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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Report - January 16, 2008 E-11AGENDA ITEM eoll ' CITY OF LODI COUNCIL COMMUNICATION TM AGENDA TITLE: Affirm Project Nominations for San Joaquin Council of Governments' One Voice Trip MEETING DATE: January 16,2008 PREPARED BY: City Manager RECOMMENDED ACTION: Affirm Highway 12 safety and Harney Lane/Highway 99 interchange projects as the City of Lodi's nominations for the San Joaquin Council of Governments' One Voice trip. BACKGROUND INFORMATION: The San Joaquin Council of Governments (COG) is developing regional priorities in preparation for the annual "One Voice" lobbying trip to Washington, D.C., from April 6-11, 2008. Between the Council reorganization meeting and holiday schedule conflicts with regular meetings, staff has not had the opportunity to bring the project choices to the City Council before COG's January 8, 2008 nomination deadline. The invitation to nominate projects was not received by the City until November 5, 2007. The City Council is being asked at this time to affirm the nomination. SJCOG invited the City to submit two projects for consideration: One regional transportation project and one local project, transportation or otherwise. The grant request is limited to $5 million, as noted in the COG evaluation criteria checklist. Staff nominated funding for safety improvements on Highway 12, focusing on Lower Sacramento Road to Interstate 5, as the regional project priority. The San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors on December 11, 2007, selected Highway 12 corridor improvements, from Lower Sacramento Road west to the county line as San Joaquin County's top regional transportation project. That project, which would widen the entire stretch to four lanes and widen bridges to boost safety and relieve congestion, is estimated to cost $115 million. Lodi views Highway 12 between the City limits and Interstate 5 as the region's highest transportation priority. High-speed collisions occur frequently not only between highway drivers and motorists attempting to cross Highway 12 at Davis and DeVries Roads, but also between oncoming vehicles. Widening the road to four lanes and adding other improvements would reduce the likelihood of fatal collisions, which numbered 10 between Lodi and Fairfield in 2007 and some 70 since 2000, according to media reports. In a 2006 study, Caltrans estimated the cost of widening Highway 12 to four lanes from Lower Sacramento Road to Flag City at $23.8 million in two stages. The first, costing $13.3 million, would install mile -long passing lanes between Lodi and 1-5. The second, costing $10.5 million, would complete the project to four lanes. Staff notes the Board of Supervisors' selection of the Highway 12 corridor as the County's No. 1 priority is unique. The county has long focused on transportation projects in the Stockton area and in southwestern APPROVED: rRlhir King, City Manager San Joaquin County, and the backing of a Lodi -area project presents an opportunity for Lodi to partner with San Joaquin County in addressing safety concerns on what is frequently called "Blood Alley." For the local project nomination, staff selected reconstruction of the Harney Lane interchange at State Route 99. Reconstruction of the interchange, which has an outdated design and poor operating conditions, is estimated to cost $30 million. The interchange is important to the local and regional economy as critical linkage of the adjacent Blue Shield office complex and future retail commercial uses at Reynolds Ranch. Most of the required right-of-way has already been acquired, and design is scheduled to begin in 2009. A $5 million grant from the federal government would be matched with $25 million in local funding. FISCAL IMPACT: None. Blair Kin City Manager Attachments: Letterfrom SJCOG and instructionsfor submitted projects San Joaquin One Voice 2008 Instructions for Submitting Your Regional Priority Projects Included are three forms: • Appropriations Request Form • Evaluation Criteria Check List for Prioritizing Transportation Priority Projects for Federal Appropriations Requests • Evaluation Criteria Check List for Prioritizing Other Priority Projects for Federal Appropriations Requests (Electronic versions of the forms and checklists are available upon request.) In order to submit projects that are regionally significant and defined, the San Joaquin Council of Governments has developed criteria to address transportation and other regional projects. Please use these lists in the selection of your projects and include with your completed Sample Appropriations Request Form. 1) Complete Sample Appropriations Request Form for each submittal. Submit up to TWO projects*: • One Regional Transportation Priority Project, and • One Local Priority Project (either transportation or other) *San Joaquin County and City of Stockton may submit up to THREE projects --two Regional Transportation Projects and one Local Project. 