Agenda Item Wording:
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Appropriation of Awarded Grant Funds and Measure R Funds - Accept and authorize the appropriation of funds awarded from the Active Transportation Program of $51,468,000, the appropriation of local matching funds of $221,000 from the Measure R Local Fund (131) and $5,059,370 of additional funds from the Measure R Trailways Fund (132), and authorize the amendment to the Measure R Supplemental Agreements for the three Active Transportation Program projects: Goshen-Visalia Corridor Connection, Beyond Bike Lanes, and Highland Community Connectivity.
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Prepared by:
Dolores Verduzco, Financial Analyst, Dolores.Verduzco@visalia.gov, (559) 713-4540
Chris Crawford, City Engineer, Chris.Crawford@visalia.gov, (559) 713-4331
Jason Huckleberry, Engineering & Building Director, Jason.Huckleberry@visalia.gov, (559) 713-4495
Department Recommendation:
Staff recommends the City Council authorize the following for the projects outlined in this report:
1. Accept and authorize the appropriation of funds awarded from the Active Transportation Program (ATP) in the total amount of $51,468,000; and
2. Authorize the appropriation of local matching funds of $221,000 from the Measure R Local Fund (131); and
3. Authorize the appropriation of additional local matching funds of $5,059,370 from the Measure R Trailways Fund (132); and
4. Authorize the amendment to the Measure R Supplemental Agreements for the projects utilizing funds from the Measure R Trailways Fund (132).
Summary:
Council approved on May 20, 2024 the submission of funding applications to State of California Active Transportation Program (ATP) Cycle 7 for the four (4) projects listed below to improve safety and promote active modes of transportation. Three (3) of the four (4) projects were awarded grant funds from the ATP. Staff recommends Council accept and appropriate the grant funds, and local matching funds needed to begin and/or continue project implementation.
List of Projects Awarded ATP Grant Funds:
1. Goshen-Visalia Corridor Connection Project, Grant Award $34,608,000
2. Beyond Bike Lanes - Elevating Santa Fe Street with Traffic Calming and Urban Beautification, Grant Award $11,390,000
3. Highland Community Connectivity Project, Grant Award $5,470,000
List of Project(s) Not Awarded ATP Grant Funds:
4. Washington Elementary Community Connectivity Project
Background Discussion:
The ATP is a state administered grant program created to encourage increased use of active modes of transportation. The purpose of and goals of the ATP include the following:
• Increase the proportion of trips accomplished by biking and walking.
• Increase the safety and mobility of nonmotorized users.
• Advance the active transportation efforts of regional agencies to achieve greenhouse gas reduction.
• Enhance public health, including reduction of childhood obesity.
• Ensure that disadvantaged communities fully share in the benefits of the program.
• Provide a broad spectrum of projects to benefit many types of active transportation users
Cycle 7 of the ATP is funded by various federal and state funding sources. The ATP is a highly competitive statewide program and, in the state of California, is the only dedicated funding program for walking and biking projects. For Cycle 7, approximately $569 million was estimated to be available for award for active transportation projects. The Budget Act of 2024 signed by the Governor in June 2024 included a $400 million reduction to the ATP from the General Funds appropriated to the ATP in the 2022 California State Budget. This reduced funding available for Cycle 7 of the ATP to approximately $169 million. A total of thirteen (13) projects were awarded funds in the Statewide, and Small Urban and Rural components of the ATP. The City of Visalia was awarded funding for three (3) projects. However, within the Small Urban and Rural component, the Goshen-Visalia Corridor Connection project only received $2.636 million of the $34.608 million in ATP funds requested due to programming capacity. Subsequently, in June 2025 additional funds were programmed to the ATP to fully fund the Goshen-Visalia Corridor Connection project from savings from cancelled and/or lapsed projects previously awarded ATP funds. The City of Visalia received a total of $51,468,000 in funding from the ATP for three (3) projects geared towards encouraging the increased use of active modes of transportation.
The following is a summary of three (3) projects awarded funding from the ATP.
1. Goshen - Visalia Corridor Connection Project, ATP funds $34,608,000
The proposed project will reconstruct the existing Class 1 multi-use trail from Mooney Blvd. to Miller Park Ct. and extend the trail from Miller Park Ct. to Camp Drive. The existing trail from Giddings to Akers was constructed in 1996 and the segment from Akers St. to Miller Park Ct. in 1998. The existing 8’ wide deteriorated asphalt trail will be reconstructed and elevated from street grade to prevent future flooding and for additional safety. This project will include improvements to the intersections and railroad crossings, installation of curb and gutter where none exists, and additional landscaping and lighting to further improve the safety for users of this trail.
