Report Prepared by: Michael R. Beltran II, PE, City Engineer
Title
SUBJECT: Selection of the Highway 59 and 16th Street Turn Channelization as the Eligible Roadway Project and Submittal of 2019/2020 Regional Surface Transportation Program (RSTP) Exchange Funds Claim Form in the Amount of $77,731 to be Filed with the Merced County Association of Governments (MCAG) to Fund a Portion of the Project
REPORT IN BRIEF
Selects the Highway 59 and 16th Street Right Turn Channelization project and authorizes staff to complete the FY 2019/2020 Regional Surface Transportation (RSTP) Claim Form in the amount of $77,731 for submittal to the Merced County Association of Governments (MCAG).
RECOMMENDATION
City Council - Adopt a motion:
A. Selecting the Highway 59 Right Turn Channelization project; and,
B. Directing staff to complete the 2019-2020 RSTP claim form by listing the selected project and corresponding project costs; and,
C. Adopting Resolution 2020-62, a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Merced California, authorizing the City Manager to file the Regional Surface Transportation Program (RSTP) Exchange Funds claim for Fiscal Year 2019-2020; and,
D. Authorizing the Finance Officer to make necessary budget adjustments for Fiscal Year 2020-2021.
Body
ALTERNATIVES
1. Approve, as recommended by staff; or,
2. Approve, subject to conditions other than recommended by staff; or,
3. Deny; or,
4. Refer to staff for reconsideration of specific items; or,
5. Continue to a future meeting (date and time to be specified in the motion).
AUTHORITY
The Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act (SAFETEA-LU) provides for the exchange of Local Un-obligated RSTP funds through MCAG per the Caltrans agreement.
Projects to be funded with this claim are only those projects that are defined under Section 133(b) and 133(c) of Title 23, United States Code and Article XIX of the California State Constitution, implemented in accordance with the requirements of Section 182.6(d)(I) of the Streets and Highway Code.
Funding received, and the interest earned, must be used only for the purposes for which the claim is approved. If the claimant fails to use funds received in accordance with the terms of the agreement, the exchange funds must be returned to MCAG.
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
Address Council’s priority for improving local roads, sidewalks, and traffic.
DISCUSSION
The Regional Surface Transportation Program (RSTP) portion of the Federal SAFETEA-LU Act provides for revenues and allocations to local agencies. Merced County Association of Governments (MCAG) has received authorization from Caltrans providing for fund distribution in a two-tier process. The funds allocated to the City through MCAG represent a City "Lifeline" apportionment with the remainder of the funds to be allocated by MCAG based on a mutually acceptable allocation formula.
The MCAG Board has adopted a formula based on population by jurisdiction. A summary of the apportionments is shown in Attachment 2. MCAG, on behalf of the local agencies, has entered into an agreement with Caltrans to exchange the Local Un-obligated balance of the 2019-2020 RSTP funds.
During the budget process for fiscal year 2020-21, MCAG requested that the City swap RSTP funds for Local Partnership Program Funds (LPP) per attachment 4 - MCAG letter. The apportionment shows Merced should be allocated $1,027,835 in RSTP funds but the claim is for $77,731 because the additional $950,104 will be exchanged for LPP funds. As part of MCAG’s claim process, the City is required to submit the completed claim form containing a list of up to four projects to be funded with the exchange funds, as well as a City Council Resolution authorizing the RSTP Claim.
Staff recommends the project below be completed utilizing the FY 2019-2020 RSTP Exchange Funds:
• Highway 59 Right Turn Channelization in the amount of $77,731
In addition to the recommended RSTP funding, the Highway 59 Right Turn Channelization project includes $221,325 of CMAQ funding.
Staff is seeking Council direction on the recommended project to utilize the RSTP exchanged funds. Per the requirements of the RSTP claim form agreement, once projects are listed on the RSTP claim, the City is obligated to complete the projects or return the unspent exchange funds to MCAG. The claim form must be approved by resolution and submitted to MCAG to ensure the City to receive its share of the RSTP funding.
IMPACT ON CITY RESOURCES
Funding for this project, and the associated estimated revenue have been accounted for in the FY 2020/21 Adopted Budget.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Resolution 2020-62
2. Apportionments
3. Claim Form
4. MCAG Letter