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THE FISCAL YEAR 2019-20 PROJECT LIST FOR THE ROAD REPAIR AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 2017, 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 2019-20 project list for the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017.
2. Approve submittal of reports to the California Transportation Commission related to the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017.
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 would allocate an estimated $5,215,000 in new funding to local street resurfacing, curb, gutter and sidewalk, bridge maintenance, and culvert replacement projects. On April 28, 2017, the Governor signed Senate Bill 1 (SB1), known as the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017. SB1 provides the first significant, stable, and ongoing increase in State transportation funding in more than two decades. The funding provides for basic road maintenance, rehabilitation, and critical safety needs on both the State highway and local streets and road systems. The Legislature tasked the California Transportation Commission (CTC) with oversight of funding and/or programs created with the approval of SB1.
SB1 funds the Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Account (RMRA) Program. Other programs funded by this account include the Local Partnership Program, the Active Transportation Program, State Highway Operation and Protection Program (SHOPP), and Local Streets and Roads Program. Approximately $5.3 million in SB1 RMRA Program funding was allocated to the City for Fiscal Year (FY) 2018-19 as approved by Council on April 17, 2018, by Resolution No. 2018-04-17-1403.
The CTC adopted guidelines that require agencies to submit a list of eligible projects by May 1 of each year. The FY 2019-20 RMRA funding allocation for the City is estimated to be $5,215,000. Staff recommends that funding be allocated to local street resurfacing, curb/gutter and sidewalk, bridge maintenance, and culvert replacement projects. Specific locations within these project categories are selected by utilizing a variety of data resources and analysis methods. Street resurfacing locations are typically selected based on pavement condition data and cost/benefit analysis utilizing the City’s pavement management system (PMS). Curb, gutter, and sidewalk repair locations are prioritized in chronological order, based on the date of the original customer service request. Bridge and culvert work is prioritized using Caltrans generated inspection reports and field surveys, with the highest priority given to structural deficiencies.
The recommended action would approve allocation of available funding for these projects as shown on Exhibit 1 to the Resolution. The projects would then be included in the FY 2019-24 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). The projects are anticipated to be advertised for construction bids in late 2019, with the majority of construction activity to be undertaken in 2020.
DISCUSSION
Background
On April 28, 2017, the Governor signed SB1, known as the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017. SB1 provides the first significant, stable, and ongoing increase in State transportation funding in more than two decades. The funding provides for basic road maintenance, rehabilitation, and critical safety needs on both the State highway and local streets and road systems. The Legislature tasked the CTC with oversight of funding and/or programs created with the approval of SB1.
SB1 funds the RMRA Program. Other programs funded by this account include the Local Partnership Program, the Active Transportation Program, SHOPP, and Local Streets and Roads Program. The RMRA funding will become part of the 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 will be accounted for and reported separately from the regular Gas Tax funds.
An estimated $5.3 million in SB1 RMRA Program funding was allocated to the City for FY 2018-19 as approved by Council on April 17, 2018, by Resolution No. 2018-04-17-1403. An update of the delivery of the FY 2018-19 projects is included as Attachment A.
Present Situation
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 on public projects.
In accordance with the program guidelines, each agency is required to submit a list of eligible projects to the CTC by May 1 of each year. The criteria for eligible projects include road maintenance and rehabilitation, safety initiatives, railroad grade separations, complete streets components, and traffic control improvements. The funds cannot be used for general miscellaneous transportation maintenance operations.
Funding for the City is estimated to be $5,215,000 for FY 2019-20. Staff recommends that the project funding be allocated to the following local street resurfacing, curb/gutter and sidewalk repair, bridge maintenance, and culvert replacement projects:
• Local Street Resurfacing - Install approximately 40 centerline miles of slurry seal resurfacing treatments on local roadways Citywide ($2,500,000). To determine which specific roadway segments should be included, Public Works analyzed variables such as current pavement condition and projected traffic load to forecast how roadway segments will decline over time. The forecasts are then used to determine the cost/benefit of repair options and identify the optimal pavement resurfacing plan. The current pavement condition is numerically represented by the 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. Slurry seal resurfacing is a highly cost-effective treatment for streets that are in fair to good condition (PCI ratings near or above 70). The preservation of streets in a state of good repair is critical, as rehabilitation costs rise exponentially as pavements deteriorate. Examples of project locations include:
o Fourth Street from Lincoln Street to El Dorado Street
o Flora Street from Pershing Avenue to Buena Vista Avenue
o Togninali Lane from Highway 99 Frontage Road to Pock Lane
o Passero Way from Venetian Drive to Quail Lakes Drive
o Phelps Street from Twelfth Street to Tenth Street
The City’s current overall pavement condition index (PCI) for the entire network is approximately 63 (on a 0 to 100 scale). This overall pavement quality rating decreased in recent years. Upon completion of these resurfacing projects, the decrease will be stopped, and the index will remain at 63. Continued allocation of a significant portion of RMRA funds to pavement resurfacing is expected to eventually result in incremental progress toward the City’s long-term goal of an overall network PCI of 70.
• Curb, Gutter, and Sidewalk - Remove and replace City tree-damaged curb, gutter, and sidewalk at approximately 200 locations Citywide ($1,296,000). This project will address approximately 18 percent of the current accumulated backlog of requested repairs. The City regularly receives requests for repair of curb, gutter, 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, 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.
• Culvert Replacement - Design of the of the culvert replacement at Alexandria Place and Five Mile Slough ($208,000). The existing corrugated metal pipe culvert is deteriorating and the need for future replacement was identified in the 5 Mile Slough Project Study Report. Completed design documents will improve the prospects of obtaining grant funding for replacement.
• Bridge Maintenance - Conduct bridge inspections and develop a maintenance plan ($200,000) to optimize allocation of limited funds to rehabilitate bridges. Rehabilitate the Airport Way and Wilson Way bridges over Mormon Slough that were damaged by fire and construction of homeless encampments ($1,011,000) and install measures to deter future damage.
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 2019-24 CIP will include the budget for the estimated $5.2 million in FY 2019-20 SB1 RMRA funding. These projects are anticipated to be advertised for construction bids in late 2019, with the majority of construction activity to be undertaken in 2020. The projects are anticipated to be completed by winter 2020, weather permitting.
RMRA funding is estimated to be relatively the same in FY 2020-21 at approximately $5 million. Expenditure of these funds will be programmed to specific projects in the FY 2020-25 CIP, with separate approval by Council prior to May 1, 2020.
FINANCIAL SUMMARY
The total RMRA funding is estimated to be $5,215,000 for FY 2019-20. The FY 2019-24 CIP will include the appropriation for the estimated $5.2 million in FY 2019-20 SB1 RMRA funding as follows:
Local Street Resurfacing, PW1914 $2,500,000
Curb, Gutter, and Sidewalk Replacement, PW1915 $1,296,000
Alexandria Place Culvert Replacement, PW1602 $ 208,000
Bridge Maintenance Plan, PW1910 $ 200,000
Airport Way Bridge Repair, PW1909 $ 511,000
Wilson Way Bridge Repair, PW1912 $ 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 - Previously Approved FY 2018-19 Projects