The city is partnering with the County of Tulare to include improvements within the Goshen Community as part of the proposed project scope to provide residents of the Goshen Community with safe access to the corridor. This project will provide a regional benefit to non-motorized users connecting residents to employment, transit, shopping centers, several public schools surrounding the project area, and to downtown Visalia.
2. Beyond Bike Lanes - Elevating Santa Fe Street with Traffic Calming and Urban Beautification, ATP funds $11,390,000
The proposed project will construct a class IV bike route spanning 1.5 miles long along the Santa Fe St. alignment from Tulare Ave. to Houston Ave. A Class IV bike route fully separates the bike route from vehicular traffic and combines the user experience of a separated path with the on-street infrastructure of a conventional bike lane. Improvements will include striping improvements, installation of concrete sidewalks to fill in missing gaps, asphalt improvements, curb & gutter installation to improve safety, landscaping, and amenities for complete corridor improvements to benefit all users.
The Class IV bike lane will be installed on the east side of Santa Fe Street. The project will separate the bike lanes from traffic with a concrete median, narrow travel lanes to calm the street, add landscaping, sidewalk, and modify traffic signals as necessary. Some on-street parking may be removed. The project aims to preserve as much on-street parking as possible, with limited removals only where necessary. Staff will return to Council once 30% level design plans have been prepared to provide Council an update on the design and gather feedback from Council to ensure the final designs meet the intent of the grant and the needs of the community. Refer to Attachment C. Beyond Bike Lanes - Santa Fe, Cross Sections for an illustration of the concept level proposed improvements submitted as part of the ATP grant application.
3. Highland Community Connectivity Project, ATP funds $5,470,000
The proposed project will benefit the students that attend Highland Elementary and the neighboring residents by improving the safety and accessibility of non-motorized modes of transportation to the school and key neighborhood destinations. The project will consist of incorporating protected bike lanes where feasible and incorporating traffic calming measures to various intersections identified by the community. The median protection will be incorporated where feasible. Staff will return to Council once 30% level design plans have been prepared to provide Council an update on the design and gather feedback from Council to ensure the final designs meet the intent of the grant and the needs of the community. See Attachment E. Highland Community Connectivity, Cross Sections for an illustration of the concept level proposed improvements submitted as part of the ATP grant application.
Fiscal Impact:
The ATP required a local match for each proposed project and a contribution of more than twenty (20%) of the total project cost was committed towards each project to achieve the maximum amount of points in the leveraging category of the funding application. Table 1, shown below, provides a summary of the total project cost for each project which includes the ATP funds awarded and the total local matching funds committed. The County of Tulare has committed to provide matching funds towards the Goshen Visalia Corridor Connection Project.
Table 1
|
Summary of Total Project Cost |
|
Project Title |
Total Project Cost |
ATP Funds |
Local Match |
Local Match Funding Source |
|
Goshen Visalia Corridor Connection |
$43,300,000 |
$34,608,000 |
$8,692,000 |
City - $4.912M Measure R Trailways County - $3.780M |
|
Beyond Bike Lanes - Santa Fe |
$14,424,000 |
$11,390,000 |
$3,034,000 |
Measure R Trailways |
|
Highland Community Connectivity |
$7,194,000 |
$5,470,000 |
$1,724,000 |
Measure R Local |
|
Total |
$64,918,000 |
$51,468,000 |
$13,450,000 |
|
For the Highland Community Connectivity Project, staff recommends the appropriation of the ATP funds and Measure R Local funds to fund the project approval and environmental (PA&ED) phase, as shown below in Table 2. Staff will request the additional appropriation of $1,503,000 from Measure R Local funds at a future Council meeting for the design and construction phases.
