To: Sonoma County Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Sonoma County Regional Parks, Permit Sonoma
Staff Name and Phone Number: Elizabeth Tyree, 707-565-2575; Wil Lyons, 707-565-1103
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
Transportation Development Act Article 3 Grant Applications, Copeland Creek Trail and Sonoma County Unincorporated Active Transportation Plan
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Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Adopt a Resolution approving the request from the County of Sonoma to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission for an allocation of FY 2025-26 Transportation Development Act Article 3 bicycle and pedestrian funding in the amount of $400,000 for the Copeland Creek Trail (First District) and $50,000 for the Sonoma County Unincorporated Active Transportation Plan (All Districts).
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Executive Summary:
Transportation Development Act Article 3 (TDA3) grant funding is available for bicycle and pedestrian projects reviewed by the local Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee. The Sonoma County Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee’s three-year funding plan identifies $400,000 in TDA3 funding for the Copeland Creek Trail and $50,000 for Sonoma County Unincorporated Active Transportation Plan in TDA3 in Fiscal Year 2025-26.
Regional Parks requests $400,000 in funding to supplement other funding secured and planned for the $1,820,000 estimated design and construction cost for the Copeland Creek Trail (“Project”). This Project will extend the multiuse trail from Rohnert Park and Sonoma State University to Crane Creek Regional Park.
Permit Sonoma requests $50,000 to fund the staff time required to finalize the 2025 Unincorporated County Active Transportation Plan (ATP) and necessary amendments to the Sonoma County General Plan 2020. Anticipated work to finalize the ATP includes additional stakeholder outreach, preparation of General Plan amendments, public hearings before the Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC), the Planning Commission, and the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors.
A resolution approving the applications for TDA3 funding is required by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission.
Discussion:
The Sonoma County Transportation Authority (SCTA) issued a call for bicycle and pedestrian projects on February 18, 2025. The County of Sonoma and the nine incorporated cities are invited to submit projects for the TDA3 program. A resolution approving application for TDA3 grant funding is required by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) and is due to SCTA by April 28, 2025.
There is currently $1,198,084 in TDA3 funding available to the County for FY 2025-26. Each year Regional Parks, Public Infrastructure, and other departments review current Active Transportation Projects for TDA3 eligibility and coordinates with the Sonoma County Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee for their review and prioritization for TDA3 funding. The Sonoma County Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee’s three-year funding plan priorities include $400,000 in TDA3 funding Copeland Creek Trail and $50,000 for Sonoma County Unincorporated Active Transportation Plan in Fiscal Year 2025-26.
TDA3 funds are generated from a statewide ¼ cent sales tax with approximately 2% of those funds dedicated for bicycle and pedestrian planning and projects. MTC distributes TDA3 funding in the San Francisco Bay Area based on population. The SCTA manages the local TDA3 funding program and submits an approved TDA3 local Program of Projects with supporting documentation to MTC. MTC notifies County applicants and the Auditor’s Office when funding is approved.
Regional Parks
Since 2007, Regional Parks has been collaborating with the City of Rohnert Park (“City”) and Ag + Open Space through planning and design of the Copeland Creek Trail. The City was awarded a $1,360,600 grant from the Ag + Open Space District 2020 Matching Grant Program for the Crane Creek Regional Park Expansion & Copeland Creek Trail Extension. Funding for a mid-block signalized bicycle and pedestrian crossing of Petaluma Hill Road and Copeland Creek Trail construction is included in this grant.
The City now leads bidding and construction of this trail to Crane Creek Regional Park. The Project will construct 1.8 miles of Class 1 trail including three bridges, providing an active transportation route from Rohnert Park and Sonoma State University to the local regional park. The trail is designed to meet current accessibility standards. Construction is anticipated to begin this spring. The Matching Grant with the trail construction and Crane Creek Park Expansion will be coming back to this Board at a later time for approval of a Matching Grant to the City and acceptance of a Conservation Easement over the Project area by the County. The acceptance of the property expanding Crane Creek Regional Park from the City will be coming back to this Board after completion of the Trail construction.
Once completed, the trail will connect to existing sections of the Copeland Creek Trail in Rohnert Park from Sonoma State University extending westward 3.6 miles to the intersection of Hinebaugh Creek and Rohnert Park Expressway. This trail intersects the regional SMART Trail and connects to additional planned bikeways.
The requested $400,000 TDA3 funding will contribute to the $1,420,000 County share to design and construct this project. Without TDA3 funding, additional funding would need to be secured for construction. Secured funding sources include $850,000 Parks for All Measure M, $355,000 Area 5 Park Mitigation Fees, $14,000 Sonoma County Parks Foundation, and $5,000 from the County’s Tree Mitigation Fund. Additional $196,000 in funding from Parks for All Measure M, Area 5 Park Mitigation Fees, or other funding sources will be requested during the FY 2025-2026 Budget process or next fiscal year.
Permit Sonoma
Project scope includes final outreach, editing the ATP to reflect that outreach, documentation and staff time for public hearings before the Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC), the Planning Commission, and adoption by the Board of Supervisors. Additionally, the Sonoma County General Plan will be amended to include minor technical updates to allow for use of the ATP moving forward. Permit Sonoma expects to bring the ATP before the Board of Supervisors in late Summer/early Fall 2025.
Strategic Plan:
TDA3 funding will be used to guide, improve and expand the County’s active transportation infrastructure.
This item directly supports the County’s Five-year Strategic Plan and is aligned with the following pillar, goal, and objective.
Pillar: Organizational Excellence
Goal: Goal 4: Seek out grant funding to enhance programs and improve infrastructure
Objective: Objective 1: Secure a total of $60 million in grant funding by 2026 for strategic priorities, including technology tools, climate resiliency, and other capital projects.
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
September 12, 2023, Board of Supervisors accepted the County of Sonoma Capital Project Plan 2023-2028, including Copeland Creek Trail project.
March 23, 2021, Board of Directors of the Ag + Open Space District accepted recommendations for Projects and Funding Amounts for the 2020 Matching Grant Program Cycle, including Copeland Creek Trail project.
Fiscal Summary
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
There is no fiscal impact to this item. If the grant application is approved, this funding and related expenditures will be included in the FY 2025-2026 budget.
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
None
Attachments:
Resolution
Resolution Attachment A
Resolution Attachment B
Copeland Creek Trail Location Map
TDA3 Funding Plan
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None