REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION
SUBMITTED TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
SUBMITTED BY: Oliver Chi, City Manager
PREPARED BY: Sean Crumby, Director of Public Works
Subject:
title
Adopt Resolution No. 2021-09 authorizing the Director of Public Works to request a project delay from the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) for the commencement of the Bolsa Chica Street/Valley View Street Corridor Project
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Statement of Issue:
In October 2019, the City of Huntington Beach in conjunction with the City of Westminster and the City of Garden Grove submitted an application to OCTA for a Regional Traffic Signal Synchronization Program project on Valley View Street/Bolsa Chica Street from Chapman Avenue in Garden Grove to Warner Avenue in Huntington Beach. COVID-related staffing and budget concerns among the participating agencies have led to the need to request a delay from OCTA for the commencement of this project. Program requirements for the OCTA grant state that the request to delay commencement of a project must be authorized by the City Council.
Financial Impact:
No funding is required for this action.
Recommended Action:
recommendation
Adopt Resolution No. 2021-09, “A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Huntington Beach Authorizing a Request to Pursue a Project Delay from the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) for the Bolsa Chica Street/Valley View Street Corridor Project - Project P Regional Traffic Signal Synchronization Program - Comprehensive Transportation Funding Program.”
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Alternative Action(s):
Do not authorize the Director of Public Works to request a project delay. This alternative action may result in the loss of the grant funds for the project.
Analysis:
In October 2019, the City of Huntington Beach, the City of Westminster and the City of Garden Grove, jointly submitted an application to OCTA for a Regional Traffic Signal Synchronization Program project on Valley View Street/Bolsa Chica Street from Chapman Avenue in Garden Grove to Warner Avenue in Huntington Beach. This program allows for improved traffic flow through synchronization of the signals along a corridor. In April 2020, OCTA approved funding for this project. This project, led by the City of Huntington Beach in conjunction with the Cities of Westminster and Garden Grove, along with Caltrans, will provide operational and infrastructure improvements at 22 signalized intersections along the corridor. The project application specified commencement of these efforts in OCTA Fiscal Year 2020/21, which ends on June 30, 2021.
After submittal of the application several factors have led to a need for requesting a delay. With the onset of the COVID-19, two recruitments within the Public Works Transportation Engineering section were held open as the Huntington Beach accessed the financial impacts. Those recruitments are moving forward now. The staffing limitations prevented the commencement of this project in the fall of 2020 as originally planned. In addition, the City of Westminster requested a delay in the project in due to financial concerns arising from Covid and their ability to provide funding. As such, it is recommended that a request of a two-year delay in project commencement be made to OCTA.
In accordance with OCTA’s Comprehensive Transportation Funding Program Guidelines, City Council approval is necessary before any project delays can be considered.
Environmental Status:
This project is categorically exempt pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act, Section 15303 (c).
Strategic Plan Goal:
Enhance and maintain infrastructure
Attachment(s):
1. Location Map
2. Resolution No. 2021-09, “A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Huntington Beach Authorizing a Request to Pursue a Project Delay from the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) for the Bolsa Chica Street/Valley View Street Corridor Project - Project P Regional Traffic Signal Synchronization Program - Comprehensive Transportation Funding Program”