TO: AC Transit Board of Directors
FROM: Michael A. Hursh, General Manager/Chief Executive Officer
SUBJECT: FY22-23 Transit Performance Initiative (TPI) Investment Application
ACTION ITEM
AGENDA PLANNING REQUEST: ☐
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
Title
Consider authorizing the General Manager or his designee to file and execute applications for the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) FY 2022-23 Transit Performance Initiative - Investment (TPI-Investment) grant program for the Foothill Corridor Planning Study and MacDonald Transit Signal Priority (TSP) Project.
Staff Contact:
Chris Andrichak, Chief Financial Officer
Body
STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE:
Goal - Financial Stability and Resiliency
Initiative - Financial Efficiency and Revenue Maximization
Applying for grant funds for these projects will help the District in funding vital capital projects that will improve transit performance.
BUDGETARY/FISCAL IMPACT:
Staff recommends applying for approximately $5 million in Fiscal Year 2022-23 TPI-Investment program grant funds to do a planning study of the Foothill Corridor in Oakland and install Transit Signal Priority (TSP) equipment and optimize bus stops along MacDonald Avenue in Richmond. An 11.47% match of approximately $573,500 is required, which will come from District capital or other grants.
BACKGROUND/RATIONALE:
The TPI program is administered by MTC. For FY 2023, MTC estimates a minimum of $15 million of One Bay Area Grant Round 2 (OBAG2) funds along with a potential augmentation of $4 to $6 million Cap-and-Trade Low Carbon Transit Operations Program (LCTOP) funds. The TPI program’s goal is to fund lower-cost capital improvements that will improve operations and customer experience on urban trunk lines.
Staff proposes applying to the TPI-Investment program for approximately $5 million in funding for the following projects:
1. Foothill Corridor Planning Study
• The Foothill Boulevard study/plan will create a transit corridor plan for Foothill Boulevard in Oakland between Eastmont Transit Center and Lake Merritt. The study will identify capital improvements and service changes needed to improve transit along the Foothill corridor. The total project cost is approximately $1.7 million.
2. MacDonald TSP Project
• This project will install TSP equipment along MacDonald Avenue in Richmond. The project will also include traffic signal upgrades, signal communication, and signal timing coordination. In addition, bus stops along the corridor will be improved through relocation, consolidation, and/or installation of bus bulbs/islands. The total project cost is approximately $3.9 million.
Applications are due to MTC by November 14, 2022.
ADVANTAGES/DISADVANTAGES:
The advantage of applying for this grant is to be able to compete for funds to develop a critical corridor transit plan and improve transit operations in heavily congested corridors. The main disadvantage is the local funding match obligation.
ALTERNATIVES ANALYSIS:
Staff identified the abovementioned projects as the most critical for this funding because the project locations are heavily congested, which slows down the District’s transit operations. These corridors are also identified in the District’s Major Corridors Study for transit priority capital investment. Staff also considered the Fremont TSP project; however, the Foothill Boulevard study and MacDonald TSP project match the guidelines of the TPI program more closely and are higher priorities for the District.
PRIOR RELEVANT BOARD ACTION/POLICIES:
SR 21-378: Application for FY21 FTA Areas of Persistent Poverty Program
SR 22- 353: 2024 Comprehensive Investment Plan and OBAG 3 Projects Submission
ATTACHMENTS:
Board Policy 324 - Revenues and Grants
Prepared by:
Michelle Ruan, Senior Capital Planning Specialist
In Collaboration with:
Eve Ng, Capital Planning & Grants Manager
Jim Cunradi, Transportation Planning Manager
Wil Buller, Traffic Engineer
Approved/Reviewed by:
Chris Andrichak, Chief Financial Officer
Ramakrishna Pochiraju, Executive Director of Planning & Engineering
Robert del Rosario, Director of Service Development and Planning
Jill A. Sprague, General Counsel/Chief Legal Officer