Board of Supervisors
On April 12, 2016 the Board of Supervisors received a report from the Departments of Public Works and Conservation and Development regarding the concept of a Multi-Use Trail along the Marsh Creek Corridor and took the following actions, 1) RECEIVE report, 2) ADOPT Resolution No. 2016/326 supporting exploration of the concept of the Marsh Creek Corridor Multi-Use Trail, and supporting efforts to identify and secure funding for this project; 3) In collaboration with other proponents of the concept, ADVOCATE for support and funding for the Marsh Creek Corridor Multi-Use Trail, including study and potential implementation, in local, state, and federal transportation, recreation, park, and open space funding efforts and REQUEST consideration of the Marsh Creek Multi-use Trail in the sales tax matter currently under consideration by the Contra Costa Transportation Authority; 4) DIRECT staff to refine the preliminary budget and develop a scope of work for the feasibility analysis and AUTHORIZE staff to work with other prospective project partners to seek funding opportunities.
Transportation, Water, and Infrastructure Committee (TWIC)
At the October 9, 2017 TWIC meeting staff brought a report with the following recommendations, "RECEIVE update on the proposed Marsh Creek Corridor Multi-Use Trail Study, and DIRECT staff as appropriate."
The draft record from the discussion:
Staff was directed to to address the following concerns and issues: develop a strategy and
Request for Proposal/Scope of Work that would increase the likelihood of the project moving
ahead expeditiously, ensure that the East Bay Regional Park District and the East Contra
Costa County Habitat Conservancy are active partners, establish a study budget which
clearly funds the local match, and return to the Committee for approval to proceed.
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This report is intended to respond to 1) the concerns raised at October 2017 TWIC meeting {discussed above}, and 2) the direction in the Board of Supervisor's (BOS) Resolution 2016/326 {specifically "...refine the preliminary budget and develop a scope of work..."}.
In addition to responding to the direction described above, staff has become aware of available funding through several grant programs and is requesting that TWIC recommend that the BOS approve submission of grants to a] Caltrans under the Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant program, b] the Coastal Conservancy under the Proposition 1 Grant (multi-benefit ecosystem and watershed protection and restoration projects) Program, and c] the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) under the Priority Conservation Area grant program.
Project Background
Marsh Creek Road is a popular commute and recreational route for bicyclists traveling between Central County and East County in spite of the lack of bicycle facilities. In 2015 and 2016, the Public Works Department (PWD) and Department of Conservation and Development (DCD) staff initiated exploration of the general concept of a multi-use non-motorized trail along the Marsh Creek Corridor. The proposed trail would run from an existing Class II bicycle facility in Clayton to the Round Valley Regional Preserve, where it would connect to a proposed extension of the existing Marsh Creek Trail. Completion of the multi-use trail along the Marsh Creek Corridor would result in one continuous non-motorized facility from Concord to the Delta Shoreline. A more complete project description and map is attached, One-Pager-Marsh Creek Corridor Multi-Use Trail.pdf.
As detailed at the bottom of this report, the project has support from interested and impacted agencies including four cities, the East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD), Save Mount Diablo, and the East Contra Costa County Habitat Conservancy (ECCCHC). This support is in addition to adopted policy support in the Contra Costa County General Plan and the Contra Costa Transportation Authority's Countywide Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan (MCT_Support_Docs.pdf).
From a positive public investment perspective, the project will leverage what are, and will be, sunk costs resulting from the active and planned acquisition and restoration activities in the corridor. Save Mount Diablo, the East Contra Costa County Habitat Conservancy, and the EBRPD are actively acquiring and restoring creek and roadside parcels in the corridor.
Project Development - Update
Consistent with the BOS direction, PWD and DCD staff have refined a scope-of-work for the feasibility study (Attached 11-1-17 Marsh Creek Trail Scope of Work - Draft.pdf) and are requesting:
1) authorization from TWIC and the BOS to apply for grants that would, if successful, replace the
Livable Communities Trust Fund contribution in the funding package identified below, and
2) authorization to develop and release a Request for Proposals to select a consultant to conduct
the study.
After reviewing comparable studies, staff estimates that the necessary work can be completed at a cost of $300,000. The scope-of-work includes a number of tasks to be completed, including data collection, public outreach, identification and analysis of alternatives, and ultimately, a feasibility analysis consistent with original BOS direction. The project currently has the following fund sources identified that are sufficient to fund the Study:
• District 3: Committed $250,000 from the from its Livable Communities Trust (LCT) Fund.
