Oxnard staff recommend four SCAG grant applications totaling about $19.95 million, with 11.47% local match

Transportation planner Debbie O'Leary recommended that the Oxnard City Council approve and authorize submission of four grant applications to the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) for Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) and Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement (CMAQ) funds. "Recommendation is that the City Council approve and authorize the submission of 4 grant applications," O'Leary said during a presentation to the council.

O'Leary said the applications would be submitted for projects in SCAG's fiscal years 2026–27 and 2027–28, and that the grant programs require an 11.47% local match. She described STBG as a federal program for preserving and improving highways, bridges, public roads, pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, and transit capital; CMAQ supports projects that reduce congestion and improve air quality in nonattainment areas. O'Leary noted the SCAG region is a nonattainment area and that SCAG will score projects based on eligibility, deliverability, regional priorities, federal performance measures, and cost-effectiveness for CMAQ-only requests.

Staff recommended four capital-improvement projects for this SCAG call for projects: (1) neighborhood street resurfacing across multiple neighborhoods, (2) an environmental update for the U.S. 101/Del Norte Boulevard interchange, (3) installation of bicycle facilities along Oxnard Boulevard, and (4) an accessible pedestrian enhancements project at about 17 locations citywide.

O'Leary provided the staff estimates for each request and the proposed local match sources: the neighborhood resurfacing application requests just over $14,000,000 in the first year of funding with an estimated match of about $1,600,000 from gas tax, Measure O and/or the general fund; the Del Norte interchange environmental phase request is $3,500,000 in the second year with a roughly $400,000 match from development impact fees and/or the general fund; the Oxnard Boulevard bicycle facilities request is about $1,700,000 in the first year with an estimated match of $194,000 from development impact fees and/or the general fund; and the accessible pedestrian enhancements request is $650,000 in the first year with a match of about $74,000 from the Mobility Fee Fund and/or the general fund. O'Leary said staff evaluated 23 projects and deemed 19 noncompetitive for reasons including missing design/cost estimates, existing state funding conflicts, or ineligibility under federal requirements such as NEPA clearance and right-of-way acquisition.

O'Leary summarized key deadlines and federal requirements: the SCAG call opened March 31, 2025, applications were due May 16, 2025, and projects must meet federal authorization requirements including National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) clearance, right-of-way acquisition, executed utility agreements, and other federal funding authorizations prior to obligation. She said SCAG has approximately $1.2 billion available for the region; staff identified Ventura County-eligible funding but did not specify a precise Ventura County allocation in the presentation. SCAG is expected to announce recommended projects in December, and SCAG's calls are expected every two years.

If awarded, staff said the city will appropriate the federal funds to Fund 200 and supply the 11.47% match from identified sources in the adopted 2025–2029 CIP, including general fund, Measure O, the Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Account (gas tax), development impact fees, and 2014 lease revenue bond funds; staff said additional match requests would be returned to council if required. The presentation concluded with staff's recommendation that the council: (1) approve and authorize submission of the four applications; (2) authorize the city manager or designee to execute grant agreements; (3) authorize the finance director or designee to submit financial reports, grant claims, and approve budget appropriations; and (4) authorize the public works director or designee to submit nonfinancial reports.

The presentation did not include a council vote; the item was a staff recommendation for council consideration. O'Leary said projects that were not submitted this cycle will be considered for future SCAG calls.