REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL July 16, 2015 FROM: SCOTT L. MOZIER, P.E., Director Public Works Department BY: ROBERT ANDERSEN, P.E. Assistant Director Public Works Department/Capital Management Division SUBJECT ..Title RESOLUTION - Authorizing the submission of grant applications to the Fresno Council of Governments for the Regional Surface Transportation Program (RSTP) and authorizing the execution of all application related documents by the Public Works Director or designee. (Council Districts 1, 3, 4, 5 and 7) ..Body RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends that the City Council adopt a resolution authorizing the submission of a grant application to Fresno Council of Governments (Fresno COG) for the RSTP and authorize the execution of all application related documents by the Public Works Director or designee. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Staff is requesting the authorization to submit a resolution for grant applications to Fresno COG for five major street repaving projects for a total cost of $2,600,000. These proposed projects are high on the Department's priority list for major streets in need of repaving that are also eligible for Federal transportation funding. Funding for the projects is being made possible by $2,600,000 in additional obligational authority granted by the State as discussed during the FY2016 Council budget hearings. BACKGROUND Fresno COG, acting in its role as a Metropolitan Planning Organization, is responsible for programming federal transportation revenues that are allocated to the Fresno Region. The RSTP grant program is used to fund different transportation projects including, street overlays, reconstruction, capacity enhancements, traffic signals, as well as transportation related safety projects. In order to accept this increase in obligation authority the City is required to submit an application to Fresno COG that identifies each project and the amount being sought. The City will receive $2.6 million of additional obligational authority from the State that will be used to fund priority major street paving projects previously funded with gas tax. The increase in obligation authority frees up $2.2 million in State funding from Proposition 111 Special Gas Tax and AB86 Gas Tax that will be used to match TIGER grant funds for the Fulton Mall Reconstruction Project. The following major street repaving projects have been included in the FY2016 adopted budget based upon pavement conditions, eligibility criteria for the grant funding and the cost-effectiveness of the pavement treatment. The five proposed projects are: * Shaw Avenue Eastbound AC Overlay, Blythe to Brawley, $411,000 * McKinley Avenue AC Overlay, Marks to Hughes, $592,000 * Clinton Avenue AC Overlay, Maroa to Blackstone, $640,000 * Orange Avenue AC Overlay, California to Jensen (joint City-County project), $400,000 plus County contribution * Shields Avenue AC Overlay, Sunnyside to Fowler, $557,000 The proposed projects will complement the balance of the FY2016 grant-funded major street repaving program. The following projects previously received Federal transportation funding and are programmed to go into the construction phase later this year: * Herndon Avenue, West Avenue to Blackstone Avenue * Friant Road, Nees Avenue to Fresno Street * Blackstone Avenue, Shaw Avenue to Ashlan Avenue * Blackstone Avenue, Dakota Avenue to Shields Avenue * Shields Avenue, Palm Avenue to Blackstone Avenue * North Avenue, Fig Avenue to Elm Avenue * Clovis Avenue, California Avenue (UPRR crossing) to Jensen Avenue ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS By the definition in the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15378, the applying for grant funds does not qualify as a "project" as defined CEQA. LOCAL PREFERENCE Local preference was not considered because this Resolution does not include a bid or award of a construction or services contract. FISCAL IMPACT The proposed $2.6 million in major street repaving projects (located in Council Districts 1, 3, 4, 5 and 7) will utilize the toll credit program through Fresno COG, resulting in no local match required against the Federal RSTP funds. Attachments: Resolution Vicinity Map