REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Approve Budget Modification No. 4 to Appropriate $158,000 in 2010 Measure B Vehicle Registration Fee Countywide Program funds from the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority to Project 831590 - Intelligent Transportation Systems
Report
BACKGROUND
Project 831590 - Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) was created to plan for and implement a comprehensive ITS architecture master plan, software and hardware needed for the buildout of the traffic signal communication network utilizing fiber optics technology. The ultimate goal is to integrate all of Sunnyvale’s traffic signals and ITS components into the City’s Centralized Advanced Traffic Management System.
To date, the master plan has been prepared and portions of the City’s traffic signal communication system have been updated from copper signal interconnect wiring to fiber optic cables. Various other ITS components have also been implemented including real-time traffic monitoring cameras at 44 signalized intersections, live travel time monitoring system at 80 signalized intersections, dilemma zone detection sensors at 20 signalized intersections, and traffic data and vehicle classification system at 23 signalized intersections.
GRANT SUMMARY
In 2010, Santa Clara County voters authorized a ten dollar ($10) increase in the Vehicle Registration Fee for transportation-related projects. Measure B’s expenditure plan allocates revenue to transportation-related programs and projects that have a relationship or benefit to the persons who pay the fee. The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) Board of Directors adopted a program including administrative procedures to administer the funds collected to various selected projects.
On August 6, 2016, the VTA Board approved use of program funds for a multi-jurisdictional transportation technology project to improve light rail train travel speeds and its interaction with traffic signals. This project is being led by VTA with Sunnyvale as a partner in this multi-jurisdictional effort.
The City has partnered with VTA to procure and implement software upgrades for the City’s traffic signals and traffic management center to support multi-modal operations on the Tasman Drive and Java Drive corridors. The project will upgrade transit signal priority equipment and implement updated signal timings on the same corridors.
VTA and the City have entered into a funding agreement as shown in Attachment 1. This agreement currently has a pending amendment No. 1 to extend the date of the original agreement from December 31, 2022, to December 31, 2024, as can be seen in Attachment 2.
EXISTING POLICY
Pursuant to Sunnyvale Charter Section 1305, at any meeting after the adoption of the budget, the City Council may amend or supplement the budget by motion adopted by affirmative votes of at least four members to authorize the transfer of unused balances appropriated for one purpose to another, or to appropriate available revenue not included in the budget.
Council Policy 7.1.5 Donations, Contributions and Sponsorships:
The City Manager may accept and appropriate grant funds up to $100,000 that do not require a local match or obligate the City to any ongoing expenses, through an administrative budget modification. Any grants of $100,000 or more, or that require a local match or obligate the City to ongoing expenses, shall require Council approval of a budget modification before funds can be expended by staff. The budget modification shall include the use to which the grant will be placed; the objectives or goals of the City that will be achieved through use of the grant; the local match required, if any, plus the source of the local match; any increased cost to be locally funded upon termination of the grant; and the ability of the City to administer the grant.
This grant does not meet all the criteria to be administratively appropriated by the City Manager; therefore, a budget modification is required.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This action does not constitute a “project” within the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15378(b)(4) in that it is a fiscal activity that does not involve any commitment to any specific project which may result in a potential significant impact on the environment. The project funded by the grant will qualify for a categorical exemption for existing facilities under CEQA Guidelines section 15301.
FISCAL IMPACT
VTA has authorized the disbursement of $158,000 from the 2010 Measure B Vehicle Registration Fee Countywide Program funds to Sunnyvale for the implementation of transit signal priority equipment, procure new software modules and develop new traffic signal timing that will improve light rail service along Java Drive and Tasman Avenue per the criteria outlined by VTA.
Budget modification No. 4 has been prepared to appropriate $158,000 in 2010 Measure B Vehicle Registration Fee Countywide Program funds to Project 831590 - Intelligent Transportation Systems to cover the City’s estimated costs of this multi-jurisdictional effort. This project will further implementation of the City’s ITS master plan and there is no local match or ongoing costs associated with acceptance of this grant.
Budget Modification No. 4
FY 2023/24
|
Measure B |
Current |
Increase/ (Decrease) |
Revised |
|
Revenue |
|
|
|
|
2010 Measure B Vehicle Registration Fee Countywide Program Grant Funds |
$0 |
$158,000 |
$158,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Expenditures |
|
|
|
|
Project 831590 - Intelligent Transportation Systems |
$0 |
$158,000 |
$158,000 |
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Council meeting agenda on the City's official-notice bulletin board at City Hall, at the Sunnyvale Public Library and in the Department of Public Safety Lobby. In addition, the agenda and this report are available at the NOVA Workforce Services reception desk located on the first floor of City Hall at 456 W. Olive Avenue (during normal business hours), and on the City's website.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Approve Budget Modification No. 4 to Appropriate $158,000 in 2010 Measure B Vehicle Registration Fee Countywide Program funds from the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority and authorize the City Manager to execute Amendment No. 1 to the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority Funding Agreement (Attachment 2) and all grant-related documents.
Staff
Prepared by: Angela Obeso, Principal Transportation Engineer
Reviewed by: Carmen Talavera, Senior Transportation Engineer
Reviewed by: Tim Kirby, Director of Finance
Reviewed by: Dennis Ng, Transportation and Traffic Manager
Reviewed by: Chip Taylor, Director of Public Works
Reviewed by: Jaqui Guzmán, Deputy City Manager
Approved by: Kent Steffens, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
1. Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority Funding Agreement
2. Draft Amendment No. 1 to the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority Funding Agreement