REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL FROM: SCOTT L. MOZIER, PE, Director Public Works Department JOE VARGAS, Director Transportation Department BY: RANDALL W. MORRISON, PE, Assistant Director Public Works Department, Engineering Division BELINDA MCMILLAN HAENER, Interim Assistant Director Transportation Department, Planning and Operations MARY C. CHURCH, Grants Administrator Public Works Department, Administration Division LINDA TAYLOR, Interim Manager Transportation Department, Administration Division SUBJECT ..Title RESOLUTION - Authorizing the Submission of Grant Applications to the Fresno Council of Governments 2022/23 Measure C New Technology Reserve Grant Program for Advanced Transit and Transportation Projects Totaling Up to $4.4 Million in Requests for Funding; and Authorizing the Execution of Grant Application and Grant Agreement Documents by the Public Works and Transportation Directors or Designees (Citywide) ..Body RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends that the City Council adopt a resolution authorizing the submission of grant applications to the Fresno Council of Governments (COG) 2022/23 Measure C New Technology Reserve Grant Program for Advanced Transit and Transportation Projects totaling up to $4.4 million in requests for funding; and authorize the execution of all grant application and grant agreement documents by the Public Works and Transportation Directors or designees. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Measure C Transportation Expenditure Plan includes the New Technology Reserve Fund. The program is administered by Fresno COG in conjunction with the Fresno County Transportation Authority (FCTA). The purpose of this program is to fund advanced transit and transportation projects that have the potential for broad benefits to Fresno County residents and will assist the region in meeting its air quality goals. Fresno COG funds projects that will advance public transit and transportation utilizing new technologies. This is the fourth cycle of grant funding offered by this program. In the three prior cycles, the City was successful in securing funding for incremental costs related to CNG bus engines, a micro transit pilot project, the Downtown Fresno "Dynamic Downtown" adaptive real-time traffic synchronization system (phases 1 and 2), and a partnership with the Fresno City College West Satellite Campus for an advanced propulsion systems training center project. This cycle the City proposes three projects: Next Generation Intelligent Transportation Systems; Regional Bike and Trails GIS Web & Phone App; and a micro transit demonstration/pilot project. BACKGROUND Fresno County voters approved Measure C, a 1/2 cent transportation sales tax, in 1986 and again in 2006. Fresno COG prepared the Measure C Expenditure Plan, a guide to how $1.2 billion in Measure C transportation dollars will be spent through the year 2027. It was prepared with COG partners, the cities, the County, Caltrans, FCTA (administrators of the tax), and other community stakeholder groups. In its first 20 years, Measure C delivered more than $1 billion of improvements to State highways and County roadways and has helped the building of additional lanes and freeway improvements throughout the County. As a result of the successful original measure, Fresno County voters chose to extend Measure C for an additional 20 years. The Measure C Extension (2007-2027) not only funds improvements of local roadways, by repairing potholes and paving streets and sidewalks, but also funds ride-share incentive programs and environmental enhancement programs. FCTA is the entity created by legislation to administer the Measure C Program(s) and ensure the revenue is received and distributed appropriately. Fresno COG is responsible for the implementation of several Measure C programs, including the Measure C New Technology Reserve Grant Program (New Technology Grant Program). There will be approximately $4.465 million available for potential award in the 2022/23 cycle of the New Technology Grant Program. The Department of Public Works plans to submit two applications. The first application is for the development of Advanced Transportation Management System software improvements to City/Caltrans Center-to-Center (C2C) communication systems, signal performance measures (SPM), new vehicle-to-everything (V2X) detection systems, bicycle signal head indicators, new cloud-based speed monitoring system, and new real-time synchronization software. The grant application proposes the research, development, and deployment of these advanced technologies along the Friant Road Corridor, updating several traffic signals from State Route 41 to Copper River Drive, which is an ideal project environment that includes Caltrans freeway ramp traffic signals and City traffic signals operating independently along one of the City's most congested corridors with vehicles, bicycles, and pedestrians. The new C2C technology will allow City's monitoring of Caltrans ramp signals citywide; advanced SPM and V2X technology at the Friant Road Corridor traffic signals will better manage vehicles, bicycles, and pedestrians; and advanced cloud-based speed monitoring and real time synchronization technologies will help improve overall corridor safety and efficiency. The second application is for the development of a geographic information system (GIS) based web application (app) for regional bike and trail information. The application will detail the region's Class I (Multipurpose Trail), Class II (Bike Lanes), Class III (Bike Routes), and Class IV (Protect Bikeway) facilities and how they connect to give users route and mapping capabilities. The app will also include information on other trail amenities, such as drinking fountains, park and rides, restrooms, and bike tool kit locations to provide users a centralized information database. The app will create a user friendly and informative tool for Fresno residents and regional users to plan their commute or recreational trips on the bike and trail system. The app would also create a platform for promotional and educational community noticing, to promote safe and knowledgeable use of the bike and trail system. The Transportation Department plans to submit one application for a micro transit demonstration/pilot project to provide more flexible transit and travel options in Northwest Fresno, including the Three Palms Mobile Home Park. The micro transit service would provide first- and last-mile connections to FAX fixed route bus stops as well as curb-to-curb service within the coverage area. Bookings would be available via an app or by phone. The grant application proposes a custom-branded, intuitive app for on-demand and pre-scheduled trips, streamlined booking, service monitoring, schedule management, communications, and ability for drivers to easily communicate with dispatchers and riders. The demonstration project would last for up to one year and would operate within a specific zone in Northwest Fresno (boundaries still to be determined), seven days a week. The service would be outsourced, with the goal of testing local demand, feasibility, pricing and service options, trip travel times, costs per passenger, benefits to overall transit system usage, and other relevant metrics. Features would include on-demand and pre-scheduled rides, in-app rider notifications and messages, real-time vehicle and wait-time tracking, and a variety of payment methods. The grant applications are due on July 20, 2022. The City Attorney's office has reviewed and approved the staff report and resolution as to form. ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS Pursuant to California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15378, this item is not a project for the purposes of CEQA. LOCAL PREFERENCE Local preference is not included because this resolution does not include a bid or award of a construction or services contract. FISCAL IMPACT This resolution will have no impact on the General Fund. Should grant funds be awarded, local matching funds will be identified through future fiscal year capital budgets. Attachments: Resolution Proposed Project List