REPORT TO BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN ADVISORY COMMISSION
SUBJECT
Title
Recommend to City Council a Project for the Application of Transportation Development Act Article 3 Funding for Fiscal Year 2025/26
Report
BACKGROUND
Transportation Development Act (TDA) Article 3 is a source of funding created by State legislation and processed through the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) and Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) that annually returns sales tax revenues designated for bicycle and pedestrian projects to local agencies.
The eligibility requirements to receive funds in the FY 2025/26 funding cycle are outlined in the MTC Resolution No. 4108, “Transportation Development Act, Article 3, Pedestrian/Bicycle Projects, Policies and Procedures” (Attachment 2). The resolution requires each city to have a Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission (BPAC) review and prioritize TDA Article 3 bicycle and pedestrian projects.
Combined with the funding amount banked last year ($411,038) and rescinded funds from prior years ($210,475), the City has $811,845 for reimbursement of eligible projects for FY 2025/26.
The City Council is scheduled to consider this item at their June 17, 2025 meeting.
EXISTING POLICY
• Council Policy Manual 7.2.19, subsection 2.H(II)(b)i: Boards and Commissions, Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission - Recommend priorities for bicycle and pedestrian projects for the annual Transportation Development Act (TDA) Article 3 funding application cycle.
• Resolution No. 793-16 Complete Streets Policy (and Resolution No. 896-18 amending Resolution No. 793-16): The City wishes to improve its commitment to Complete Streets and desires that its streets form a comprehensive and integrated transportation network promoting safe, equitable, and convenient travel for all users while preserving flexibility, recognizing community context, and using the latest and best design guidelines and standards.
General Plan, Chapter 3, Land Use and Transportation Element:
• Goal LT-3: An Effective Multimodal Transportation System - Offer the community a variety of transportation modes for local travel that are also integrated with the regional transportation system and land use pattern. Favor accommodation of alternative modes to the automobile as a means to enhance efficient transit use, bicycling, and walking and corresponding benefits to the environment, person-throughput, and qualitative improvements to the transportation system environment.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The projects funded by this action are exemption from review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) as noted in the following discussion.
DISCUSSION
The determination of TDA Article 3 projects for FY 2025/26 is based on the review of TDA eligibility requirements, consideration of the Active Transportation Plan (ATP), Vision Zero Plan, Roadway Safety Plan, resident requests, and Commissioners’ and staff’s knowledge of bicycle and pedestrian facility priority needs in the City. Based on the discussion at the February 20, 2025 and March 20, 2025 BPAC meetings and further staff research, the following four (4) candidate TDA Article 3 projects are identified:
1. Install Sidewalk on Poplar Avenue
Description: The ATP calls for Safe Routes to School Improvements for Peterson Middle School on Poplar Avenue south of El Camino Real. Currently there is no sidewalk on either side of the street. The ATP calls for a study for filling in the sidewalk gap, which might consist of a pedestrian path with delineators or implementation of a permanent sidewalk. In 2021, Council ranked this sidewalk study on Poplar Avenue between El Camino Real and Peterson Middle School (DPW 21-04) highly, and approved funding to conduct the study. The study determined that the installation of sidewalk on the east side of Poplar Avenue is feasible, and subsequently evaluated the viability of filling in the sidewalk gap on Bryant Way east of Poplar Avenue per the request of the Santa Clara Unified School District. The project includes design and construction phases to fill in the sidewalk gaps on both Poplar Avenue and Bryant Way. At the May 23, 2023 City Council meeting, the City Council accepted the findings of the study issue and selected a proposed concept (RTC No. 23-0067). At the June 20, 2023 City Council meeting, the City Council approved using $160,000 of the FY 2023/24 TDA Article 3 funds for the design phase of the Poplar Avenue sidewalk project (RTC No. 23-0241).
Staff tried to identify other funding sources for the construction phase of the project. In April 2025, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission awarded Housing Incentive Pool funding in the amount of $1,836,000 to City of Sunnyvale to implement transportation projects, of which $1,000,000 was awarded for the Poplar Avenue Sidewalk Construction Project.
This project qualifies for a Class 1 CEQA exemption (CEQA Guidelines 15301) for minor alteration of existing streets, sidewalks, and similar facilities involving negligible expansion of existing use.
Approximate cost: $895,000 (Construction)
2. Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFB) and Curb Extensions
Description: Staff has received residents’ requests to provide crosswalks at the intersections of Sunset Avenue/Washington Avenue and California Avenue/Frances Street. Staff has performed a crosswalk warrant analysis to determine that a crosswalk is warranted for both locations, one crossing Washington Avenue and one crossing California Avenue. Staff has also determined that if a crosswalk were to be installed, it will be enhanced with a RRFB, a pedestrian-activated warning device, to alert approaching traffic that a bicyclist or pedestrian is trying to cross the street.
