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THE FISCAL YEAR 2021-22 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 2021-22 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 $6,184,000 in new funding to local street resurfacing, curb/gutter/sidewalk/curb ramp repair, streetlight LED replacement, streetlight pole replacement, and City 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 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. The CTC adopted guidelines that require agencies to submit a list of eligible RMRA projects by July 1 of each year. The Fiscal Year (FY) 2021-22 RMRA funding allocation for the City is estimated to be $6,184,000. Staff recommends that funding be allocated to local street resurfacing, curb/gutter/sidewalk/curb ramp repair, streetlight fixture replacement, streetlight pole replacement, and City street re-striping projects. 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. Faulty LED streetlight fixtures will be replaced with more efficient 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 allocation of available funding for the projects listed on Exhibit 1 to the Resolution. The projects are included in the proposed FY 2021-26 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). The projects are anticipated to be advertised for construction bids by late 2021, with most of the construction activity to be undertaken in 2022, weather permitting.
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, State Highway Operation and Protection Program (SHOPP), and Local Streets and Roads Program. The RMRA funding is 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 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 on public projects.
An estimated $5.9 million in SB1 RMRA Program funding was allocated to the City for FY 2020-21 as approved by Council on April 14, 2020, by Resolution No. 2020-04-14-1111. An update of the delivery of the FY 2020-21 projects is included as Attachment A.
Present Situation
In accordance with the program guidelines, each agency is required to submit a list of eligible 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 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 $6,184,000 for FY 2021-22. Staff recommends that the project funding be allocated to the following local street resurfacing, curb/gutter/sidewalk/curb ramp repair, 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 ($3,850,000). 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/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. The majority of the resurfacing work consists of slurry seal resurfacing, 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 this condition is critical, as rehabilitation costs rise exponentially as pavements deteriorate. Examples of project locations include:
• Mokelumne Circle from Scott Creek Drive to Melones Way
• Grange Avenue from La Jolla Drive to Alpine Avenue
• Inglewood Avenue from Swain Road to Santa Clara Street
• McDougald Boulevard from Henry Long Boulevard to William Moss Boulevard
The City’s current overall PCI for the entire network is approximately 63 (on a 0 to 100 scale). The network will be resurveyed via the Public Facility Fees Nexus Study to update the PCI data. 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 110 (70 sidewalk and 40 curb ramps) locations Citywide ($1,450,000). 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.
• Residential Streetlight Fixture Replacement - Replace approximately 3,800 faulty LED streetlight fixtures with more efficient LED streetlight fixtures as needed. ($347,000).
• Streetlight Pole Replacement - Replace streetlight poles that are oxidized and replace streetlight foundations with damaged anchor bolts as needed ($231,000).
• City Street Re-striping - Re-stripe worn traffic striping along arterial and collector streets ($306,000).
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 2021-26 CIP will include the budget for the estimated $6,184,000 in FY 2021-22 SB1 RMRA funding. These projects are anticipated to be advertised for construction bids by late 2021, with most of the construction activity to be undertaken in 2022, weather permitting.
RMRA funding is estimated to be relatively the same in FY 2022-23 at approximately $6 million. Expenditure of these funds will be programmed to specific projects in the FY 2022-27 CIP, with separate approval by Council prior to July 1, 2022.
FINANCIAL SUMMARY
The total RMRA funding is estimated to be $6,184,000 for FY 2021-22. The FY 2021-26 CIP will include the appropriation for the estimated $6,184,000 in FY 2021-22 SB1 RMRA funding as follows:
Local Street Resurfacing FY 2021-22 SB1, WD22003 $3,850,000
Sidewalk, Curb, Gutter, Curb Ramp Repairs FY 2021-22 SB1, WD22004 $1,450,000
Residential Streetlight LED Replacement FY 2021-22 SB1, WD22005 $347,000
Streetlight Pole Replacement FY 2021-22 SB1, WD22006 $231,000
City Street Re-striping FY 2021-22 SB1, WD22009 $306,000
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 2020-21 Project