CITY OF CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA
                 CITY COUNCIL AGENDA




 Agenda Date:          July 19, 2021

 Action Required:      Resolution of support for TAP grant application

 Presenter:            Chris Gensic, Dept. of Parks and Recreation
                       Amanda Poncy, Dept. of Public Works

 Staff Contacts:       Chris Gensic, Park and Trails Planner
                       Amanda Poncy, Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator

 Title:                Resolution of Support for TAP Grant Applications for:
                       Meadow Creek Valley Trail bridge, and
                       Safe Routes to School Program and Coordinator - $875,000




Background:

Meadow Creek Valley Trail Bridge: The City of Charlottesville, through the Parks and Recreation
Department, is applying for Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) grant funding through the
Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) in the amount of $675,000, for design and
construction of a stone dust surfaced shared use path system and bike/pedestrian bridge across
Meadow Creek near the Virginia Institute for Autism on Greenbrier drive as part of the approved
Meadow Creek Valley park and trail plan.

Safe Routes to School Program and Coordinator: The City of Charlottesville is also applying for
TAP grant funding in the amount of $200,000, to continue the Safe Routes to School (SRTS)
Programming in Charlottesville City Schools for school years 2022-2024. The SRTS grant request
will allow the City to continue to fund a full-time Safe Routes to School Coordinator and the supplies
needed to implement the recommendations included in the Program Plan.


Discussion:

Meadow Creek Valley Trail Bridge: Charlottesville Parks and Recreation is constructing the
Meadow Creek Valley trail system to provide safe and convenient transportation and recreation
options for bicyclists and pedestrians from the Greenbrier Park to Michie Drive. In the late 1990’s,
the Rivanna trail foundation constructed a timber bridge with a staircase at this location which was
severely damaged by storms and finally removed as part of the Meadow Creek Restoration project.
After acquiring new parkland in this area and rebuilding Meadow Creek, we are ready to replace this
bridge with a new design that will accommodate all users, provide much needed access to the
developing multi use trail along Meadow Creek, and last much longer than the previous RTF bridge.
This stone dust ADA accessible shared use path is part of the publically developed and adopted
Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan for the City as well as the Meadow Creek Valley Master Plan. This is the
second grant request for this project to provide the funding needed to construct the entire trail
system. The grant application is due October 1, 2021. A design firm is currently working to complete
the plans and cost estimate in time for the final grant application deadline.

Safe Routes to School Program and Coordinator: The City of Charlottesville has provided Safe
Routes to School programming for the last five years with the support of the VDOT Safe Routes to
School Non-Infrastructure grant. In the spring of 2021, VDOT announced that future grant awards
would be provided by Transportation Alternatives Program.

Since the program started in 2016, there has been an observed increase in walk/bike travel to/from
school from an average of 7%, to an average of 14% (for K-8 students city wide). Data is based on
travel tallies taken annually in schools. In addition, Bicycle and Pedestrian education is taught in every
public school serving grades K-8. There is an established free helmet program for city school students
and there are fleets of 25 bikes at 6 city schools.

The following will items will continue to be emphasized as part of the program:
       Institute bike riding, repair, and safety curriculum
       Develop a division-wide SRTS website social media presence
       Regularly host walk- and bike-to-school events
       Conduct Neighborhood Bike Repair Days
       Expand the bike helmet give-away program
       Administer student travel tallies
       Monitor school transportation data and keep records of participation in workshops, biking
        and walking trains, bike rodeos, afterschool clubs, and other events


Alignment with City Council’s Vision and Strategic Plan:

Both of these projects will support City Council’s “Green City” vision as well as the “Connected
Community” vision, and aligns with Goals 1 and 3 of the Strategic Plan, to be an inclusive, self
sufficient community and a healthy and safe city.

The initiatives further implement recommendations within the Comprehensive Plan (2013),
Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan (2015) and supports the City's Healthy Eating Active Living
(HEAL) Resolution.


Community Engagement:

Meadow Creek Valley Trail Bridge: Charlottesville Parks and Recreation provided multiple
opportunities for the public to provide input into the planning process for the Meadow Creek Valley.
6 separate public meetings were held during the planning process, beginning in September of 2012.
These meetings included a general informational overview and process review meeting, a formal
public hearing in front of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, and a public hearing in front of
City Council in June of 2013.

