CITY OF SAN MATEO. Administrative Report

Transcription

1 CITY OF SAN MATEO City Hall 330 W. 20th Avenue San Mateo, CA Administrative Report Agenda Number: 9., Status: New Business TO: FROM: PREPARED BY: City Council Larry A. Patterson, City Manager Public Works Department MEETING DATE: Monday, April 06, 2015 SUBJECT: Safe Routes to School Program RECOMMENDATION Adopt a Resolution to appropriate $2.515 million of California Transportation Commission grant funds under the Active Transportation Program administered by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission for the City of San Mateo s Safe Routes to School Program. BACKGROUND In September 2013, the Governor signed Senate Bill 99 (Chapter 359, Statutes 2013) and Assembly Bill 101 (Chapter 254, Statutes 2013) into law, creating the Active Transportation Program (ATP). The State envisions the ATP to consolidate a number of other funding sources intended to promote active transportation, such as the Bicycle Transportation Account and Transportation Alternatives Program, into one program. Over the next 3 years in 3 grant cycles, the State plans to award approximately $1.0 Billion worth of grant funds for Active Transportation Projects. The majority of the grant funds will be dispersed by the State, but approximately $90 million will be dispersed by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) for regional funding. On July 14, 2014, the City of San Mateo submitted a $2.515 million Safe Routes to School Program grant application to MTC for Cycle 1 of Regional ATP funding and on September 10, 2014, the City of San Mateo was officially awarded the $2.515 million requested to create and implement a City of San Mateo Safe Routes to School Program. Safe Routes to School Program The City of San Mateo Safe Routes to School (SR2S) program will consist of both infrastructure and noninfrastructure projects and programs. These projects and programs are divided into the 5 E s of the SR2S program: Education, Encouragement, Engineering, Enforcement, and Evaluation. The 5 E s are listed and explained below: Education: lessons on traffic safety, bicycle and pedestrian skills, and other topics that will help students understand the importance of active transportation Encouragement: programs to motivate students to participate in SR2S and to emphasize that walking and biking to school can be an enjoyable activity Engineering: infrastructure projects to improve accessibility for all users on the different routes to CITY OF SAN MATEO Page 1 of 2 Printed on 4/1/2015 powered by Legistar

2 Agenda Number: 9., Status: New Business schools Enforcement: law enforcement to ensure that the public obeys traffic laws in school zones Evaluation: measurement of the effectiveness of the improvements and programs, and to find areas for improvement These projects and programs will be implemented over a 1.5-year timeline starting in May 2015 and will be completed by August The infrastructure improvements will mainly be the City s responsibility, but the non-infrastructure projects and programs will be a collaborative effort between the City Public Works Department, the Police Department and the San Mateo-Foster City School District. For additional information, the detailed scope of work that was included in the grant application is summarized in more detail in Attachment 2. BUDGET IMPACT Safe Routes to School Program Project Account # was created for the appropriation of the $2.515 million. Matching grant funds were not a prerequisite for applying of the ATP grant, therefore, no additional City funds will need to be appropriated. ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION Pursuant to California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guideline Section 15061(b)(3), the appropriation of a grant funds is exempt from CEQA requirements in that it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment. Project specific environmental review consistent with CEQA requirements will be prepared for the Safe Routes to School infrastructure improvements. NOTICE PROVIDED All meeting noticing requirements were met. ATTACHMENTS 1 - Proposed Resolution 2 - Safe Routes to School Program Detailed Scope of Work STAFF CONTACT Kenneth Chin, Project Manager II kchin@cityofsanmateo.org (650) Brad Underwood, Public Works Director bunderwood@cityofsanmateo.org (650) CITY OF SAN MATEO Page 2 of 2 Printed on 4/1/2015 powered by Legistar