• East Contra Costa County Habitat Conservancy: $25,000 from Restoration Planning Funds
• Public Works Department: $25,000 from the Road Fund (gas tax) budget, Advance Planning line item.
The intent is to have either the Caltrans, Coastal Conservancy, or MTC grant replace the $250,000 LCT funds. In the event these applications are unsuccessful, staff will proceed with the RFP and study using the fund sources identified above.
Local Match for Grants
Caltrans - Senate Bill 1 Grant: A $200,000 grant under the Sustainable Transportation program would require a $26,000 local match. The ECCCHC funds would cover the majority of the match. Non SB1 Gas tax is ineligible for use as match, staff recommends District 3 LCT funds be used for the remainder.
Coastal Conservancy Grant - Proposition 1: No local match is required but it does count towards points on the application. From the grant application: "Projects that have at least 25% matching funds will receive 3 points. Projects with greater than 50% matching funds will receive 5 points."
Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC)/Coastal Conservancy - Priority
Conservation Area (PCA) Grant: No information has been published on this grant program at the time this staff report is being published. However, communication with MTC staff indicates that a Request for Proposal should be released by the end of year. The administration of the grant is not clear yet, while the funding may come from MTC, the grant may be administered by the Coastal Conservancy.
If TWIC approves the recommendations of this report, staff will begin a phased preparation of the Caltrans, Coastal Conservancy, and MTC grant applications. In the event the Caltrans Grant is awarded, the Coastal Conservancy Grant will be withdrawn. While the timing of the MTC/PCA grant is unknown, staff would take a similar approach and either suspend work or withdraw the application if we are successful with an earlier grant.
The tentative schedule for the three grant programs are included below.
Caltrans Senate Bill 1 Sustainable Transportation Planning Grants (grants will support regional sustainable communities strategies and help to achieve the State's greenhouse gas reductions targets)
January 2, 2018 – Release Grant Guides and call for applications
February 23, 2018 – Grant applications due
March 2018 – Application evaluation period
May 2018 – Management approval and release grant announcements
February 1, 2019 – Non-MPO/RTPA final due date for contract packages
May 1, 2019 – MPO/RTPA final due date for programming funds in Overall Work Programs
(OWPs) and OWP Agreements.
February 28, 2021 – ALL grant tasks must be completed
April 30, 2021 – ALL final invoices must be submitted
Coastal Conservancy Proposition 1 (multi-benefit ecosystem and watershed protection and
restoration projects) Grant Program
Winter 2017 Grant Round
December 2017 - Request for Proposals Released
February 2018 - Proposals Due
Spring 2018 Grant Round
March 2018 - Request for Proposals Released
May 2018 - Proposals Due
Metropolitan Transportation Commission/Coastal Conservancy - Priority Conservation
Area Grant
Unconfirmed:
Late 2017 - Request for Proposals
Spring 2018 - Applications Due
Existing Policy Support (referenced documents are attached, MCT_Support_Docs.pdf)
- City of Antioch: Resolution 2016/116 Supporting the Exploration of the Marsh Creek Multi-Use Trail Concept
- City of Brentwood: Resolution 2016/113 Supporting the Exploration of the Marsh Creek Multi-Use Trail Concept
- City of Clayton: Resolution 46-2016 Supporting the Concept of the Marsh Creek Corridor Multi-Use Trail
- City of Oakley: Resolution 153-16 Supporting the Exploration of the Marsh Creek Multi-use Trail Concept
- Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors: Resolution 2016/326 Supporting the Concept of a Marsh Creek Corridor Multi-Use Trail
- Contra Costa County General Plan: The "Bicycle Facilities Network" map includes a bicycle facility along Marsh Creek Road.
- Contra Costa Transportation Authority: The Countywide Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan include support for the subject project including 1) planned bicycle facilities along Marsh Creek Road, and 2) the inclusion of the Marsh Creek Corridor in the "Countywide Bicycle Network". The Countywide Bicycle Network is described in the plan as "...the primary bikeway corridors that would connect Contra Costa cities and towns with major destinations. It is intended as the framework around which more local bikeways are integrated into a countywide system."
- East Bay Regional Park District: Resolution 2016-06-160 to Support Contra Costa County's Leadership on the Concept of a Marsh Creek Corridor Multi-Use Trail
- East Contra Costa County Habitat Conservancy: Resolution 2015-02 Supporting the Concept of a Marsh Creek Corridor Multi-Use Trail
- Save Mount Diablo: Letter from the Director of Land Programs supporting the Marsh Creek Corridor Multi-Use Trail
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