Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Steve Monowitz, Community Development Director
Subject: 2021 Highway Program Call for Projects grant application for the Moss Beach SR-1 Congestion and Safety Improvements Project
RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a resolution supporting the Moss Beach SR-1 Congestion and Safety Improvements Project and authorizing submittal of an application for 2021 Measure A and Measure W Highway Program funding and committing to the completion of the proposed project scope.
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BACKGROUND:
In 1980, the Board of Supervisors and the California Coastal Commission approved San Mateo County’s Local Coastal Program (LCP). In April 1981, the County assumed responsibility for implementing the State Coastal Act in the unincorporated area of San Mateo County’s coastal zone, including issuance of Coastal Development Permits.
The County’s current Local Coastal Program includes Policy 1.23, which provides in part that the County shall “...limit the maximum number of new dwelling units built in the urban Midcoast to 40 units each calendar year until. A comprehensive transportation management plan, as described in Policy 2.53, is incorporated into the Local Coastal Program.” LCP policy 2.53 describes the required content of a comprehensive transportation management plan to address the cumulative traffic impacts of residential development on the San Mateo County Midcoast. The County prepared the draft San Mateo County Midcoast Comprehensive Transportation Management Plan (CTMP or “Connect the Coastside”) as the comprehensive transportation management plan for the San Mateo County Midcoast to meet the requirements of LCP Policy 2.53 as well as other needs of County residents and visitors. Connect the Coastside aims to address Midcoast mobility, to protect coastal resources and public access, and to improve the livability for Midcoast residents.
In 1988, San Mateo County voters passed the original Measure A sales tax, which included funding for specific highway projects listed in the 1988 Transportation Expenditure Plan. In 2004, the voters of San Mateo County reauthorized the Measure A Program and approved an extension of the existing half-cent transportation sales tax for 25 years from 2009 through 2033. The 2004 Transportation Expenditure Plan provides that 27.5 percent of the sales tax revenue be dedicated to the highway program, with 17.3 percent committed to projects on state highways known as Key Congested Areas and 10.2 percent for Supplemental Roadways for projects on highways and other roadways.
In 2018, the voters of San Mateo County approved Measure W, a new 30-year half-cent sales tax for transportation programs and projects that took effect July 1, 2019 and expires June 30, 2049. The Measure W Congestion Relief Plan identifies that 22.5 percent of Measure W be dedicated to highway congestion improvements.
In 2021, the San Mateo County Transportation Authority (TA) Board of Directors adopted the Short Range Highway Plan (SRHP) and Capital Improvement Program (CIP) to support future investment decisions for the Measure A Highways and Measure W Countywide Highway Congestion categories. The SRHP incorporates the Measure A goals along with the new Measure W core principles and is the policy foundation for making highway program investment decisions.
On August 6, 2021, the TA issued a Call for Projects for the Measure A and Measure W Highway Program funds. The 2021 Highway Program Call for Projects is based on the guidance adopted in the SRHP and CIP. Up to $100 million may be made available between both measures for projects that best meet the program evaluation criteria. To be eligible for Highway Program funds, projects must be listed in the SRHP and CIP, or listed in the Measure A Transportation Expenditure Plan.
DISCUSSION:
Preparation of the draft Connect the Coastside engaged community members and agency stakeholders, including Caltrans, to identify various safety and operational improvements along Highway 1 (SR-1) in unincorporated Moss Beach. These include but are not limited to: intersection controls (signals, single-lane, or multilane roundabouts) to improve safety and operations at the intersections of SR-1 with 16th Street, California Avenue, and Cypress Avenue; marked pedestrian crosswalks; Class 1 bicycle and pedestrian path on east side of SR-1; and Class 2 bike lanes on SR-1.
Pursuing the next phase of project planning for these recommendations is identified as an early implementation action in Connect the Coastside. Staff discussed the proposed projects with Caltrans and were advised to develop a Project Study Report-Project Development Support (PSR-PDS) document. Project Initiation Documents (PIDs) are required to be developed and approved by Caltrans before any major or high complexity project can be programmed and constructed on the State Highway System; a PSR-PDS is a type of PID and is used to gain approval for the project to move into the Project Approval and Environmental Document (PA and ED) phase. The PSR-PDS describes the transportation problem, identifies the scope of the viable alternatives, and provides an estimate of the project development support resources required for the specific project. The PSR-PDS provides an opportunity to consider alternatives and context-sensitive solutions that includes community engagement and balances needs of multiple transportation modes (vehicles, bicycles, pedestrians, and transit).
Staff has prepared a grant application for consideration for the TA Highway Program Call for Projects, called the “Moss Beach SR-1 Congestion & Safety Improvements Project.” The proposed grant amount of $1,070,000 would fund:
• a consultant team to develop the PSR-PDS, including all data collection and analysis, community engagement, and attachments as required by Caltrans; and
• Caltrans staff time for PSR-PDS oversight.
The TA requires a minimum 10 percent cash match for the grant ($125,000). The Department has worked with the County Manager’s Office to identify available sources of funding for this match, which include Measure K funds. If awarded, the project would facilitate implementation of Connect the Coastside and the Local Coastal Program.
A key eligibility requirement of the TA’s Highway Program is a resolution of local support for the proposed project. Failure to adopt the resolution will make the County ineligible for the funds, if awarded by the TA.
The resolution has been reviewed and approved by County Counsel as to form.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The County will need to provide $125,000 in required matching funds if the County is awarded the requested $1,070,000 in funding through the 2021 Measure A and Measure W Highway Program Call for Projects.
ATTACHMENTS:
A. Project Area Map