3 CITY OF SAN MATEO RESOLUTION NO. (2015) AUTHORIZING THE APPROPRIATION OF $2.515 MILLION OF CALIFORNIA TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION GRANT FUNDS FOR THE CITY S SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL PROGRAM WHEREAS, the City was awarded a $2,515,000 grant from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) under the Active Transportation program for the City of San Mateo s Safe Routes to School Program (the Program) in July 2014; and WHEREAS, the Program consists of both infrastructure and non-infrastructure projects and programs, detailed in the accompanying Administrative Report; and WHEREAS, an appropriation of $2,515,000 of MTC grant funds to the Program account is necessary to fund the activities included in the Program; NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN MATEO, CALIFORNIA, HEREBY RESOLVES that: 1. Pursuant to California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines section 15061(b)(3), the appropriation of grant funds is exempt from CEQA requirements in that it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment. However, CEQA analysis will be done once a Safe route to School Program is proposed for adoption with project specific CEQA analysis for the Safe Route to School Program infrastructure improvements. 2. The City Council authorizes the appropriation of $2,515,000 in Metropolitan Transportation Commission grant funds to the City of San Mateo s Safe Routes to Schools Program (Project Account #465164).

4 Purpose City of San Mateo Safe Routes to School (SR2S) Program The Safe Routes to School (SR2S) program focuses on encouraging more students to walk and bike to school and prioritizes the safety and needs of the children. The program addresses health and environmental issues, but also makes the streets safer for all users. The five E s are the different elements of SR2S (Education, Encouragement, Engineering, Enforcement, and Evaluation), with each component essential for a successful program. Partners and stakeholders are involved in the different aspects of the program, making SR2S a collaboration between many organizations and community members. The Safe Routes to School program benefits the public in the following ways: Improves public health by promoting active transportation modes and the health benefits of walking and biking Reduces traffic congestion by decreasing the number of vehicles on the road and improves local air quality Educates all users on traffic safety, which is vital for school zones during drop-off and pick-up hours when there is an increased number of vehicles on the road and students crossing the streets Addresses infrastructure issues that can potentially lead to pedestrian, bicycle, and vehicle collisions Safe Routes to School in the City of San Mateo The Safe Routes to School (SR2S) program is essential for the well-being of San Mateo neighborhoods because it addresses many issues affecting elementary and middle school students. The childhood obesity rates are increasing and students need the encouragement to participate in more physical activities, especially since many physical education classes will be discontinued. SR2S would address this problem by promoting more walking and biking to school. The percentage of students who walk and ride their bikes to school has declined, so SR2S aims to motivate more students to recognize the benefits of active transportation. SR2S also educates the community on traffic safety and improves infrastructure in school zones, so this addresses the issue of pedestrian, bicycle, and vehicle collisions. Project Proposal The City of San Mateo has fifteen elementary and middle schools that are part of the San Mateo-Foster City School District. Our consultants, Kimley-Horn and Associates and Parisi Transportation Consulting, have performed walk audits to identify potential improvements. Once implemented, these improvements will make the commute to schools more walkable and

5 safer for all users. In order to implement these improvements and non-infrastructure programs, the City will need about $2.5 million. This funding could potentially be granted by the new Active Transportation Program (ATP) created by Caltrans in Through this program, they are offering statewide grants with at least $1 billion available. The ATP grant has a special emphasis on Safe Routes to School (SR2S) programs and projects in disadvantaged communities. This is an advantage for the City of San Mateo since there is no matching requirement for SR2S projects and some of our schools serve a disadvantaged community. Also, the City has already begun planning for the SR2S program so if awarded the grant, immediate design and construction can occur. Scope of Work The Safe Routes to School (SR2S) program will consist of both infrastructure and noninfrastructure projects and programs. These projects and programs are divided into the 5 E s of the SR2S program: Education, Encouragement, Engineering, Enforcement, and Evaluation. The 5 E s are listed and explained below: Education: lessons on traffic safety, bicycle and pedestrian skills, and other topics that will help students understand the importance of active transportation Encouragement: programs to motivate students to participate in SR2S and to emphasize that walking and biking to school can be an enjoyable activity Engineering: infrastructure projects to improve accessibility for all users on the different routes to schools Enforcement: law enforcement to ensure that the public obeys traffic laws in school zones Evaluation: measurement of the effectiveness of the improvements and programs, and to find areas for improvement These projects and programs will be implemented over a 2-year timeline. The infrastructure improvements will mainly be the City s responsibility, but the non-infrastructure projects and programs will be a collaborative effort between the City and the San Mateo-Foster City School District. Other partners and stakeholders will also be involved throughout the whole program, including the San Mateo County Office of Education and the San Mateo Police Department. A. Education The City currently has a strong partnership with the San Mateo-Foster City School District. In a joint effort, the City and the school district will provide resources to the community containing information on the SR2S program and topics such as bicycle safety.

6 Task A.1: Develop a project website The City will provide a SR2S website as a component of the existing City website. Through the website, the community can learn more about the program, read about the current and future projects, access videos and pictures, and read informational hand-outs and brochures. Task A.2: Develop informational videos The City will develop at least five 2-3-minute videos to inform the community on SR2S. To highlight specific topics, at least ten 30-second videos will be available for students and parents containing information on the safety patrol program, pick-up/drop-off, bicycle parking, and the walking school bus. The City will collaborate with the school district s SR2S coordinator to show the videos at various events like Back to School Night and PTA Meetings. These videos will also be posted on the City and the school district s SR2S websites. Task A.3: Develop flyers and handouts The City will create at least five multi-lingual flyers and handouts containing information on the purpose of SR2S, tips, how to get involved, etc. The City will collaborate with the school district s SR2S coordinator to distribute the outreach materials at events, or even have flyers available throughout the schools. These flyers and handouts will also be accessible through the City and the school district s SR2S websites. Task A.4: Implement the Street Smarts program The City will adopt the Street Smarts program to address traffic safety issues. The Street Smarts program was created by the City of San Jose to educate the public on traffic safety tips for pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists. The program consists of outdoor media, presentations, and hand-outs. Posters and banners can be placed on street poles, in front of schools, on public transit, and other places in the neighborhoods. Traffic safety programs are also an element of the Street Smarts campaign and can be connected to SR2S. Students can participate in contests and challenges, and the schools can host assemblies, bike rodeos, walking school buses, and Walk to School Days. B. Encouragement To motivate students to participate in the SR2S program, the City will provide them with incentives to walk and ride their bikes to school. Task B.1: Develop a City Awards program The City will collaborate with the San Mateo-Foster City School District to create a City Awards program to encourage students and create a friendly competition between the schools. The awards will be based off of the number of students participating in SR2S and prizes will be given to winning schools. Another opportunity to motivate students through a friendly competition is to continue the Art Takes a Bus Ride contest hosted by SamTrans and the San Mateo County

7 Office of Education. Students can submit their artwork relating to SR2S, and if chosen, it will be featured on the side of a SamTrans bus. Task B.2: Provide giveaways The City will have giveaways for students as incentives to participate. These giveaways will include items like helmets, bike locks, bicycles, etc. They will be available at SR2S events or as contest prizes, and will be given by the SR2S Coordinator to ensure an equal distribution of giveaways. C. Engineering Infrastructure improvements will improve mobility and accessibility in the school zones. The changes will make it easier for users to walk and bike in the neighborhoods and prioritize the safety and needs of the students. Task C.1: Install ADA-compliant curb ramps School Location Quantity Abbott Middle School 36 th Ave. & Kenwood Ave. 2 curb ramps Abbott Middle School 36 th Ave. & Southwood Ave. 2 curb ramps Abbott Middle School 36 th Ave. & Fernwood St. 4 curb ramps Abbott Middle School Alameda de Las Pulgas & Alder Ln. 2 curb ramps Abbott Middle School Hillsdale Blvd. & Fernwood St., NW corner 1 curb ramp Baywood Elementary School Alameda de Las Pulgas & Georgetown Ave., SE corner 1 curb ramp Borel Middle School Barneson Ave. & Kalmia St. 2 curb ramps Borel Middle School Borel Ave. & Edinburgh St. 2 curb ramps Borel Middle School Borel Ave. & Shafter St. 2 curb ramps Borel Middle School South gate on Borel Ave. 1 curb ramp Borel Middle School Edinburgh St. & Hobart Ave. 1 curb ramp Borel Middle School Hobart Ave. & Rhus St. 2 curb ramps Borel Middle School Hobart Ave. & Tilia St. 2 curb ramps George Hall Elementary School San Miguel Way & Meadow Ct. 2 curb ramps Laurel Elementary School 36 th Ave. & Michael Dr. 2 curb ramps Meadow Heights Elem. School 28 th Ave. & Parkview Way, NE corner 1 curb ramp North Shoreview Elem. School Kingston St. & Monroe Ave. 2 curb ramps North Shoreview Elem. School Kingston St. & Huron Ave. 2 curb ramps North Shoreview Elem. School Cypress Ave. & Norfolk St. 4 curb ramps Parkside Elementary School Norfolk St. & Halsey Ave. 4 curb ramps Parkside Elementary School Eisenhower St. & Wellesley Ave., NW corner 1 curb ramp San Mateo Park Elem. School Bellevue Ave. & Hurlingham Ave., north & east legs 4 curb ramps San Mateo Park Elem. School Clark Dr. & Hurlingham Ave. 4 curb ramps Sunnybrae Elementary School W. Grant Pl. & school gate 1 curb ramp Sunnybrae Elementary School 10 th Ave. & Eldorado St., south corner 1 curb ramp Task C.2: Install curb extensions

