2016 Measure B Capital Project Complete Streets Checklist

The 2016 Measure B Program requires all capital projects to consider Complete Streets improvements and to incorporate pedestrian, bicycle, and transit infrastructure or information technology improvements identified in local, regional, or countywide planning documents if they fall within the project limits, unless an exception is declared and approved by the 2016 Measure B Program.

INSTRUCTIONS

• Use this form for only the capital projects that receive 2016 Measure B funding and congestion relief projects funded through 2016 Local Streets and Roads funds. Pavement programs funded by 2016 Measure B Local Streets and Roads should use another form: the Pavement Program Self-Declaration Form.
• Transit operations and education/encouragement programs funded by 2016 Measure B are not required to fill out this form.
• You can navigate through the form by clicking individual tabs on the top of this form. 
• You can save your work by clicking the "Save" button at the bottom of the page. You will be prompted to either sign up with an email account, or "skip create an account". It is recommended to not create an account, unless the account login will be shared with the designated signee to sign. If you chose not to create an account, you will be asked to enter an email address to receive a shareable link. You or your colleague may use the same link to continue working on the application, and this link may be used easily for signature.
• If you have submitted the project checklist and wish to make edits, you must go back to the submission and click "submit" again to save the changes. There will not be a "save" button in the re-submission.
• The form must be signed by the Public Works Director, Agency Manager, equivalent senior level staff, or his/her designee (please click on the last tab).
• Submit form when requesting funding. Submit an updated form with each new funding request or when project enters another major phase.
• VTA 2016 Measure B Program Office will post the completed form on the Transparency Website.
• Please email 2016MeasureB@vta.org if you have any questions.

NOTE: If project sponsor selects 'Yes' in question 11 and requests a project-level exception, you can skip to the end of the checklist for exception declaration and DocuSign signature. 

*Project sponsors are required to provide transit ridership data (average weekday ridership of stops in the project area) and volumes. Volumes for other modes should be provided for at least one mid-block location during a peak period. Please include specific location(s) of count, date conducted & data source in question 12.a. 

Useful links: 

• VTA ridership data
• BART ridership
• Caltrain ridership

Links for question 20: VTA Pedestrian Access to Transit Plan: https://www.vta.org/programs/pedestrian-program 

GIS map: https://gis.vta.org/portal/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=65e21b6ab210462cb190ee1572f55a4b 

The next question is asking for gap closure. The definition of "gap closure" is that a project must meet one of the following three criteria: 

1. Builds new bicycle or pedestrian infrastructure where there is currently no infrastructure (e.g., closes gaps in sidewalk; completes trail segments; constructs new bike/ped bridge or undercrossing; provides dedicated space for bicyclist on roadway where there is currently shoulder less than 4 feet). OR
2. Builds a new bicycle or pedestrian connection across a major barrier (waterway, railway, freeway, expressway). Facilities provided must be dedicated (e.g., Class I, II, or IV bikeways; sidewalk). OR
3. Provides justification of how upgrading existing facilities closes a gap.

According to the Water Infrastructure Improvement Act, green infrastructure are "the range of measures that use plant or soil systems, permeable pavement or other permeable surfaces or substrates, stormwater harvest and reuse, or landscaping to store, infiltrate, or evapotranspirate stormwater and reduce flows to sewer systems or to surface waters." Examples include permeable pavement, bioswales, urban tree canopy, and green parking. More examples can be found on EPA.

The expectation is that pedestrian, bicycle, and transit infrastructure or information technology systems identified in local, regional, or countywide planning documents will be incorporated into transportation projects receiving funding if they fall within the project limits.

However, exceptions will be considered where exceptional circumstances prohibit adherence to this policy. Infrastructure or technology that is identified in a local, regional, or county planning document may be excluded from a transportation project in circumstances where:

• The cost of providing the Complete Streets element is disproportionate to the overall cost of the project, as set forth in the Federal Highway Administration Accommodating Bicycle and Pedestrian Travel.
• A roadway user is legally prohibited from using the transportation facility.
• There is an absence of existing and future need.
• Detrimental environmental or social impacts outweigh the need for the infrastructure or technology.

NOTE: Declaring an exception does not automatically disqualify a project from receiving 2016 Measure B funding. The purpose of the declaration is to publicly document the rationale behind design decisions.

The completed Checklist must be reviewed and signed by Public Works Director, Agency Manager or equivalent senior level staff or his/her designee. You only need to sign using one of the methods below -- either through the Docusign Widget or through the Handsign Widget. 

Please forward the URL of this form to the signee to enter the email and name for DocuSign. The signee does not need a DocuSign to complete this signature process.

You can click "Print PDF" to save a copy of this Checklist.

MAKE SURE TO SUBMIT THIS ENTIRE FORM AFTER SIGNING USING THE "SUBMIT BUTTON" AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE.