Title
a. Approve submittal of a grant application under the United States Department of Defense Office, Defense Community Infrastructure Program (DCIP) grant program, to request funding in the amount of $14 million for the Jolon Road Safety Improvement Project;
b. Authorize the Director of Public Works, Facilities and Parks, or designee, to act as the agent for the County in processing all documentation to secure these funds; and
c. Direct PWFP to return to the Board for approval prior to acceptance of grant award.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
a. Approve submittal of a grant application under the United States Department of Defense Office, Defense Community Infrastructure Program (DCIP) grant program, to request funding in the amount of $14 million for the Jolon Road Safety Improvement Project;
b. Authorize the Director of Public Works, Facilities and Parks, or designee, to act as the agent for the County in processing all documentation to secure these funds; and
c. Direct PWFP to return to the Board for approval prior to acceptance of grant award.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
Jolon Road is a rural, narrow, two-lane road constructed in 1940s with little to no shoulders, spanning a length of approximately 39 miles and connecting to U.S. Highway 101 in King City and Bradley. Running parallel to U.S. Highway 101, Jolon Road is the only corridor that serves U.S. Army Garrison Fort Hunter Liggett, local residents, agricultural businesses, and two recreational lakes. After many years in use, the road has geometric deficiencies, poor pavement conditions, and is in need of repair. As growth in the area continues and traffic volumes increase, the pavement will continue to deteriorate. The Department of Public Works, Facilities and Parks (PWFP) has identified the rehabilitation of Jolon Road as a priority project for many years. The road is in need of rehabilitation to improve safety, aesthetics and function and proposed improvements include the following: grinding of old pavement and installation of fabric reinforcement to extend service life, overlay of the existing pavement with a three-inch hot mix asphalt (HMA) layer to improve the rideability and safety, grading, striping and paving to install new or widen existing paved shoulders to a minimum of six feet to further improve the road safety.
In 2021 and 2023 PWFP submitted a grant application to the United States Department of Defense Office, Defense Community Infrastructure Program (DCIP) requesting funding for the Jolon Road Safety Improvement Project (Project) to rehabilitate approximately 21.5 miles of Jolon Road (from the entrance of U.S. Army Garrison Fort Hunter Liggett at the intersection of Mission Road and Jolon Road and continuing south to the U.S. Highway 101 interchange).
Although the feedback provided by the Department of Defense about the application was complimentary, the Project was not selected for funding.
There is a new DCIP grant solicitation for 2024, which provides $100 million to address deficiencies in community infrastructure supportive of a military installation and fund projects that enhance military value, military installation resilience, or military family quality of life. Applicants can apply for up to $20 million in funding and grant applications are due by 5 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time on June 17, 2024. Eligible costs include construction costs only. Soft costs, such as planning, design, permitting, and California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)/ National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) compliance are not eligible costs under the grant program and must be funded by non-Federal funds. PWFP intends to submit another DCIP application in June 2024 for the Project requesting approximately $14 million for the construction phase of the Project to rehabilitate approximately 21.5 miles of Jolon Road, which would be supplemented with $6.6 million of construction phase funds planned for Jolon Road in a future year in the FY25 Capital Improvement Program 5-year Plan.
If the proposed grant application is selected to receive funding, staff will return to the Board for approval to accept the grant award and approve the Project. Programming Federal transportation funds will support construction jobs, enhance public safety, as well as provide needed improvements for economic development, business retention, quality of life, and mobility throughout the County.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
PWFP staff collaborated with Fort Hunter Liggett staff during application development.
FINANCING:
Staff and consultant cost to submit the application will be funded out of the Road Fund. The estimated cost is $5,000. Sufficient funds are available in the FY2023-24 adopted budget for the Road Fund 002, Unit 8558, Appropriation PFP004 to finance this work. The total Project cost is approximately $24 million. The adopted FY 2023-24 Road Fund 002, budget includes $2.25 million in appropriations to fund the design phase of this Project. Funding for the construction phase could be a combination of Measure X, SB1, plus any grant funding that is awarded for the Project.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS’ STRATEGIC INITIATIVES:
The Project will construct sustainable, physical infrastructure that improves the quality of life for County residents and visitors. The recommended action supports the following Board of Supervisors’ Strategic Initiatives:
Economic Development
Administration
Health & Human Services
X Infrastructure
X Public Safety
Prepared by: Victor Gutierrez, Project Manager, (831) 755-4806
Janie Bettencourt, Management Analyst II
Reviewed by: Jonathan Pascua, PE, Senior Civil Engineer
Enrique Saavedra, PE, Chief of Public Works
Approved by: Randell Ishii, MS, PE, TE, PTOE, Director of Public Works, Facilities and Parks
The following attachment is on file with the Clerk of the Board:
Attachment A - Location Map