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THE FISCAL YEAR 2024-25 PROJECT LIST FOR THE ROAD REPAIR AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 2017 (SB1) AND SUBMITTAL OF REPORTS TO THE CALIFORNIA TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION
recommended action
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council adopt a resolution to:
1. Approve the Fiscal Year 2024-25 project list for the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017 (SB1).
2. Approve submittal of reports to the California Transportation Commission related to the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017 (SB1).
It is also recommended that the City Manager be authorized to take appropriate and necessary actions to carry out the purpose and intent of this resolution.
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Summary
Adoption of the proposed resolution allocates an estimated $8,278,001 in new funding to local street resurfacing; curb, gutter, sidewalk, and curb ramp repairs; LED streetlight conversion; streetlight pole replacement; and street re-striping. On April 28, 2017, the Governor signed Senate Bill 1 (SB1), known as the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017. SB1 funding provides for basic road maintenance, rehabilitation, and critical safety needs on both the State highway and local streets and road systems. The California Transportation Commission (CTC) is responsible for oversight of funding and/or programs created with the approval of SB1.
SB1 funds the Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Account (RMRA) Program. The CTC adopted guidelines that require agencies to submit a list of eligible RMRA projects by July 1 of each fiscal year. The Fiscal Year (FY) 2024-25 RMRA funding allocation for the City is estimated at $8,278,001. Staff recommends that funding be allocated to local street resurfacing; curb, gutter, sidewalk, and curb ramp repairs; streetlight pole replacement, street furniture painting, and street re-striping. Specific locations within these project categories are selected by utilizing a variety of data resources and analysis methods. Street resurfacing locations are selected based on pavement condition data and cost/benefit analysis utilizing the City’s pavement management system (PMS). Curb, gutter, sidewalk, and curb ramp repair locations are prioritized in chronological order, based on the date of the original customer service request. Selected residential streetlights with high-pressure sodium streetlights will be replaced with LED streetlight fixtures. Streetlight poles that are found to be oxidized will be replaced. Re-stripe of worn traffic striping along arterial and collector streets will be done as funding allows.
The recommended action approves the allocation of available funding for the projects listed in Exhibit 1 to the Resolution. The projects are included in the proposed FY 2024-25 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). The projects are anticipated to be advertised for construction bids by late 2024, with most of the construction activity to be undertaken in 2025, weather permitting.
DISCUSSION
Background
On April 28, 2017, the Governor signed SB1, known as the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017. SB1 funding provides basic road maintenance, rehabilitation, and critical safety needs on both the State highway and local streets and road systems. The CTC is responsible for oversight of funding and/or programs created with the approval of SB1.
SB1 provides funding for the RMRA Program. Other programs include the Local Partnership Program, the Active Transportation Program, State Highway Operation and Protection Program, and Local Streets and Roads Program. The RMRA funding is part of the City’s overall Gas Tax allocation; however, RMRA funds can only be expended on projects that meet eligibility criteria and have been approved by the CTC. RMRA funds are accounted for and reported separately from the regular Gas Tax funds.
At its June 2017 meeting, the CTC adopted programmatic guidelines which set forth the process and procedures for using the RMRA funding. The guidelines are intended to provide guidance and ensure accountability of funding invested in public projects.
An estimated $8.0 million in SB1 RMRA Program funding was allocated to the City for FY 2023-24 as approved by Council on May 2, 2023, by Resolution No. 2023-05-02-1211. An update on the delivery of the FY 2023-24 projects is included in Attachment A.
Present Situation
In accordance with the program guidelines, each agency is required to submit a list of eligible RMRA projects to the CTC by July 1 of each year. The criteria for eligible projects include road maintenance and rehabilitation, safety initiatives, railroad grade separations, complete street components, and traffic control improvements. The funds cannot be used for general miscellaneous transportation maintenance operations.