2) Include a completed Evaluation Criteria Check Lists for evaluating your project requests for each project submitted. 3) Include a digital photo or graphic of your project request to be included on the project brochure page that will be used during the San Joaquin One Voice trip. Please allow sufficient time for submission to your respective councils or boards and return to the San Joaquin Council of Governments by Tuesday, January 8, 2008. Projects will be reviewed by SJCOG staff and the SJCOG Executive Committee with a recommendation to the full SJCOG Board. Please submit a hard copy to: San Joaquin Council of Governments Attn: Nicole Gorham 555 East Weber Avenue Stockton, CA 95202 Please also submit package via email to: n org ham(asicog.org. Contact Nicole Gorham with any questions at 209-468-3913 or ngorham@sjcog.org. SAN JOAQUIN COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS 555 E. Weber Avenue • Stockton, California 95202 Instructions and checklists are included to help in project selection and submission Keep in mind that we need each section of the appropriations forms answered completely. It is important that we provide detailed information about our projects, particularly the description and local/state contributions that will be applied to the project, as this information is critical when federal funding decisions are being made. We request that your staff complete the enclosed form and checklists for each project and submit to our office by January 8,2008. Please mail the forms to SJCOG, attn: Nicole Gorham, 555 E. Weber Avenue, Stockton, CA 95202. For an electronic version of the form, checklists and instructions; please send a request to ngorham@sjcog.org.If you have questions, please call Ms. Gorham at 468-3913. Please be aware that each localjurisdiction may also endorse projects by a third party organization or non-profit to also be considered by the SJCOG Board for inclusion on the regional list. These projects would need to go before your board or council and be approved prior to submissionto the San Joaquin Council of Governments. 209.468.3913 • 209.468.1084 (fax) Lta.] www.sjcog.org October 31, 2007 `"``� ViaorMou CHAIR Ed Chavez VICE CHAIR Mayor Bob Johnson Andrew T. Cbefley City of Lodi EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR P.O. Box 3006 Member ,EAgenciesCIT Lodi, CA 95241-19] 0 E,SCALON, LATHROP, LODI, Dear Mayor Johnson: MANTECA, RIPON, ST R ` rRAc � The San Joaquin Council of Governments is once again putting together a regional IN I> list of legislative priorities for the annual San Joaquin One Voice trip to be held SHE COUNTVOI April 6-11,2008. SAN JOAQI IN This year we will be following the same SJCOG Board approved process as in 2007; we ask that your jurisdiction submit two projects: • one regional transportation project; and • one local project, transportation or otherwise. Instructions and checklists are included to help in project selection and submission Keep in mind that we need each section of the appropriations forms answered completely. It is important that we provide detailed information about our projects, particularly the description and local/state contributions that will be applied to the project, as this information is critical when federal funding decisions are being made. We request that your staff complete the enclosed form and checklists for each project and submit to our office by January 8,2008. Please mail the forms to SJCOG, attn: Nicole Gorham, 555 E. Weber Avenue, Stockton, CA 95202. For an electronic version of the form, checklists and instructions; please send a request to ngorham@sjcog.org.If you have questions, please call Ms. Gorham at 468-3913. Please be aware that each localjurisdiction may also endorse projects by a third party organization or non-profit to also be considered by the SJCOG Board for inclusion on the regional list. These projects would need to go before your board or council and be approved prior to submissionto the San Joaquin Council of Governments. Page 2, City of Lodi Your participation in San Joaquin One Voice is instrumental for our continued success. One Voice strengthens our ability to be heard as a unified delegation at the federal level. Sincerely, ANDREW T. CHESL Executive Director U cc: Councilman Larry Hansen Mr. Blair King, City Manager Enc.