Intersection of Sunset Avenue and Washington Avenue:
Although the ATP does not call for pedestrian improvements at this location, it is adjacent to the Washington Park, where many residents would cross at this intersection to access the park. As part of the proposed improvements, staff would implement curb extensions on Washington Avenue, if feasible, which would visually and physically narrow the roadway, shorten crossing distance for pedestrians, reduce vehicle turn speeds, and improve visibility for drivers so that pedestrians waiting to cross the intersection are more visible.
Intersection of California Avenue and Frances Street:
The ATP calls for pedestrian improvements at this location; it is a direct path to the Sunnyvale Caltrain Station.
Approximate cost: $700,000 (Design & Construction)
This project qualifies for a Class 1 CEQA exemption (CEQA Guidelines 15301) for minor alteration of existing streets, sidewalks, and similar facilities involving negligible expansion of existing use.
3. Evelyn Avenue Multi-Use Path
Description: As part of California’s 2021/2022 State budget enacted in June 2021, $3.8 million was allocated for the design and construction of the Evelyn Avenue Multi-Use Trail Project. On January 9, 2024, City Council awarded a contract to BKF Engineers to provide design and construction support services for the project (RTC No. 24-0098). BKF has been working with staff on the design phase and, to-date, staff has reviewed the 75% design plans. As part of the 75% design plans, additional design elements were identified to help enhance the safety for the users of the multi-use path, including:
• Additional crosswalk enhancements, such as the installation of RRFBs at the intersection of Pastoria Avenue and at the intersection of Sunset Avenue
• Enhanced safety improvements for bicyclists and pedestrians accessing the trail
• New vertical separation between the trail and vehicular traffic lanes to enhance Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements
These improvements were proposed to enhance the safety for the users of the proposed multi-use path. However, to incorporate these enhanced safety features, additional funding would be required on top of the allocated budget. Staff is also anticipating cost increases and market instability due to the potential tariff changes and inflation in material and construction costs
Approximate cost: $600,000 (Construction)
The project has filed for a Class 1 CEQA exemption (CEQA Guidelines 15301(c)) for minor alteration of existing streets, sidewalks, and similar facilities involving negligible expansion of existing use.
4. Implement Crossing Improvements at the Intersection of Gail Avenue & Iris Avenue
Description: The Gail Avenue and Iris Avenue intersection was identified as a high priority Safe Routes to School project within the ATP. This intersection, located within a residential neighborhood near Braly Elementary School and Ponderosa Park, is controlled by 4-way stop signs; both streets consist of one lane of traffic in each direction with parking on both sides of the roadway. The ATP recommended upgrading all four existing crosswalks to high visibility crosswalks, installing directional ADA compliant curb ramps and installing curb extension at all four corners of the intersection to increase pedestrian safety.
Approximate cost: $675,000 (Design & Construction)
This project qualifies for a Class 1 CEQA exemption (CEQA Guidelines 15301) for minor alteration of existing streets, sidewalks, and similar facilities involving negligible expansion of existing use.
5. Convert the remaining part-time bike lanes on Homestead Road into full-time bike lanes
Description: At the August 8, 2023 City Council meeting, the City Council approved converting all part-time bike lanes on Homestead Road into permanent full-time bike lanes by removing parking, and incorporating buffered bike lanes and road diets where possible (RTC No. 23-0422). In 2024, in conjunction with the Calwater Water Pipe Replacement Project, part-time bike lanes from Wright Avenue to New Brunswick Avenue was converted to full-time bike lanes. The City has an upcoming Slurry Seal project which will reseal the roadway on Homestead Road in 2026; however, this project will not cover the installation of poles and signs to ensure the full-time bike lanes could be enforced. TDA funding could be used to install poles and signs for the remaining part-time bike lanes on Homestead Road.
Approximate cost: $60,000 (Construction)
This project qualifies for Class 1 and Class 4 CEQA exemptions for alterations to existing streets including creation of bicycle lanes on existing rights-of-way (CEQA Guidelines 15301(c) and 15304(h)).
FISCAL IMPACT
TDA Article 3 fund is a program that reimburses cities for the incurred costs of selected bicycle and pedestrian projects. No local matching funds are required for TDA Article 3 funded projects. The City will have $811,845 in TDA Article 3 funds from the City’s guaranteed fund apportionment for FY 2025/26. TDA Article 3 funds are accounted for in a Special Revenue Fund. As the allocation is annual and subject to review, the City’s budget does not include any anticipated funding in its planning process. Therefore, this funding provides resources for projects that might otherwise not be completed.
TDA funding does not cover ongoing maintenance costs associated with any of the candidate projects.
