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Adopt resolutions of local support authorizing the filing of applications for funding assigned from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission to the Benicia Road Complete Streets Phase 2 Project and the Farm-To-Market Phase 4 Project
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Published Notice Required? Yes ____ No _X _
Public Hearing Required? Yes ____ No _X _
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
The Department of Resource Management recommends that the Board of Supervisors adopt resolutions of local support authorizing the filing of applications for funding assigned from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission to the Benicia Road Complete Streets Phase 2 Project and the Farm-To-Market Phase 4 Project.
SUMMARY:
The Department of Resource Management recently received a $1.63 million Active Transportation Program (ATP) grant for the second phase of the Benicia Road Complete Streets Project. The ATP funds will supplement the larger project that will construct pedestrian, bicycle, and transit improvements on Benicia Road, in collaboration with the City of Vallejo. In addition, the Department of Resource Management received a $750,000 Priority Conservation Area (PCA) grant for the fourth phase of the Farm-To-Market Project on Suisun Valley Road. The PCA funds will enable initiation of the design engineering for access improvements along Suisun Valley Road as a connector to the broader Suisun Valley.
In order to facilitate use of these grant funds, Solano County must commit to planning goals and requirements established by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC). MTC requires agencies receiving these funds adopt a resolution of local support for each which commits the jurisdiction to the requirements within. With the Board’s adoption of the resolutions (Attachments A and B), the Department of Resource Management will execute all documents necessary to facilitate use of grant funds for the projects.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The costs associated with preparing the agenda item and submitting the executed resolution are nominal and absorbed by the Department’s FY2024/25 Working Budget. Construction of the projects using grant funds will only be exercised after all environmental and design portions are completed and will require a future action by the Board to recognize these funds.
DISCUSSION:
Benicia Road Complete Streets Phase 2:
Benicia Road Complete Streets Phase 1 Project construction was completed in 2024, with landscape establishment work remaining for project completion. The northern portion of Benicia Road is an older four lane parkway that no longer serves its original purpose as a main accessway to Mare Island and requires significant investment for various roadway improvements. To create space for the new improvements, the Phase 1 roadway underwent a “road diet”, which eliminated two of the four travel lanes to provide space for pedestrian, transit, and bicycle access improvements. No traffic impacts were created since the roadway had excess capacity that required only a single lane in each direction for adequate traffic flow.
The neighborhood around this portion of Benicia Road has been identified as a Disadvantaged Community, which provides prioritization for these various improvements. Benicia Road also serves as an important connection to the Vallejo Bus Hub off Curtola Parkway, as well as a vital Safe Routes to Schools connector that also provides increased opportunities for other grant funds to supplement the project.
The second phase of Benicia Road Complete Streets, in the Solano County Public Works Capital Improvement Plan, planned similar “road diet” improvements for the remaining portion of Benicia Road, north of Interstate 80, from Starr Avenue to 9th Street. This roadway corridor is aged, with substandard sidewalks and transit stops, while containing no dedicated bike lanes. With the completion of Phase 1, Department staff collaborated on several grants with City of Vallejo staff to fund Phase 2.
State and regional ATP grant review committees assigned the Benicia Road Complete Streets Phase 2 project a score of 96, which provided a full award of $1.63 million in ATP funds for the project. Design work has already begun with the Phase 2 project anticipated for construction delivery in FY2026/27.
Farm-To-Market Phase 4:
The Department also received a $750,000 award from MTC for the Farm-To-Market Phase 4 Project after competing regionally for Priority Conservation Area (PCA) funds. The Phase 4 project anticipates new sidewalks, bike lanes, and a transit stop on Suisun Valley Road, between Solano Community College and Rockville Road. This award begins the design process for the project while the Department seeks additional funding for the $2.5 million construction estimate.
Under provisions in California Senate Bill 375, Solano County can receive consideration for grant funds for farm-to-market interconnectivity from MTC:
The metropolitan planning organization or county transportation agency, whichever entity is appropriate, shall consider financial incentives for cities and counties that have resource areas or farmland, as defined in Section 65080.01, for the purposes of, for example, transportation investments for the preservation and safety of the city street or county road system and farm to market and interconnectivity transportation needs. The metropolitan planning organization or county transportation agency, whichever entity is appropriate, shall also consider financial assistance for counties to address countywide service responsibilities in counties that contribute towards the greenhouse gas emission reduction targets by implementing policies for growth to occur within their cities.
Local and regional consumption of locally grown produce is known to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions due to significant reductions in processing, packaging, and transport of local foods compared to food obtained from outside County sources. PCA funds are committed to identified PCA’s, like the Suisun Valley PCA designation, to enhance mobility and access to local farm produce. The Department will continue to pursue PCA funds from MTC if those funds remain available and eligible for the Suisun Valley PCA.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board could choose to not adopt the resolutions; however, this is not recommended because both projects are within the County’s Public Works Capital Improvement Plan and require the grant funds for delivery.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
Department staff solicited input from the Solano Transportation Authority, the City of Vallejo, and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION