ITEM 6-L

Council Meeting:  August 11, 1992

To:       Mayor and City Council

From:     City Staff

Subject:  Resolution  Authorizing  City  Manager  to  Apply   for
          Proposition C and ISTEA Program Funds

Introduction

This is a request for the City  Council  to  adopt  the  attached
resolution  authorizing the City Manager to submit an application
to the Los Angeles County Transportation Commission  (LACTC)  for
discretionary Proposition C and Intermodal Surface Transportation
Efficiency  Act  (ISTEA)  funding  for   various   transportation
programs.

Background

Proposition C, a 1/2 cent sales tax dedicated  to  transportation
programs,  was  approved by Los Angeles County voters on November
6, 1990. Collection of the tax  began  in  April  1991.   As  the
result  of  legal  challenges  which  prohibited the use of these
sales tax revenues, the funds have accrued in an  escrow  account
since  that  time.   In May, 1992, the State Supreme Court upheld
Proposition C, allowing the funds to be disbursed to  the  County
and   cities   through  the  Los  Angeles  County  Transportation
Commission (LACTC).

Proposition C 40% Discretionary funds may be used for capital  or
operating  purposes  for bus and rail capacity expansion, service
quality and customer convenience, and to meet the requirements of
mandated  programs  such  as  the Americans with Disabilities Act
(ADA) and the South Coast Air Quality Management Plan (AQMP).

The Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA)  was
passed  by  Congress  in  1991.   ISTEA  focuses  on new modes of
transportation, congestion reduction and air quality  improvement
in  urban  areas.   The  Act increases flexibility in funding for
local agencies, makes a broader range of transportation  projects
eligible  for  federal  funding and provides additional money for
research.  It allows for flexible  programming  between  transit,
highway and transportation demand management uses.

Due to the similarity of the projects eligible for ISTEA  funding
and   Proposition  C discretionary funding, the LACTC developed a
combined application process for these funds.  A list of proposed
projects was submitted to the LACTC on July 22, 1992, for funding
consideration.  A brief description of each project  is  included
in Attachment A.

Given  the  short  application  timeframe,  the   LACTC   allowed
applications   to   be   submitted   without   a  governing  body
authorization.  However, an authorization must  be  submitted  no
later  than August 17, 1992 for the LACTC to consider funding the
projects.

Budget/Financial Impact

This staff report has no budgetary impact at this time.   If  any
projects are approved by the LACTC, there may be some local match
requirements which the City  can  provide  from  other  available
transportation funds.

Recommendation

It is recommended  that  the  City  Council  adopt  the  attached
resolution  authorizing  the  City Manager to submit applications
for Proposition C and ISTEA funding  for  various  transportation
projects.

Prepared by:   Stanley E. Scholl, Director of General Services
               Anthony Antich, City Engineer

Attachments:   Brief Description of Projects (A)
               Resolution for Adoption (B)


                          ATTACHMENT A

                     DESCRIPTION OF PROJECTS

(A)  Fourth Street Improvements - Pico Blvd.  to  Wilshire  Blvd.
     (Including  Bridge  Widening):   This  project  consists  of
     reconstruction of Fourth Street with concrete pavement which
     has  deteriorated  due  to  heavy  traffic, including buses.
     Included are bridge modifications on the east side of Fourth
     Street  to allow an additional left turn pocket to the Santa
     Monica Freeway. (ISTEA $300,000, Prop. C disc. $684,160)

(B)  ADA Curb Cuts & Bus Pads  -  City-wide  (Phased):   Provides
     curb ramps at intersections within one to two blocks of each
     City bus stop, and will provide concrete  bus  pads  at  all
     City  bus  stops  that  do  not  currently have pads. (ISTEA
     $317,000, Prop. C disc. $633,000)

(C)  Smart  Corridor  Extension:    This   project   is   traffic
     synchronization, freeway message signs, computerized traffic
     condition reporting and meshes with the current Los  Angeles
     Smart  Corridor  Project.  It covers the 3.3 mile stretch of
     the Santa Monica Freeway bounded by Olympic Boulevard to the
     North, Pico Blvd. to the South, Centinela Avenue to the East
     and Lincoln Blvd. to the West. (ISTEA  $1,125,000,  Prop  C.
     disc. $1,125,000)

(D)  Santa   Monica   Boulevard   -   Controller   Upgrade    and
     Interconnect;  between  2nd  Street  and  7th  Street:  This
     project entails upgrade of existing signal  controllers  and
     installation of interconnect conduit and cable.  The purpose
     of this project is to provide traffic signal synchronization
     along   this  transit/commuter  arterial.  (Prop.  C.  disc.
     $35,000)

(E)  Montana Avenue - Controller Upgrade; between 4th Street  and
     26th  Street:   This  project  entails  upgrade  of existing
     traffic   signal   controllers   in   order    to    provide
     synchronization  along this transit/commuter route. (Prop. C
     disc. $42,500)

(F)  Main Street - Controller Upgrade; between Pico Boulevard and
     South  City Limit:  This project entails upgrade of existing
     traffic  signal  controllers  in  order  to  provide  signal
     synchronization  along this transit/commuter route. (Prop. C
     disc. $42,500)

(G)  Street Reconstruction Project  -  Various  Locations:   This
     project  consists  of  removing  existing  pavement and base
     material and constructing 8" of  asphalt  concrete  pavement
     over  6"  of crushed misc. base material on numerous heavily
     deteriorated streets. (Prop. C disc. $816,250)

(H)  South  Beach  Seat  Wall   Extension   For   Bikepath   Sand
     Protection:   This  project  will increase overall safety to
     bicyclists by preventing sand from blowing over the  bikeway
     and becoming a potential slip hazard to bicyclists. (Prop. C
     disc. $93,330)

(I)  Bikeway Master Plan Implementation (Phased):   This  project
     provides  for  the  creation  of  local and regional bicycle
     routes Citywide that were developed  to  facilitate  bicycle
     travel  to all points within the City and to serve the needs
     of both beginning and experienced bicyclists. (Prop. C disc.
     $2,407,483)


                           ATTACHMENT B

                      RESOLUTION NO.
                      (CITY COUNCIL SERIES)

              A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF  THE
              CITY  OF  SANTA  MONICA  AUTHORIZING THE
              CITY MANAGER TO APPLY FOR PROPOSITION  C
              AND ISTEA PROGRAM FUNDS

              WHEREAS,  Proposition  C  and  Intermodal   Surface
Transportation  Efficiency  Act  (ISTEA)  funds are to be used to
expand transit service, reduce traffic  congestion,  improve  air
quality,  and  improve  the condition of the streets and freeways
heavily used by public transit; and,

              WHEREAS,  the  City  of  Santa  Monica  desires  to
utilize   the   funds  for  public  transit  projects  under  the
guidelines of Proposition C and ISTEA,

              NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL  OF  THE  CITY  OF
SANTA MONICA DOES RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:

              SECTION 1. The  City  Manager,  or   his   or   her
designee,  is  authorized  to  apply  for Proposition C and ISTEA
funds in conformance with the guidelines set forth for the use of
the funds including designation of local matching funds.

              SECTION  2.   The  City  Manager,  or  his  or  her
designee,   is  authorized  to be the City's authorized signatory
and designated contact person.

              SECTION 3.  The City Clerk  shall  certify  to  the
adoption  of  this Resolution, and thenceforth and thereafter the
same shall be in full force and effect.

APPROVED AS TO FORM:


ROBERT M. MYERS
City Attorney