Three different City of Alameda transportation projects were included in the Alameda County Transportation Commission (ACTC) 2024 Comprehensive Investment Plan (CIP). The plan documents which transportation projects ACTC will invest in over a five-year period.

Last week, the Alameda Sun reported the City of Alameda will receive $1 million as part of the ACTC 2024 CIP to partially fund a two-year water shuttle pilot program on the Oakland-Alameda Estuary (https://alamedasun.com/news/summer-water-shuttle-halted-two-year-program...” May 30).

The CIP also included grants for the Lincoln Avenue/Marshall Way/Pacific Avenue Corridor Improvement Project and the Central Avenue/Fourth Street/Ballena Boulevard Roundabout.

The City of Alameda will receive $567,000 for the Lincoln/Marshall/Pacific Corridor project. However, according to the CIP, the city requested $9,991,000 for the project.

“City staff requested an [ACTC] grant to complete the project design and partially cover construction costs and is fortunate to have received a grant for $567,000 for the design of this three-mile corridor improvement project,” said City of Alameda Public Information Officer Sarah Henry.

In June 2022, city staff and Parametrix, Inc., the consultant firm on the project, submitted an ACTC 2024 CIP grant application totaling $14.7 million, according to a City of Alameda staff report. The total project is estimated to cost approximately $27 million. Henry said even though the grant was far less than what the city had hoped it will still be useful.

“The additional [ACTC] grant funding of $567,000 will be combined with $1 million in local Measure BB funding totaling $1,567,000 to complete the design of the Lincoln/Marshall/Pacific corridor project,” said Henry.

It’s common for local entities to not receive their total requested amount. According to the ACTC 2024 CIP staff report, the commission received 52 CIP applications requesting $255 million, but approved just under $180 million in project funds.

“ACTC grants are competitive, so city staff did not expect to receive this grant funding.”

City staff will now look to other sources to fund the project.

“City staff is seeking additional grant funds for construction with a federal grant application submittal expected in July totaling $20 million,” said Henry. “The U.S. Department of Transportation is anticipated to announce these awards in December.”

The city could also look to the ACTC for additional funds. According to the 2024 ACTC staff report, “[local entities] receiving preconstruction phase funding from the 2024 CIP may seek construction funding in a future CIP cycle once pre-construction phases are completed.”

In April 2023, the City Council approved the Lincoln/Marshall/Pacific corridor design concept (“https://alamedasun.com/news/corridor-safety-improvement-project-moves-fo...,” April 21). Construction could begin as early as 2025 if the city is awarded construction grants.

The city will receive $2,325,000 for the Central/Fourth/Ballena roundabout project. The allocation is part of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission One Bay Area Grant (OBAG) Program. The 2024 CIP has three sections of funding sources. The OBAG program, the Transportation Fund for Clean Air, and ACTC Local Discretionary Sources.

The OBAG 3 grant covers 70 percent of each project. Local entities are required to provide a local match covering the remaining 30 percent. The total cost of the roundabout is $3,321,429. With the $2,325,000 OBAG grant, the city is required to provide $996,429. OBAG grants were announced in March. At its April 18 meeting, the City Council approved the project details and authorized the city manager to file the appropriate paperwork to accept the grant. The roundabout, a part of the 2022 Active Transportation Plan, aims to reduce crashes and improve safety for all modes of travel in the area.

The ACTC consists of 22 members including Alameda Mayor Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft.