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  Agenda Item   16.    
City Council Meeting
Meeting Date: 10/20/2020  
FROM: Bill Gallardo

Subject:
Adopt Resolutions Authorizing Submission of Applications to OCTA for Competitive M2 Funding under the Comprehensive Transportation Funding Program.
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt resolutions approving the submittal of two applications to the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) for funding under the competitive M2 Regional Capacity Program.
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION
The Comprehensive Transportation Funding Programs (CTFP), administered by the OCTA, have been developed to help fund city improvement projects throughout Orange County. OCTA has issued the 2021 CTFP Call for Projects for funding under the Project O Regional Capacity Program (RCP). This call is to fund projects for a three-year period from FY 2021-22 through FY 2023-24.
 
Approximately $22 million in the RCP will be available to provide funding for three individual program categories which provide improvements to the arterial street network: Arterial Capacity Enhancement (ACE); Intersection Capacity Enhancement (ICE); and Freeway Arterial/Streets Transition (FAST). The FAST category provides capital improvement funding for interchange improvements to Orange County freeways, including on-ramp, off-ramp, and arterial improvements. The RCP requires that all participating local agencies provide minimum matching funds of fifty percent (50%) for each project. The matching funds may be from local funds or in-kind services from local agency staff.
 
Timely and efficient use of funding is a critical success factor for the CTFP. As such, OCTA has established a two-step process for sequential funding. Step One, also known as the planning phase, includes funding requests for planning/environmental, design engineering and ROW engineering activities. Step Two, also known as the implementation phase, includes ROW engineering/acquisition and construction activities. Projects must complete the planning phase before an agency requests implementation phase funding during a call for projects.

The City of Brea completed a Transportation Improvement Nexus Program Study in 2011, which provided future transportation improvements based on the early 1990’s Brea Area Traffic model for growth.  The study listed several recommended projects. Of the recommended projects, staff has identified the following two projects to submit as primary candidates for the use of RCP funds:
  1. SR-90 at SR-57 Southbound On-Ramp Project No. 7306 under the FAST category; and
  2. SR-90 at Kraemer Boulevard Intersection Improvements Project No. 7234 under the ICE category.
#1. SR-90 at SR-57 Southbound On-Ramp Project (FAST)
Currently, southbound freeway access from the Brea Mall utilizes dual left-turn lanes on both Randolph Avenue and State College Boulevard to send traffic onto eastbound Imperial Highway (SR-90).  Once on Imperial Highway, this traffic must weave to the right and merge into a single lane near the Orange Freeway (SR-57) southbound on-ramp. This single lane with a short merging distance causes backup, weaving, illegal lane changes, and results in traffic delays. Potential expansion of the mall will increase these volumes and result in further delays.
 
The Project will widen the existing ramp from eastbound Imperial Highway to southbound SR-57 to provide a two-lane on-ramp.  Widening to a two-lane entrance for the on-ramp will enhance vehicular traffic flow on Imperial Highway, reduce weave and merge maneuvers, and better accommodate the dual left-turn lanes traffic coming from the mall. It will also provide additional vehicular storage behind the ramp meter entering SR-57.  Caltrans District 12 concurs with the proposed solution and supported the project with a letter to the City dated October 30, 2019.
 
The total estimated project cost for engineering, construction, and project management is $2,700,000. Because of the required two-step process for sequential funding, Brea will only be requesting funds for the planning phase as part of the 2021 Call for Projects. Brea will request funding for the implementation phase during the next call for projects.  
 
The amount of funding requested in this application from OCTA is $300,000.  Brea’s portion of the cost, if approved, would be approximately $150,000 to meet the 50 percent local match requirement. The total match includes engineering design and permitting as part of the planning phase of the project.
 
#2. SR-90 at Kraemer Boulevard Intersection Improvements Project (ICE)
Currently, the intersection of Imperial Highway at Kraemer Boulevard has two through northbound lanes and no right-turn lane in the west bound direction. The 2011 Traffic Nexus Study showed that adding an additional northbound through lane and adding a westbound right-turn lane would increase the level of service and maximize operational efficiency.   

There are two parts to this intersection improvement project. First is to add an additional northbound through lane by widening Kraemer Boulevard on the east side of the street. The proposed northbound through lane would start south of the intersection and would connect with the third lane near Orbiter Street. The second part is to add an additional westbound right-turn lane by widening the north side of Imperial Highway east of Kraemer Boulevard.
 
The total estimated project cost for engineering, construction, and project management is $3,115,000. Because of the required two-step process for sequential funding, Brea will only be requesting funds for the planning phase as part of the 2021 Call for Projects. Brea will request funding for the implementation phase during the next call for projects. 
 
The amount of funding requested in this application from OCTA is $290,000. The City of Brea’s portion of the cost, if approved, would be approximately $72,500 to meet the 25 percent local match requirement. The total match includes engineering and design, environmental, and permitting as part of the planning phase of the project.
 
As part of the application requirements, resolutions must be approved by the Brea City Council authorizing submission of a grant application and supporting the project. As such, staff recommends adoption of the attached resolutions approving the submittal of the SR-90 at SR-57 Southbound On-Ramp Project and Imperial Highway at Kraemer Boulevard Intersection Improvements to OCTA for funding under the RCP.
COMMISSION/COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Finance Committee reviewed staff’s recommendation at their October 13, 2020 meeting and recommended for City Council approval.
FISCAL IMPACT/SUMMARY
There is no cost at this time. The City will be required to provide local matching funds for this project application if it is approved for funding under the RCP. Those costs would be approximately $150,000 for the SR-90 at SR-57 Southbound On-Ramp Project and approximately $72,500 for the Imperial Highway at Kraemer Boulevard Intersection Improvements Project. The matching funds can be programmed for Fiscal Year 2021-22 and will come from Traffic Impact Fees.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:
Respectfully Submitted:  William Gallardo, City Manager
Prepared by:  Michael Ho, P.E., Deputy Director of Public Works / City Engineer
Concurrence:  Tony Olmos, P.E., Director of Public Works
 
Attachments
Resolution - OCTA CTFP Imperial-57
Resolution - OCTA CTFP Imperial-Kraemer

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