Council can choose to select one or more projects to implement using TDA Article 3 funds and bank the remaining funds for future use. If Council chooses to select a combination of projects that has a higher budget than the available funding, closing the gap will require Council approval of a budget modification in the future, or inclusion of additional funding in the FY 2026/27 Recommended Budget. BPAC or Council can also choose to bank the entire amount to accumulate a larger amount of funding for future use; however, there is an expenditure deadline of up to four years from when it was first allocated to the city. All of the $811,845 can be banked for another year before some funds come to the four-year deadline.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the meeting agenda on the City's official-notice bulletin board at City Hall. In addition, the agenda and this report are available at the City Hall 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.
ALTERNATIVES
1. Recommend to City Council to use $600,000 of Transportation Development Act Article 3 Funding for Fiscal Year 2025/26 to supplement the construction phase of Project No. 3, Evelyn Avenue Multi-Use Path and bank the remainder of the funding ($211,845) for future use.
2. Recommend to City Council to use the Transportation Development Act Article 3 Funding for FY 2025/26 for a project listed or for a combination of projects listed.
3. Recommend to City Council to use the Transportation Development Act Article 3 Funding for a project not listed.
4. Recommend to City Council to bank the entire allocation of $811,845 for future use.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Alternative 1: Recommend to City Council to use $600,000 of Transportation Development Act Article 3 Funding for Fiscal Year 2025/26 for the construction of Project No. 3, Evelyn Avenue Multi-Use Path and bank the remainder of the funding ($211,845) for future use.
JUSTIFICATION FOR RECOMMENDATION
Although City Council has previously provided guidance to bank available TDA Article 3 Funds for the construction phase for Project No. 1, Poplar Avenue Sidewalk (RTC No. 23-0241), staff would need to bank TDA Article 3 fund for at least one more year before having enough funding for the construction phase. In the meantime, staff worked to identify other funding sources to complete the improvements. In April 2025, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission awarded Housing Incentive Pool funding in the amount of $1,836,000 to City of Sunnyvale to implement transportation projects, of which $1,000,000 was awarded for the Poplar Avenue Sidewalk Construction Project. Since staff was able to find an alternative funding source to fully fund the construction phase of the project, the Poplar Avenue Sidewalk project would no longer need funding from TDA Article 3.
For Project No. 5, (Convert the remaining part-time bike lanes on Homestead Road into full-time bike lanes), instead of utilizing TDA Article 3 funding, staff recommends using funding from CIP 834370 - Traffic Signal Installation and Maintenance, to install new posts and signs. These can be done via a Work Order and installed by staff, and these improvements can be implemented to align with the 2026 Slurry Seal project.
Although Project No. 2 (Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons and Curb Extensions) and Project No. 4 (Implement Crossing Improvements at the Intersection of Gail Avenue & Iris Avenue) both would benefit pedestrians crossing at these locations, Staff feels that using TDA Article 3 fund to supplement the construction phase of Project No. 3 (Evelyn Avenue Multi-Use Path) would provide a bigger benefit to the community. Evelyn Avenue Multi-Use Path is a VTA Cross County Bicycle Corridors, which connects to City of Mountain View on the west, and to the Sunnyvale Caltrain Station to the east. It will provide an east-west protected facility to bicyclists and pedestrians to travel between cities. The additional enhancements would help users to cross Evelyn Avenue safety so that they could access the multi-use path. Without the additional funding, these additional safety enhancements would be not able to be constructed.
Levine Act
LEVINE ACT
The Levine Act (Gov. Code Section 84308) prohibits city officials from participating in certain decisions regarding licenses, permits, and other entitlements for use if the official has received a campaign contribution of more than $500 from a party, participant, or agent of a party or participant in the previous 12 months. The Levine Act is intended to prevent financial influence on decisions that affect specific, identifiable persons or participants. For more information see the Fair Political Practices Commission website: www.fppc.ca.gov/learn/pay-to-play-limits-and-prohibitions.html
An “X” in the checklist below indicates that the action being considered falls under a Levine Act category or exemption:
SUBJECT TO THE LEVINE ACT
___ Land development entitlements
___ Other permit, license, or entitlement for use
___ Contract or franchise
EXEMPT FROM THE LEVINE ACT
___ Competitively bid contract*
___ Labor or personal employment contract
___ Contract under $50,000 or non-fiscal
___ Contract between public agencies
_X_ General policy and legislative actions
* "Competitively bid" means a contract that must be awarded to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder.
Staff
Prepared by: Lillian Tsang, Principal Transportation Engineer
Reviewed by: Angela Obeso, Interim Transportation and Traffic Manager
Reviewed by: Chip Taylor, Director, Public Works
Reviewed by: Sarah Johnson-Rios, Assistant City Manager
Approved by: Tim Kirby, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
1. Reserved for Report to Council
2. MTC Resolution No. 4108
3. Poplar Avenue Sidewalk Project Location
4. Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFB) & Curb Extensions Project Location
5. Evelyn Avenue Multi-Use Path Project Limits
6. Crossing Improvements at Gail Avenue and Iris Avenue Project Location
7. Homestead Road Full Time Bike Lane Project Limits