TO:
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THROUGH:
Bruce Moe, City Manager
FROM:
Erick Lee, Public Works Director
Katherine Doherty, City Engineer
Helen Shi, Senior Civil Engineer
SUBJECT:Title
Consideration of a Resolution Approving the Citywide Americans with Disabilities Act Ramp Improvement Project and Authorizing an Application to the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority for Federal Transit Administration Section 5310 Grant Funding (Public Works Director Lee).
ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 23-0016
Line
_________________________________________________________
Recommended Action
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that City Council adopt Resolution No. 23-0016:
1) Approving the Citywide Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Ramp Improvement Project funding application for Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Section 5310 Grant Funding administrated by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro).
2) Authorizing the City Manager and/or his or her designee to submit the necessary project information to Metro as required by the FTA Section 5310 funding application process.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
If City Council approves, staff will submit an FTA Section 5310 grant funding application to Metro for a new project to improve ADA Ramps Citywide. If the application is successful, Staff will return to City Council to approve entering into a grant agreement and to establish this Citywide ADA Ramps project with an estimated cost of $1,200,000 for design and construction. Depending on the grant award, the City may be required to provide a minimum of 10% matching funds for the project. If the project moves forward, a budget appropriation from the CIP Fund, including matching funds if required, will also be requested when the item returns to City Council. There are no additional fiscal implications at this time.
BACKGROUND:
On July 7, 2014, the U.S. Department of Transportation FTA published Circular 9070.1G, Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities Program Guidance and Application Instructions. The purpose of this circular is a reissuance of guidance on the administration of the transit assistance program for seniors and individuals with disabilities under 49 U.S.C. 5310, and guidance for the preparation of grant applications. This revision incorporates provisions of the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act.
Metro serves as a pass-through grant sponsor for cities and local agencies for FTA Section 5310 Program grants. Per Metro’s Grant Subrecipient Guidebook, the FTA Section 5310 Program aims to improve mobility for the target population by removing barriers to transportation services and expanding the transportation mobility options available when public transit is insufficient, inappropriate, or unavailable by:
o Exceeding the requirements of the ADA of 1990
o Improving access to fixed route service and decreasing reliance on complementary paratransit
o Providing alternatives to public transportation
Complying with the goals of the FTA Section 5310 Program, Metro published the Coordinated Public Transit-Human Services Transportation Plan for Los Angeles County (Coordinated Plan) on June 28, 2021, including:
o Priority for projects and programs that will improve mobility for target population groups
o Project proposals must be consistent with the goals and strategies included in the Plan.
Consistent with the FTA Section 5310 Program’s goals and Metro’s Coordinated Plan, the City’s Mobility Plan-which was adopted in May 2018-proposes a comprehensive, integrated transportation network with infrastructure and design that allows safe and convenient travel along and across streets for all users, including pedestrians, users and operators of public transit, bicyclists, persons with disabilities, seniors, children, motorists, users of green modes, and movers of commercial goods.
DISCUSSION:
Currently, the City’s Dial-A-Ride service provides a shared ride, curb-to-curb bus service for Manhattan Beach residents who are 55+ years old or disabled (all ages). Dial-A-Ride provides transportation to any destination within the City seven days a week and to most medical facilities in Torrance, Redondo Beach, and Hermosa Beach Monday through Friday. Dial-A-Ride also makes special trips to a variety of shopping destinations outside of the City on designated days of the week. Because it is a curb-to-curb service, Dial-A-Ride patrons should be waiting in front of their location at the designated pick-up time.
To increase the safety of the City’s Dial-A-Ride service, citywide ADA-compliant drop-off and pick-up locations are needed. The City currently has approximately 1,700 existing ADA ramps. There are approximately 1,260 ramp locations that are not ADA-compliant or missing ADA ramps. The citywide ramp locations are shown in the attachments.
To address safety concerns and comply with ADA rules, citywide ADA ramp improvements are considered necessary. The City has been gradually upgrading ADA ramps every year and will continue to upgrade ADA ramps at the locations shown in the attachments in accordance with the City’s ADA Transition Plan. This funding application will cover the design and construction of the ADA ramps at up to 30 locations near regional attractions and community centers. The cost of the design and construction of up to 30 locations is estimated to be $1,200,000.
If the grant is awarded, the design and construction of up to 30 ADA ramps is estimated to be completed by the end of 2025.
PUBLIC OUTREACH:
If considered necessary, community meetings will be scheduled during the design phase of the project. Targeted outreach will occur before the start of construction for those near construction activities.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
No environmental review was conducted related to the execution of the attached resolution. City staff has reviewed the proposed project for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and determined that the project qualifies for a Categorical Exemption pursuant to Section 15301 Class 1 (repair and maintenance of existing public facilities, involving negligible or no expansion of use) of the State CEQA Guidelines. A Notice of Exemption will be filed with the Los Angeles County Clerk’s Office for the Project if it is ultimately funded and approved.
LEGAL REVIEW:
The City Attorney has reviewed this report and determined that no additional legal analysis is necessary.
ATTACHMENT:
1. Resolution No. 23-0016
2. ADA Ramp Improvement Locations