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ADOPT A RESOLUTION TO ACCEPT AND APPROPRIATE FUNDING FOR THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORTATION PLANNING GRANT AWARDED TO SAN JOAQUIN COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS
recommended action
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council approve a resolution to:
1. Authorize the City Manager, or designee, to accept the grant suballocation from SJCOG as a subrecipient, contribute the local match requirement, execute and submit all documents including agreements, amendments, and payment requests, and make all necessary appropriations in compliance with and for the purposes stated in the grant award and application; and
2. Authorize the City Manager, or designee, to take appropriate and necessary actions to carry out the purpose and intent of this resolution.
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Summary
The Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant Program was created to support the California Department of Transportation’s (Caltrans) Mission: Provide a safe and reliable transportation network that serves all people and respects the environment. The San Joaquin Council of Governments, in collaboration with the San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission (SJRRC), San Joaquin Regional Transit District (SJRTD), and staff from the Economic Development Department (EDD), submitted an application under the Strategic Partnerships category for the Downtown Stockton Multimodal Transportation Network and Land Use Compatibility Action Plan (Action Plan). The City of Stockton was identified as a sub-applicant and SJCOG was listed as the primary applicant.
In August 2023, staff were notified of the successful award of $450,000 to conduct a robust and comprehensive multimodal transportation and land use study within the Downtown. The Action Plan will study multimodal connections between the existing Downtown Transit Center, Robert J. Cabral Train Station, and the San Joaquin Street Station. The Plan will analyze the Downtown Stockton existing mobility and land use conditions, identify constraints and areas of opportunity, and propose infrastructure and programmatic recommendations. Project implementation will involve an existing conditions analysis, stakeholder and public engagement, an equity and displacement analysis, an alternatives analysis of potential scenarios, a project strategy and action plan, and a summary report. The alternative analysis will include a benefit cost analysis and economic impact study for all scenarios so that projects or initiatives can be ranked relative to their cost and benefit to the community.
DISCUSSION
Background
The City of Stockton has partnered with SJCOG, San Joaquin Regional Transit District (SJRTD), and San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission (SJRRC) on joint projects and funding opportunities in the past. Successful examples have included the Miner Avenue Complete Streets Project, the California Street Multimodal Corridor Project, Channel Street Improvements, and the Grand View Village housing development in Downtown Stockton. Funding from the Caltrans Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant Program will strengthen the partnership between the City, SJCOG, SJRRC, and SJRTD to enhance mobility and advance transit-oriented development within the Downtown.
The activities to be conducted as part of the Plan’s development include stakeholder outreach and public engagement, an equity and displacement analysis, and an alternatives analysis involving a series of benefit cost analyses and economic impact studies. The resulting Plan will propose infrastructure and programmatic recommendations for advancing joint-development at Cabral Station and transit-oriented development in the Downtown. The Plan will develop a vision for a safe and vibrant community that integrates the future multimodal transportation network with infill development opportunities.
The Plan would advance the goals and objectives of the City’s adopted Economic Development Strategic Action Plan (EDSAP). In particular, the EDSAP outlines a broad strategy for transforming Downtown into a thriving, connected City Center through infrastructure upgrades, multimodal corridor strategies, and full-spectrum housing development. The EDSAP also prioritizes state-facing activities to attract funding for the City of Stockton and supports opportunities for economic mobility for all residents.
Present Situation
SJCOG and City staff were notified of the $450,000 grant award in August 2023 and have coordinated with Caltrans staff to incorporate minor revisions to the scope for activities requested by Caltrans. The grant expiration date is June 30, 2026 and the activities are anticipated to start in early 2024. EDD staff would oversee the grant activities and deliverables and be responsible for procuring a contractor to complete the Action Plan.
Throughout the term of the grant, EDD staff will coordinate closely with other City Departments on the performance of activities, including the Community Development Department (CDD) and Public Works (PW) Department. For example, the existing conditions analysis will require input from PW on the state of the pedestrian, bicycle, transit, and vehicular networks, while CDD staff will help to inform the market conditions, land use, and housing needs assessment. As the alternatives analysis is developed, CDD and PW staff will have the opportunity to provide input on recommendations related to complete streets, joint development, transit-oriented development, and multimodal connectivity.
The final project strategy and Action Plan will integrate feedback from CDD and PW staff so that the preferred alternative is consistent with, and complementary to, the Capital Improvement Program, Envision Stockton 2040 General Plan, and EDSAP. During implementation of the Action Plan, City staff will coordinate to identify funding opportunities, pursue joint grant applications, and advance the recommended strategies over time.
Staff recommends City Council authorize participation as a sub-recipient under the grant and to authorize contribution of the required local match of $18,500. As the grant terms are over two years, the matching funds would be contributed as work progresses utilizing existing staffing resources to EDD.
Not participating as a sub-recipient would prevent the Action Plan from moving forward.
FINANCIAL SUMMARY
|
Grant Award |
Local Match (City funded portion) |
Local Match (in-kind partners) |
Total Project Cost |
|
$450,000 |
$18,500 |
$40,000 |
$508,500 |
The total project cost is approximately $508,500. Grant funding in the amount of $450,000 will be received, through a reimbursement process, in the Special Grant Fund, Economic Development Division, EDD Administration Program. Corresponding expense will be appropriated in the same fund for the preparation of the plan, which is anticipated to be performed by a consultant, who will be selected subject to the City’s regular request for proposals (RFP) process.
The remainder of the 508,500 represents the local match requirement of $58,500. Of this amount, $40,000 will come from in-kind contributions from the partner transit agencies, and the City of Stockton would be responsible for contributing $18,500. The City’s portion of the local match will be met through an in-kind contribution of staff time and funded with budgeted salaries in EDD’s General Fund. The total amount funded by the City would be $468,500, of which, 450,000 would be reimbursed, and $18,500 would be made up of staff costs already appropriated in the General Fund.