Staff recommends that the City Council adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager or his designee to submit a Sustainable Communities Strategies (SCS) grant application for the Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant Program to the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and to execute all related forms and agreements for the Roseville Bicycle and Pedestrian Freeway Overcrossings Study, and certify the availability of matching funds in the amount of $53,221.

The Sustainable Communities Transportation Planning Grant program is administered by Caltrans and requires a match of 11.47% from the local agency. The mission of the grant program is to provide a safe, sustainable, integrated and efficient transportation system to enhance California’s economy and livability. 

The study will evaluate the potential for bicycle and pedestrian crossings over State Route 65 (SR 65) and Interstate 80 (I-80) that are safe, enticing to use, promote active/multi-modal transportation, and improve quality of life, while minimizing impact to property owners. This study will identify and prioritize the appropriate location(s) to provide up to two (2) bicycle/pedestrian overcrossings of SR 65 between Blue Oaks & Galleria, and one (1) bicycle/pedestrian overcrossing of I-80 between Cirby Way and the Roseville City limits. These locations are identified as potential connectivity points in the Bicycle Master Plan.

If successful, the planning grant activities would be initiated in October 2021 and be completed by April 2024. Upon completion of the proposed planning study, the City would then be poised to begin environmental review and engineering, ultimately leading to construction of recommended improvements.

The estimated total cost for the Roseville Bicycle and Pedestrian Freeway Overcrossings Study is approximately $464,000.  The grant application requests $410,779 in state grant funds. The required local match is $53,221 or 11.47% of the total cost. The local match will come from Local Transportation Fund revenue in the City's Transportation Fund. No General Fund resources will be used for this project.

The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) does not apply to activities that will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment, or is otherwise not considered a project as defined by CEQA Statute §21065 and CEQA State Guidelines §15060(c)(3) and §15378.

The Sustainable Communities Strategies Grant Authorization – Roseville Bicycle and Pedestrian Freeway Overcrossings Planning Study meets the above criteria and is not subject to CEQA. No additional environmental review is required.

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Dominick Casey, City Manager