Table 2
|
Budget Summary - Highland Community Connectivity |
|
Total Project Cost |
$7,194,000 |
|
|
|
|
Appropriation Request: |
|
|
|
ATP Funds |
$5,470,000 |
|
|
MR Local Fund (131) |
$221,000 |
Funds for PA & ED Phase |
|
Total Appropriation |
$5,691,000 |
|
|
Budget (Deficit) |
$(1,503,000) |
Future Appropriation of funds for Design and Construction Phase |
For the Goshen Trail Reconstruction Project and the Santa Fe Class IV Bike Lanes project, the city previously executed funding agreements with the County of Tulare Transportation Authority to utilize Measure R Trailways towards the design phase. Staff recommends the appropriation of the ATP funds awarded and the additional appropriation of Measure R Trailway funds to fund the total city local matching funds committed, as shown below in Table 3.
Table 3
|
Budget Summary - Goshen Visalia Corridor Connection Project & Beyond Bike Lanes - Santa Fe Project |
|
Project Title |
Goshen Visalia Corridor Connection |
Beyond Bike Lanes - Santa Fe |
|
Total Project Cost |
$43,300,000 |
$14,424,000 |
|
Less: Existing MR Trailways Funding Agreement |
$(2,486,630) |
$(400,000) |
|
Budget (Deficit) |
$(40,813,370) |
$(14,024,000) |
|
|
|
Appropriation Request: |
|
|
|
ATP Funds |
$34,608,000 |
$11,390,000 |
|
MR Trailways (Fund 132) |
$2,425,370 |
$2,634,000 |
|
Total Appropriation |
$37,033,370 |
$14,024,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
Updated Budget (Deficit) |
$(3,708,000) |
$0 |
|
County Matching Funds previously appropriated |
$1,100,000 |
|
|
Remaining Budget (Deficit) |
$(2,608,000) |
|
The Goshen Visalia Corridor Connection shows an updated budget deficit of $3,708,000 which represents the amount the County of Tulare will contribute towards the project. City Council approved on October 6, 2025, the Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Visalia and the County of Tulare for implementation of this project and the appropriation of $1,100,000 for the amount the County of Tulare will contribute towards the design phase. As the project progresses towards the construction phase, the additional matching funds ($2,608,000) from the County of Tulare will be appropriated with the award of the contract.
Prior Council Action:
October 6, 2025
Authorized City Manager to execute a memorandum of understanding with the County of Tulare for the Active Transportation Program funded Goshen-Visalia Corridor Connection Project, adopted resolution 2025-71, and appropriated $1,100,000 from fund (281) Transportation to be reimbursed by the County of Tulare for the design phase.
October 6, 2025
Approved design amendments #2 & #3 in the amount of $267,520.19 and $1,303,444 respectively to 4Creeks for the Goshen-Visalia Corridor Connection Project, and the additional appropriation of $750,000 from the Measure R Trailways Fund.
May 20, 2024
Authorized the City Manager to submit funding applications to the Active Transportation Program Cycle 7 for four (4) capital improvement projects.
December 12, 2023
Adopted Resolution 2023-58 authorizing the City Manager to execute a reimbursement agreement with San Joaquin Valley Railroad for engineering services associated with the design of the Goshen Trail Reconstruction Project, and authorized an additional appropriation of $75,000 from the Measure R Trailways Fund.
May 2, 2022
Authorized a contract with 4 Creeks to prepare professional consulting services for the Goshen Trail Reconstruction Project in the amount not to exceed $1,269,306 and authorized a total of $1,661,630 of Measure R Trails (132) funds.
June 21, 2021
Authorized the appropriation of $400,000 from the Measure R Trails (132) fund for the Santa Fe Class IV Bike Lane from Tulare Ave. to Houston Ave. Project.
Alternatives: Do not accept the ATP funds and/or appropriate the funds identified in this report.
Recommended Motion (and Alternative Motions if expected):
recommendation
I move to accept and authorize the appropriation of funds awarded from the ATP of $51,468,000, the appropriation of $221,000 from the Measure R Local Fund (131) and $5,059,370 of additional funds from the Measure R Trailways Fund (132), and authorize the amendment to the Measure R Supplemental Agreements for the projects specified in this report.
Environmental Assessment Status: To be completed prior to construction.
CEQA Review: To be completed prior to construction.
Deadline for Action: 11/3/2025
Attachments:
A. Goshen - Visalia Corridor Connection, Project Location Map
B. Beyond Bike Lanes - Santa Fe, Project Location Map
C. Beyond Bike Lanes - Santa Fe, Cross Sections
D. Highland Community Connectivity, Project Location Map
E. Highland Community Connectivity, Cross Sections