8 School Location Quantity Abbott Middle School Alameda de Las Pulgas & 36 th Ave., north leg 2 extensions Abbott Middle School Hillsdale Blvd. & Fernwood St., west leg 2 extensions Bayside STEM Academy Kehoe Ave. & Van Buren St. 3 extensions Baywood Elementary School Alameda de Las Pulgas & Kentucky Ave., across Alameda 2 extensions Baywood Elementary School Alameda de Las Pulgas & Woodland Dr., across Woodland 1 extension Borel Middle School Alameda de Las Pulgas & Barneson Ave., south leg 2 extensions Borel Middle School Barneson Ave. & Edinburgh St., west & south leg 4 extensions Borel Middle School Barneson Ave. & Quince St., east leg 2 extensions Fiesta Gardens Internat l Elem. Sc. Ginnever St. & Bermuda Dr., NW & NE corners 2 extensions George Hall Elementary School San Miguel Way & Meadow Ct. 2 extensions Laurel Elementary School Hacienda St. & Winway Circle 2 extensions Meadow Heights Elem. School 28 th Ave. & Mason Ln. 8 extensions Meadow Heights Elem. School Dolores St. & Sequoia Ave., north leg 2 extensions Meadow Heights Elem. School Parkside Way at south entrance of school 2 extensions North Shoreview Elem. School Cypress Ave. & Lindberg St., north side of Cypress Will check North Shoreview Elem. School Cypress Ave. & Norfolk St., SE & SW corners 2 extensions Sunnybrae Elementary School Delaware St. & Birch St., north leg 2 extensions Task C.3: Install rectangular rapid flashing beacons (RRFB s) School Abbott Middle School Borel Middle School George Hall Elementary School Meadow Heights Elem. School San Mateo Park Elementary School Sunnybrae Elementary School Location Alameda de Las Pulgas & 36 th Ave., north leg Barneson Ave. & Quince St. San Miguel Way & Meadow Ct., east leg Parkside Way at south school crosswalk Bellevue Ave., replace south school crosswalk Delaware St. & 10 th Ave. Task C.4: Improve and install sidewalks and walking paths School Location Improvement Abbott Middle School Fernwood St. fr. Hillsdale Blvd. to 36 th Ave., east side Install pedestrian path Fiesta Gardens Internat l Elem. Sc. Bermuda Dr. Pull sidewalk inward Fiesta Gardens Internat l Elem. Sc. 19 th Ave., south side fronting the school Install sidewalk and curb North Shoreview Elem. School Kingston St., east side, north & south of Huron Repair broken sidewalk San Mateo Park Elementary School Bellevue Ave., between Hurlingham & SE school corner Install pedestrian path San Mateo Park Elementary School Bellevue Ave. between Crescent & crosswalk, south side Install pedestrian path Task C.5: Install medians with pedestrian refuge islands School Location Improvement Abbott Middle School North of Alameda de Las Pulgas & 36 th Ave. Median w/ refuge island Fiesta Gardens Internat l Elem. Sc. Ginnever St. & Bermuda Dr., north crosswalk Median w/ refuge island

