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C. 6

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	Brian M. Balbas, Public Works Director/Chief Engineer
Date:	April 12, 2022

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

Grant application for the San Pablo Avenue Complete Street/Bay Trail Gap Closure project, San Pablo area.

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 04/12/2022

APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED

OTHER

Clerks Notes:

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS

AYE:

John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Candace Andersen, District II Supervisor
Diane Burgis, District III Supervisor
Karen Mitchoff, District IV Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor

Contact:

Jeff Valeros, 925.313.2031

I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: April 12, 2022
Monica Nino, County Administrator

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Public Works Director, or designee, to submit a Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant application to the U.S. Department of Transportation for the San Pablo Avenue Complete Street/Bay Trail Gap Closure project, San Pablo area. (District V)

FISCAL IMPACT:

No local match is required.

BACKGROUND:

The County often seeks state and federal funding to augment local road funding, stretching local dollars to build improvements that would not be possible otherwise. The current opportunity is through the RAISE grant application administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Funds for the RAISE grant program are awarded on a competitive basis for surface transportation infrastructure projects that will have a significant local or regional impact. This program is referred to as the Local and Regional Project Assistance Program in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Applications must be submitted by April 14, 2022.

BACKGROUND: (CONT'D)

Staff recommends submitting the San Pablo Avenue Complete Street/Bay Trail Gap Closure project for RAISE funding consideration. This project aims to provide a shared bicycle and pedestrian path, separated by a physical barrier, on the northern side of the San Pablo Avenue corridor between the unincorporated communities of Rodeo and Crockett. This will be accomplished by reducing the existing four travel lanes to one travel lane in each direction with center left-turn lanes, dedicated left-turn pockets, and truck climbing lanes. The addition of a shared bicycle and pedestrian path will close a 3-mile gap of the San Francisco Bay Trail, further connecting these two communities as well as the other amenities tied to the San Francisco Bay Trail. The anticipated benefits are numerous as the new infrastructure will not only provide an option for local residents to use an active mode of transportation for their commute but also extends well beyond these two communities as closing this gap will complete a 29-mile segment of the Bay Trail between Vallejo and Oakland.

The San Pablo Avenue corridor between Rodeo and Crockett has been recognized in numerous prior planning documents as a key route and targeted for multi-modal improvements. The County’s 2005 General Plan designates this portion of the corridor as a Scenic Route, given its surrounding landscape and views of San Pablo Bay, the Carquinez Strait, and the Briones Hills. The 2009 Countywide Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan proposes a Class II bicycle facility on this portion of San Pablo Avenue and noted that this facility is part of the County’s larger bicycle and pedestrian network. The West Contra Costa Transportation Advisory Committee 2017 Action Plan designated the San Pablo Avenue corridor as a Route of Regional Significance and has identified an action to implement a Complete Streets/Bay Trail project connecting Rodeo and Crockett.

In 2014, a feasibility study was commissioned by the County through a Priority Development Area planning grant from Metropolitan Transportation Commission and Contra Costa Transportation Authority for this segment of San Pablo Avenue to identify a preferred complete street alternative and set of improvements for the roadway. The study incorporated a series of technical studies, field work, public outreach, and engineering analysis, which provided the basis for the recommended alternative. A shared use path on the northern side with a road diet was determined as this recommended alternative. On June 5, 2018, the Board of Supervisors approved the feasibility report for the San Pablo Avenue Complete Streets Study and authorized the Public Works Director to seek funding.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

If staff is not authorized to submit a grant application, grant funding will not be available, which will delay the design and construction of the proposed project.