Meeting_Body
AD HOC CONGESTION, HIGHWAY AND ROADS COMMITTEE
OCTOBER 17, 2018
Subject
SUBJECT: NORTH COUNTY SUBREGIONAL REPROGRAMMING OF SURPLUS FUNDS FROM THE I-5/SR14 HOV DIRECT CONNECTOR PROJECT
Action
ACTION: APPROVE RECOMMENDATION
Heading
RECOMMENDATION
Title
CONSIDER:
A. APPROVING $35.048 million of additional programming within the capacity of the Measure R 20% Highway funds saved at the completion of the I-5/SR-14 HOV direct connector project to be allocated to the following North County highway operational improvement projects (Attachment A):
1. Sierra Highway Traffic Signal Improvement Project in the amount of $565,000;
2. Vista Canyon Road Bridge between Soledad Canyon Road and Lost Canyon Road in the amount of $20,000,000;
3. Vista Canyon Transit Center and Metrolink Station in the amount of $4,000,000;
4. SR-138 (SR-14) Avenue K Interchange in the amount of $9,297,500; and
5. SR-138 Palmdale Blvd South Bound SR-14 Ramps in the amount of $1,186,250;
B. AUTHORIZING the CEO or his designee to negotiate and execute all necessary agreements for the approved projects.
Issue
ISSUE
On July 19, 2017, the Metro Board of Directors certified the completion of the I-5/SR-14 HOV Direct Connector Project (#2017-0384). This action also authorized the release of $85.8 million of unspent Measure R 20% highway funds from the project to other eligible highway operational improvements in the North County Subregion.
On May 24, 2018, the Metro Board of Directors approved $50.046 million in Measure R 20% Highway Funds (#2018-0172) for 3 eligible projects in the North County Subregion for the Cities of Lancaster and Palmdale and County of Los Angeles, leaving a balance of $35.753 million.
This report recommends programming $35.048 million of the remaining funds to other eligible projects in the North County Subregion.
Background
BACKGROUND
As part of the 2008 Measure R half cent sales tax, Line 26 of the expenditure plan allocated $90.8 million to the I-5/SR-14 HOV Capacity Enhancements. The project is complete and this action programs unspent Measure R Highway 20% funds to other eligible operational improvement projects in the North County Subregion.
Discussion
DISCUSSION
The Measure R Ordinance (Ordinance) states that for projects completed without expending all Measure R funds, the surplus shall be credited to the Highway Capital Subfund and spent within the subregion in which the project is located. The Ordinance allocated $90.8 million in Measure R 20% highway funding to the I-5/SR-14 HOV Capacity Enhancements project (Line 26 of the Measure R Expenditure Plan).
Caltrans substantially completed the I-5/SR-14 HOV direct connector project on December 23, 2012. The Metro Board determined the project was completed on July 19, 2017. At the completion of the project, there was a $90.8 million surplus of Measure R 20% funds.
Caltrans and Southern California Edison determined that $5 million would be needed to complete utility relocations and close-out the project. This resulted in a total of $85.8 million of Measure R 20% funds available for reprogramming to the North County Subregion. The surplus can be spent on eligible highway operational improvement projects or programs of regional significance as described in the Ordinance.
Upon approval of this item, staff will move forward with the completion of funding agreements for the projects. The Cities of Santa Clarita, Lancaster, Palmdale and the County of Los Angeles have identified $85.094 million worth of eligible projects. The project funding amounts and regional shares of the $85.8 million is consistent with the information reviewed and provided by the subregion. Metro staff concurs with these projects.
Project Descriptions:
City of Santa Clarita - Sierra Highway Traffic Signal Improvement Project
The proposed project integrates traffic signals along Sierra Highway in Santa Clarita to the City’s Intelligent Transportation System, providing coordinated signal timing along the arterial to improve traffic operations and reduce congestion. The project also includes various intersection improvements along Sierra Highway, including left-turn pocket extensions, restriping to provide additional lanes, and dynamic lane utilization technology.
City of Santa Clarita - Vista Canyon Road Bridge at Lost Canyon Road
The proposed project will provide a new bridge from Soledad Canyon Road at Lost Canyons Rd, over the Santa Clara River to the Vista Canyon Metrolink station. The project includes the Vista Canyon Bridge and associated intersection improvements including new traffic signals and extension of the existing westbound left-turn pocket to accommodate commuters and other users of the Vista Canyon Metrolink station. This project will provide commuters with an alternate to SR-14 when trying to access the Los Angeles Basin.