9 George Hall Elementary School Curtiss St. & San Miguel Way, north & south legs Median Meadow Heights Elem. School Bus lane on Dolores St. Median San Mateo Park Elementary School Bellevue Ave. & Hurlingham Ave., north leg Median w/ refuge island Task C.6: Install and relocate street lights School Location Improvement Abbott Middle School School driveway at Laurelwood Dr. New street lights North Shoreview Elem. School Cypress Ave. & Norfolk St., SE corner Relocate light pole Task C.7: Install pedestrian countdown signals School Location Quantity Baywood Elementary School Alameda de Las Pulgas & Aragon Blvd., east side of Alameda 2 signals San Mateo Park Elementary School El Camino Real & Bellevue Ave. 4 signals Task C.8: Apply road diet School Location Improvement Baywood Elementary School Alameda de Las Pulgas, Barneson-Crystal Springs Reduce to two travel lanes Baywood Elementary School Alameda de Las Pulgas & Aragon Blvd. Install left-turn pocket lane Baywood Elementary School Alameda de Las Pulgas, school frontage Widen sidewalk Baywood Elementary School Alameda de Las Pulgas & Kentucky Ave. Landscaped ped. refuge island D. Enforcement To ensure that the streets are safe and traffic laws are being followed, the San Mateo Police Department will be a major partner in the SR2S program. The school district s safety patrol program will also be a part of the enforcement component to assist with drop-off and pick-up hours. Task D.1: Police Department will conduct traffic stops A portion of the grant funding to the San Mateo Police Department to send officers to the school zones. They will conduct traffic stops during drop-off and pick-up. Task D.2: Provide training for the school safety patrol program School safety patrols are student volunteers who assist with enforcement during drop-off and pick-up on school property. The City will work with the school district to ensure that the students participating in the safety patrol program are trained and have the necessary equipment. E. Evaluation

10 The overall program will be evaluated to determine if SR2S does increase the number of students walking and biking to school, and also what can be done to further improve the program. Task E.1: Conduct student surveys The City will work with the school district to conduct student surveys. These surveys can be a hand tally in the classroom or a written questionnaire. Task E.2: Conduct parent surveys The City will work with the school district to distribute parent surveys. These surveys can be a written questionnaire to send home with the students. Task E.3: Monitor Effectiveness of Infrastructure Improvements The City will visit the locations of all infrastructure projects to monitor the effectiveness of the improvements. The City will observe whether students are utilizing the new infrastructure and if the number of students walking and biking to school has increased. F. Staff & Support Task F.1: Create a SR2S Coordinator position The City will create a SR2S Coordinator position to oversee all SR2S planning and operations. The SR2S Coordinator will be the main contact for the City regarding all SR2S projects and programs. Task F.2: Public outreach The City will host public workshops and meetings regarding major projects, including the suggested Alameda de Las Pulgas road diet. At these meetings, community members can show their support, contribute ideas, ask questions, and voice their opinions. Project Budget Education $75,000 Encouragement $60,000 Engineering $2,125,000 Enforcement $125,000 Evaluation $30,000 Staff Support $75,000 Public Outreach $25,000 Total $2,515,000

11 Partners & Stakeholders San Mateo-Foster City School District Elementary and Middle Schools The fifteen elementary and middle schools will be major partners and stakeholders for the SR2S program. Some of the suggested infrastructure improvements are found on school property, but other improvements are adjacent to the campuses or in the school zones. The strong relationship between the City and the school district will be beneficial to implementing the SR2S program and will help bring the improvements and programs to the schools. Listed below are the fifteen schools: o Bayside STEM Academy o Baywood Elementary School o Beresford Elementary School o College Park Elementary Magnet School o Fiesta Gardens International Magnet School o George Hall Elementary Magnet School o Horrall Elementary Magnet School o Laurel Elementary School o Meadow Heights Elementary School o North Shoreview Magnet School o Parkside Elementary Magnet School o San Mateo Park Elementary Magnet School o Sunnybrae Elementary Magnet School o Abbott Middle School o Borel Middle School San Mateo-Foster City School District Wellness Task Force The Wellness Task Force can be a partner in assisting with SR2S outreach. The informational flyers and handouts can be distributed through the Wellness Task Force to reach out to a variety of communities. San Mateo County Office of Education The San Mateo County Office of Education currently has a SR2S program funded by the City/County Association of Governments of San Mateo County (C/CAG). The Office of Education can provide guidance on implementing the SR2S programs. San Mateo Police Department The San Mateo Police Department will be active partners in enforcing traffic laws in the school zones. The Police Department can also help with distributing outreach materials relating to traffic safety.