Title
a. Approve a Cooperative Agreement with California State Department of Transportation (Caltrans) for a portion of the Monterey Bay Sanctuary Scenic Trail project near the community of Moss Landing; and
b. Authorize the Resource Management Agency Director or the Deputy Director of Public Works, Parks and Facilities to execute the Cooperative Agreement.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
a. Approve a Cooperative Agreement with California State Department of Transportation (Caltrans) for a portion of the Monterey Bay Sanctuary Scenic Trail project near the community of Moss Landing; and
b. Authorize the Resource Management Agency Director or the Deputy Director of Public Works, Parks and Facilities to execute the Cooperative Agreement.
SUMMARY:
This Cooperative Agreement would establish the roles and responsibilities of the County and Caltrans for the design and construction of the Monterey Bay Sanctuary Scenic Trail Project (Project), near the community of Moss Landing. Under this agreement, the County of Monterey (RMA) will assume lead for the design and construction of the Monterey Bay Sanctuary Scenic Trail project.
The Project consists of design and construction of a bicycle path along State Route 1 from Moss Landing Road to the north side of Elkhorn Slough, approximately 0.86 of a mile, including construction of a 12-foot wide bridge approximately 386 feet long over Elkhorn Slough. County will finalize design, acquire the necessary permits and easements, administer the construction contract and oversee the construction of the Project. Construction is anticipated to begin in Summer 2020.
DISCUSSION:
This Project was placed on hold due to the lack of funds for the construction phase. Up until that point, RMA staff progressed through the environmental phase of the Project with adoption of a Mitigated Negative Declaration and the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program in September 2015. Staff completed ninety percent (90%) of design and started moving forward on the right-of-way and permitting phase of the Project. Staff applied twice for the Active Transportation Program (ATP) grant to fully fund the construction phase of the Project but was unsuccessful both times (2015 ATP and 2016 ATP).
The California Transportation Commission (CTC) adopted the 2017 ATP Augmentation with the recent passage of Senate Bill 1. This augmentation would fund projects that were submitted in the 2017 ATP cycle. Projects submitted in the 2016 ATP cycle that received a score of 74 and demonstrated a potential to increase walking and biking were recommended for the grant for the Small Urban & Rural Component. Monterey Bay Sanctuary Scenic Trail Project received a score of 74; and therefore, was included in the list of new projects to be awarded $7.5 million from the 2017 ATP Augmentation.
With this award, the Monterey Bay Sanctuary Scenic Trail Project has sufficient funds to continue into the construction phase and staff is working together with Caltrans and TAMC to complete the design of the Project, acquire the necessary easements and permits, and construct it. A Cooperative Agreement between the County and Caltrans is required to proceed with the Project since it is located within the right of way of State Route 1.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The Office of the County Counsel has reviewed and approved the Cooperative Agreement as to form.
FINANCING:
The total estimated project cost, including engineering, environmental, right-of-way and construction is $13.7 million. Expenditures incurred from Fiscal Year 2008 to the current year total $2.6 million. The remaining $11.1 million is expected to be expended over the next three fiscal years through various Federal, State and grant funding sources: Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient and Transportation Equity: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU); Gas Tax; Measure X; 2% Transportation Development Act (TDA); Active Transportation Program (ATP); and Coastal Conservancy Grant. All Federal and State funds supporting this project are reimbursable grants. The Road Fund will cash flow the expenditures until reimbursement is received, which typically takes 60 days.
2017 ATP Augmentation grant funds will not be affected if Senate Bill 1 is repealed in November 2018, because the Project is already included in the list of new projects to be funded.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC INITIATIVES:
The Project will construct a new transportation infrastructure along State Route 1, near the community of Moss Landing, and provide safer access for bicyclists and pedestrians in the immediate area. The recommended action supports the following Board of Supervisors’ Strategic Initiative:
__ Economic Development
__ Administration
__ Health & Human Services
X Infrastructure
X Public Safety
Prepared by: Jonathan L. Pascua, PE, Senior Civil Engineer, (831) 755-8963
Approved by: Enrique M. Saavedra, PE, Acting Chief of Public Works
Approved by: Carl P. Holm, AICP, RMA Director
The following attachments are on file with the Clerk of the Board:
Attachment A - Cooperative Agreement
Attachment B - Project Budget
Attachment C - Location Map