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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 05212013 - C.30RECOMMENDATION(S): Authorize Chair to sign Letter of Support on behalf of the Board of Supervisors for the City of Hercules TIGER grant application to the US Department of Transportation for the Hercules Intermodal Transit Center. FISCAL IMPACT: None. BACKGROUND: The Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery, or TIGER Discretionary Grant program, provides a unique opportunity for the USDOT to invest in road, rail, transit and port projects that promise to achieve critical national objectives. Congress dedicated $1.5 billion for TIGER I, $600 million for TIGER II, $526.944 million for FY 2011 and $500 million for the FY 2012 round of TIGER Grants to fund projects that have a significant impact on the Nation, a region or a metropolitan area. The East Bay Regional Parks District (EBRPD) was successful in securing a TIGER II grant for a series of projects in Contra Costa and Alameda counties, including $1.465 million for improvements related to the Hercules ITC project. The FY 2013 TIGER program APPROVE OTHER RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE Action of Board On: 05/21/2013 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER Clerks Notes: VOTE OF SUPERVISORS AYE:John Gioia, District I Supervisor Candace Andersen, District II Supervisor Mary N. Piepho, District III Supervisor Karen Mitchoff, District IV Supervisor Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor Contact: 925-427-8138 I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown. ATTESTED: May 21, 2013 David Twa, County Administrator and Clerk of the Board of Supervisors By: June McHuen, Deputy cc: C. 30 To:Board of Supervisors From:Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor Date:May 21, 2013 Contra Costa County Subject:Letter of Support for the City of Hercules Grant Application for TIGER 2013 Funds BACKGROUND: (CONT'D) is authorized for $473.847 million. As with previous rounds of TIGER grant programs, funds for the FY 2013 TIGER program will be awarded on a competitive basis for projects that have a significant impact on the Nation, a metropolitan area or a region. TIGER grants may be not less than $10 million (except in rural areas) and not greater than $200 million. For projects located in rural areas (as defined in Section V (Projects in Rural Areas)), the minimum TIGER Discretionary grant size is $1 million. No more than 25 percent of the funds made available (or $118.75 million) may be awarded to projects in a single State. The Hercules ITC project is a multi-modal center that would bring together Amtrak intercity rail, WestCAT local and regional busses and the Water Emergency Transportation Authority (WETA) transbay ferry service and traversed by the San Francisco Bay Trail with additional access for cars, pedestrians and bicyclists. The estimated cost to complete the overall project is approximately $76 million. Over $26 million has been secured to initiate construction of Phase 1A (Path to Transit/Bay Trail/Train Station Site Preparation) and an additional $12 million programmed for Phase 1B (Railroad Bridge/Transit Loop) that are not yet available for expenditure. Funding includes the State Transportation Improvement Program, Measure J, TIGER II, EBRPD Bonds, and various local funds. The TIGER Application will use current programmed funding as a match to complete the Rail Station, Rail Station access bridge, Rail Station platform, related grade separation walls, realignment of Main Tracks 1 & 2, construction of 8,000 feet of new third track as the Station Track, railroad signal work, and platform emergency vehicle access. Completion of this phase of the Hercules ITC will not only contribute to the State of Good Repair and enhance Safety for the rail transportation network, but will significantly benefit Goods Movement within a major transcontinental freight rail corridor. The project will expand the existing railroad right-of-way, enhance the current track geometries resulting in velocity improvement, resolve flooding of the tracks at the mouth of Refugio Creek, and address safety concerns through grade separation and fencing along one of the largest segments of open rail in the region. More significantly, the next phase of work will incorporate 8,000 feet of new third track as the Station Track, which will allow passenger loading on intercity Capital Corridor trains without affecting freight traffic and improve mobility and goods movement in the rail corridor through utilization of the Station Track as a siding. The net result will be improved speeds and reliability for both passenger and freight traffic. CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION: The City of Hercules would not have the support of Contra Costa County to support their grant request. CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT: None. ATTACHMENTS Letter of Support Hercules ITC