund account to reimburse the County for the Project related costs for the PA/ED and PS&E phases. Therefore, the County is requesting the Board of Supervisors’ (Board) approval to initially use its Gas Tax revenues for the Project’s PA/ED and PS&E phases with the expectation of being reimbursed from MLHP funds as they are collected. SBCTA estimates full reimbursement will be made for the AEA by fiscal year 2029-30. The County and SBCTA will present a separate funding agreement to their respective boards at a later date for the allocation of the STP funding for the Project.
The Project is located primarily in the unincorporated area of Needles and partially in the City of Needles. However, the County has served as the lead agency for other projects located along Needles Highway, between “N” Street northerly to the California/Nevada state line (Parent Project). The Parent Project includes three segments that have already been constructed or will complete construction in the near future: (1) from “N” Street to 600 feet north of Balboa Place (Segment N); (2) from 600 feet north of Balboa Place to 500 feet south of Park Road (Segment 1A); and (3) from 500 feet south of Park Road to David Drive (Segment 1B). Segments N and 1A are complete, and Segment 1B is in the construction phase and is expected to be completed in the Summer 2022. The County desires to utilize MLHP funds for the Project because it too falls within the Parent Project limits and is considered a project of regional importance.
Execution of this Advance Expenditure Agreement and implementation of the Project will allow the County to meet its goals and objectives by working with SBCTA in securing funds for the Project, and ensuring the development of a well-planned, balanced and sustainable County by preserving and improving the structural integrity of existing road surface including the drainage system on Needles Highway-Segment 1C. The Project realigns and reconstructs the road, and improves the road’s drainage system for a better driving experience for motorists. Construction is anticipated to commence in early 2025. SBCTA intends to present the subject AEA to its board for execution on March 2, 2022.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by Deputy County Counsel (Aaron Gest, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on December 23, 2021; Finance (Jessica Trillo, Administrative Analyst, 387-4222) on January 3, 2022; and County Finance and Administration (Paloma Hernandez-Barker, Deputy Executive Officer, 387-5423) on January 7, 2022.