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Community Development Agency, Transportation Division, recommending the Board consider the following:
1) Approve Grant Contract C8532007 with the State of California - Natural Resources Agency, Department of Parks and Recreation, Recreational Trails Program; and
2) Authorize the Acting Community Development Agency Director to execute Grant Contract C8532007 and other grant related documents for the El Dorado Trail - Los Trampas to Halcon Project (CIP No. 97012) in the amount of $457,979 for the development of approximately 1.1 miles of multi-use trail.
FUNDING: State of California - Natural Resources Agency, Department of Parks and Recreation, Recreational Trails Program (RTP) federal grant funds, Accumulated Capital Outlay (ACO) funds, and Transportation Development Act (TDA) funds.
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Fiscal Impact/Change to Net County Cost
The $457,979 to be secured through this RTP grant contract will help fund the development of approximately 1.1 miles of the El Dorado Trail. The total estimated cost of the El Dorado Trail - Los Trampas to Halcon Project (Project) is $890,239 (see Attachment 2E). Transportation staff has budgeted approximately $83,000 of the RTP funds and approximately $61,000 of local TDA and ACO funds in the adopted Fiscal Year 13/14 budget. The remaining grant funds will be budgeted in future fiscal years.
At the time that the old Facilities Services Division (Facilities) submitted the RTP grant application in 2010, the amount of the grant, in conjunction with the local matching funds, was anticipated to cover the full cost of the Project. Since the Transportation Division assumed responsibility for the Project, updated plans have resulted in a new cost estimate. Funding for the $272,791 in additional costs is currently unidentified; however, there are a number of potential revenue sources that could contribute to the Project over the next four years, as described below. A construction contract may not be awarded for any capital project until it is fully funded. At this time, there is no anticipated cost to the County General Fund.
Background
The extension of the El Dorado Trail is considered a high priority in both the El Dorado County Bicycle Transportation Plan and the Parks and Trails Master Plan. In September 2010, the Board approved Resolution No. 159-2010, authorizing Facilities to apply for RTP federal funding through the State Department of Parks and Recreation (State) to construct a 1.1-mile multi-use extension of the El Dorado Trail from Los Trampas Drive to Halcon Road in the Camino Heights area. The Project is located entirely within the former California-Michigan Railroad right of way (owned in fee by El Dorado County).
On December 21, 2012, Transportation received notification that this project had been recommended for RTP funding for the total amount requested with the caveat that environmental documentation under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) be completed and accepted by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) by April 2013. Transportation staff complied, and on August 9, 2013, the State forwarded the attached RTP Grant Contract (C8532007) for signature upon County Board approval.
The County has until 2018 to complete the Project.
Project Description
Improvements to the 1.1-mile stretch of existing trail include: Trail way asphalt paving for an up to 8-foot wide Class 1 bike path with 2- to 3-foot wide graded shoulders, depending upon the topography and environmental constraints. The Project is laid out on the former railroad alignment, which follows the natural contours and already accommodates curvilinear design. No right of way acquisition will be necessary. No disturbance would occur outside of the previously disturbed railroad right of way.
Benefits of the Project include the following:
1. Provide a diversified use corridor suitable for a broad range of trail users, including pedestrians, equestrians, and bicyclists.
2. Provide an important link to the regional El Dorado Trail, which is envisioned to span the entire length of El Dorado County, from South Lake Tahoe to the Sacramento County line, along the Sacramento-Placerville Transportation corridor west of Placerville, and the California-Michigan Railroad, Pony Express Trail and other alignments east of Placerville.
3. Provide the local community with a Class 1 multi-use trail separate from highway uses that encourages both recreational and commuting uses.
Cost Estimate and Funding Plan
The 2010 total cost estimate submitted with the grant application by Facilities was based on a 2009 set of plans that were prepared for a 2-mile stretch of trail from Los Trampas to U.S. Highway 50 near the Camino Heights Subdivision. The RTP grant is for a 1.1-mile stretch from Los Trampas Drive to Halcon Road.
Given the age of the cost estimate, Transportation staff walked the site and evaluated the completed plans. They found many inconsistencies and omissions, resulting in the need for an updated survey as well as updated plans. While this translates into higher delivery costs than originally determined with the grant application, the advantage of updating the plans is that staff can fine tune the design in a more environmentally sensitive manner by avoiding such impacts as wetlands and tree removal. A more sensitive design translates into lower construction costs and minimal environmental permitting requirements.
Transportation staff regularly communicates with the State RTP Program coordinators regarding potential future changes in the design and cost. The State provides standard procedures for changes throughout the entire development process and is used to these sorts of adjustments with all projects as project designs are finalized.
Anticipated Revenue:
A variety of grant programs exist to fully fund this Project. Transportation has been in close contact with the El Dorado County Transportation Commission (EDCTC), which supports this project. EDCTC indicated that given the relatively small amount of funding needed and the four years available to acquire it, the funding gap can be closed in time to complete the proposed project by 2018. Currently, there are at least four funding sources available that individually or in combination may be utilized to fully fund the $272,791 shortfall:
1. TDA/LTF: EDCTC's annual allocation is approximately $63,000
2. RSTP: County's annual allocation is approximately $650,000
3. CMAQ: EDCTC will be doing a call for projects in November 2013 for $10 million in CMAQ future funds
4. TAP/ATP: Yet-to-be-determined amount of funding to become available this fiscal year for multi-use projects
Reason for Recommendation
The subject Grant Contract is for the El Dorado Trail - Los Trampas to Halcon Project and will provide a significant portion of the funding needed to complete project design and construction. The Project will extend the improved portion of the El Dorado Trail from the current terminus at Los Trampas Drive to Halcon Road by constructing a 1.1-mile Class I bike path (8-foot wide) and multi-use trail within the former railroad alignment; owned in fee by El Dorado County.
Action(s) to be taken following Board approval
1. Acting Community Development Agency Director will sign three (3) originals of the Grant Document.
2. The Transportation Division will forward three (3) originals of the Grant Contract to the State Department of Parks and Recreation for signature.
3. The Transportation Division will forward one fully executed original to the Clerk of the Board for its files.
Contact
Bard R. Lower
Transportation Division Director
Community Development Agency
Concurrences
County Counsel