City of Santa Clarita - Vista Canyon Transit Center and Metrolink Station
The proposed project will design and construct a new Transit Center and Metrolink Station immediately adjacent to SR-14 near Soledad Canyon Road in the master planned Vista Canyon community. The new Transit Center will serve as the Santa Clarita Valley’s major eastern transfer point for commuting passengers who need to access the Los Angeles Basin or the Antelope Valley destinations. The project includes street and roadway improvements, a park and ride lot and street signal improvements. The project will alleviate congestion along the I-5 and SR-14 freeways by providing commuters with an alternate mode of travel to access the Los Angeles basin. Measure R 20% Highway funds will be limited to eligible highway related elements of the planned Transit Center project.
City of Lancaster - SR138 (SR-14) Avenue K Interchange - MR330.02
The project will improve the northbound off ramps at Avenue K, and modify the SR-138 (SR-14) mainline to accommodate the new off ramp configuration and adjacent intersection impacted by the project. This project previously received $15,000,000 in Measure R funds for the interchange improvements. The city has asked to program an additional $9,297,500 due to the revised PAED cost estimates.
City of Palmdale - SR-138 Palmdale Blvd SB SR-14 Ramps - MR330.08
This project will improve the SR-138/Palmdale Blvd on and off-ramps, widen SR-14 to provide a new auxiliary lane on the freeway mainline, and modify SR-138/Palmdale Blvd to include double left-turn lanes, three westbound through lanes and other safety improvements. This project previously received $25,000,000 in Measure R funds for the interchange improvements. The city has asked to program an additional $1,186,250 due to revised project estimates.
Determination_Of_Safety_Impact
DETERMINATION OF SAFETY IMPACT
Approval of this item will have no negative impact to the safety standards of Metro.
Financial_Impact
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Adoption of I-5/SR-14 Interchange Subregional Reprogramming initiates multi-year programming and expenditure of Measure R 20% funds starting in FY 19 based on the project schedule of development and implementation of projects submitted by the four local jurisdictions (Attachment B). Prior Board action File # 2018-0172) programmed these surplus funds in 2030 to 2039. This item will advance the expenditures and potentially result in additional debt financing. Highway project staff will refine future cashflow needs for the recommendations and coordinate the financial impact mitigation as part of the agency’s future debt planning. The amount of financing is mitigated due to the historically slower than expected rate of spending on other highway programs and projects.
The new North County Highway Operational Improvement Projects originated from surplus funds from the I-5/SR 14 HOV Direct Connector Project were not planned in the FY19 Budget. Upon approval of this recommendation, staff will use the approved FY19 Budget within Highway Program Cost Center 0442 to allocate $560,000 for the FY19-projected Sierra Highway Traffic Signal Improvements project in the City of Santa Clarita, and establish a new program/project number to track expenditures on all the projects programmed under Measure R Line 26. No increase to the FY19 budget is required at this time. Measure R 20% Highway funds allocated to the Vista Canyon Transit Center and Metrolink Station project shall only be utilized for the highway fund eligible aspects of the project workscope.
Since this is a multi-year program, the Project Manager, the Cost Center Manager, and the Senior Executive Office, Program Management- Highway Program will be responsible for budgeting costs in future fiscal years.
Impact to Budget
The source of funds for this recommendation is Measure R 20% Highway Funds, which is not eligible for bus and rail operating expenditures.
Implementation of Strategic Plan Goals
IMPLEMENTATION OF STRATEGIC PLAN GOALS
The proposed project is consistent with the following goals of the Metro Vision 2028 Strategic Plan:
Goal 1: Provide high-quality mobility options that enable people to spend less time traveling by alleviating the current operational deficiencies and improving mobility along the project.
Goal 4: Transform LA County through regional collaboration by partnering with the North County Subregions to identify the needed improvements and take the lead in development and implementation of the project.
Alternatives_Considered
ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED
The Board could elect to not approve staff’s recommended actions. This alternative is not recommend as the staff recommendation is consistent with the Board’s prior decisions and actions and the projects to be funded will be eligible to receive the funds.
Next_Steps
NEXT STEPS
Upon Board approval, staff will initiate the funding agreement process to allow for delivery of the recipient projects and will continue to coordinate with the jurisdictions in the subregion for the remaining $700,000 unprogrammed amount.
Attachments
ATTACHMENT
Attachment A - Projects Location Map
Attachment B - I-5/SR-14 Interchange Subregional Reprogramming Projects
Prepared_by
Prepared by: Isidro Panuco, Manager Transportation Planning, (213) 418-3208
Abdollah Ansari, Sr. Executive Office, (213) 922-4781
Reviewed_By
Reviewed by: Richard F. Clarke, Chief Program Management Officer, (213) 922-7557