Funding for the City is estimated to be $8,278,001 for FY 2024-25. Staff recommends that the project funding be allocated to the following local street resurfacing; curb, gutter, sidewalk, and curb ramp repairs; residential streetlight fixture replacement; streetlight pole replacement; and City street re-striping projects:
• Local Street Resurfacing - Install approximately 40 centerline miles of resurfacing treatments on local roadways Citywide ($5,678,001). The City’s PMS is used to determine which specific roadway segments should be included. The system analyzes variables such as current pavement condition and projected traffic load to forecast how roadway segments will decline over time. The forecasts are used to evaluate the cost and benefit of repair options and identify the optimal pavement resurfacing plan. The current pavement condition is numerically represented by the pavement condition index (PCI), which is calculated for each roadway segment utilizing a nationally standardized method. A PCI rating of 100 means the street is in perfect condition. A zero means the road has no functioning surface. Resurfacing work consists of either slurry seal resurfacing, micro-surfacing, cape seal, or an asphalt overlay. A cost-effective method of maintaining streets is to provide treatment for streets that are in fair to good condition (PCI ratings near or above 70). The preservation of streets in this condition is critical, as rehabilitation costs rise exponentially as pavements deteriorate. Examples of project locations include:
• Lincoln Road from Pershing Avenue to Alexandria Place - PCI/58
• Concord Avenue from Walnut Street to Bedford Road - PCI/2
• Delhi Avenue from El Dorado Street to French Camp Road - PCI/40
• Hunter Street from Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard to 2nd Street - PCI/34
• Prado Way from Lan Ark Drive to cul-de-sac past Segovia Lane - PCI/48
The City’s current overall PCI for the entire network is approximately 64 (on a 0 to 100 scale). Continued allocation of a significant portion of RMRA funds to pavement resurfacing is expected to result in incremental progress toward the City’s long-term goal of an overall network PCI of 70.
• Curb, Gutter, Sidewalk, and Curb Ramp - Remove and replace City tree-damaged curb, gutter, and sidewalk and update curb ramps at approximately 120 (75 sidewalk and 45 curb ramps) locations Citywide ($1,550,000). The City regularly receives requests for the repair of curbs, gutters, and sidewalks and the installation of curb ramps. Each request is evaluated to determine if the repair is the City’s responsibility. If repairs are warranted, the location is added to a database for future permanent repairs. For sidewalk locations that need immediate correction, the temporary repair is made using asphalt concrete material to patch the displaced area to remove the tripping hazard. Permanent repairs are made as funding becomes available and are prioritized in chronological order, based on the date of the original service request.
• Street Furniture Painting - Repaint streetlight poles, railings, and other street furniture to prolong the useful life and aesthetics of the asset ($250,000).
• City Street Re-striping - Re-stripe worn traffic striping along arterial and collector streets ($300,000).
• Bridge Maintenance Program - The project will cover routine bridge maintenance that would not be funded with Federal-Aid Highway Program funding. Routine bridge maintenance is defined as regularly scheduled activities that maintain bridge components in their present or intended condition ($500,000).
The CTC established a standardized project submission form, and the list of projects to be submitted to the CTC in the required format is attached as Exhibit 1 to the Resolution. The FY 2024-29 CIP will include the budget for the estimated $8,278,001 in FY 2024-25 SB1 RMRA funding. These projects are anticipated to be advertised for construction bids by late 2024, with most of the construction activity to be undertaken in 2025, weather permitting.
RMRA funding is estimated to be relatively the same in FY 2025-26 at approximately $8.0 million. Expenditure of these funds will be programmed to specific projects in the FY 2025-30 CIP, with separate approval by Council prior to July 1, 2025.
FINANCIAL SUMMARY
The total RMRA funding is estimated to be $8,278,001 for FY 2024-25. The FY 2024-29 CIP will include the appropriation for the estimated $8,278,001 in FY 2024-25 SB1 RMRA funding as follows:
• Local Street Resurfacing, Project No. WD25003, in the amount of $5,678,001.
• Curb, Gutter, Sidewalk, and Curb Ramp Repairs, Project No. WD25004, in the amount of $1,550,000.
• Street Furniture Painting, Project No. WD25008, in the amount of $250,000.
• City Street Re-Striping, Project No. WD25009, in the amount of $300,000.
• Bridge Maintenance Program, Project No. WT23010, in the amount of $500,000.
There is no impact to the City’s General Fund or any other unrestricted fund as a result of taking the recommended actions.
Attachment A - RMRA Project List FY 2023-24