Safe Routes to School Program and Coordinator: Further, city staff from Neighborhood
Development Services worked with staff from the Thomas Jefferson Health District and
Charlottesville City Schools (Physical Education and Pupil Transportation) to create a Safe Routes to
School Task Force in 2016 that was responsible for outlining elements of a city-wide Safe Routes to
School Activities and Programs Plan (APP). The task force included representatives from city
schools, community organizations, multiple city departments (NDS, Public Works, Parks and
Recreation), as well as health and enforcement disciplines. The APP was developed by the task force
with input from parents (via Parent Survey) and further discussed/refined at public meeting in
February 2016. The Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee provided feedback on the updates
every year since. This year a public meeting was held on February 24, 2021, to gather community
feedback.

Both projects implement recommendations included in the Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan
(adopted 2015), which included significant public involvement.


Budgetary Impact:

There is no budgetary impact at this time, as this resolution is just Council approval for the City to
apply for these grants. Should either or both of these grants be awarded, Council may be requested to
approve a project administration agreement with the Virginia Department of Transportation for each
project, and to appropriate any grant funds received for expenditure within the respective projects
(along with any local-match funds).

Meadow Creek Valley Trail Bridge: For the Meadow Creek Valley Trail project, a local match of
$135,000 would need to be provided. The City’s FY22 Annual Budget Appropriation contains a
lump sum amount within the Parks & Recreation Operating Budget for Parkland and Trail
Acquisition and Development (PTAD). If the City is successful in obtaining this grant, then the
amount required for the local match could be drawn from the PTAD, and Council would need to
appropriate grant funding for expenditure within the project. Albemarle County may contribute
additional match funds to this Project, but exact amounts have not been confirmed at this time.
Eventually, a total budget will need to be established specifically for this Project.

Safe Routes to School Program and Coordinator: The Safe Routes to School grant requires a 20%
match (cash or in-kind donations are acceptable). The nature of this Project is operational, and any
grant funding received would be appropriated by City Council to the Department of Public Works
(DPW) Engineering Department FY 2022 operating budget (likewise, the 20% match would be
drawn from amounts included within the City’s FY22 Annual Budget Appropriation for the DPW
Engineering Operating Budget.


Recommendation:

Staff recommends approval of the resolution in support of the grant application.


Alternatives:

Meadow Creek Valley Trail Bridge: If grants funds are not sought, this project would need to be
funded entirely with local funds.
Safe Routes to School Program and Coordinator:If the full grant amount is not awarded, the
position could be funded part-time. Alternately, Safe Routes to School programming could potentially
continue in an ad-hoc fashion with assistance from local P.E. teachers, community partners and parent
volunteers.

Attachments:

Resolution, Map
                         RESOLUTION
   AUTHORIZING APPLICATION FOR TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES
FUNDING FOR A MEADOW CREEK VALLEY TRAIL BRIDGE AND FOR THE SAFE
          ROUTES TO SCHOOL PROGRAM AND COORDINATOR


       WHEREAS, in connection with a grant application, the Commonwealth of Virginia
Transportation Board requires City Council to adopt a resolution requesting the Virginia
Department of Transportation to establish a Transportation Alternatives project in the City of
Charlottesville.

        NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA, THAT the Commonwealth Transportation Board is
hereby requested to establish a Transportation Alternatives Project for the improvement of
Meadow Creek Valley Trail Bridge within the City of Charlottesville, and also to establish a
Transportation Alternatives Project to continue the Safe Routes to School Program within the
City of Charlottesville; and

       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City of Charlottesville hereby agrees to provide
a minimum twenty percent (20%) local matching contribution for each project; and

        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City of Charlottesville hereby agrees to enter
into a project administration agreement with the Virginia Department of Transportation, to
provide the necessary oversight to ensure that each Project is developed in accordance with all
state and federal requirements for design, right of way acquisition, and construction of a federally
funded transportation project, and other federal and state requirements; and

       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City of Charlottesville will be responsible for
maintenance and operating costs of any facility constructed with Transportation Alternatives
Program funds, unless other arrangements have been made with the Commonwealth
Transportation Board/ Virginia Department of Transportation; and

        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that if the City of Charlottesville subsequently elects to
cancel either of these projects prior to completion, the City of Charlottesville hereby agrees to
reimburse the Virginia Department of Transportation for the total amount of costs expended by
the Department through the date the Department is notified of such cancellation; and

         BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the City of Charlottesville also acknowledges
and agrees that it will be required to repay any funds previously reimbursed from Transportation
Alternatives Funding that may later be deemed ineligible by the Federal Highway Administration
ineligible for funding.


Adopted this _________day of July, 2021
Charlottesville, Virginia


By: ____________________________
Attest