Item No.
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
BY: MATTHEW BAUMGARDNER, P.E., DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS/
CITY ENGINEER
DATE: FEBRUARY 25, 2025
SUBJECT: APPROVAL OF A COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT WITH CITY OF SOUTH
GATE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PEDESTRIAN
CROSSING SAFETY ENHANCEMENTS PROJECT, CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENT PROJECT (CIP) NO. 22-10.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City Council will consider approving a Cooperative Agreement with the City of South Gate to participate in the implementation of the Pedestrian Crossing Safety Enhancements Project, Capital Improvement Project (CIP) No. 22-10, to enable safer routes to schools within the City. Two of the three pedestrian crossing locations related to this project are partially located within the City of South Gate. Therefore, their participation in this project will be necessary.
RECOMMENDATION
That the City Council:
1. Approve a Cooperative Agreement with the City of South Gate to participate in the implementation of the Pedestrian Crossing Safety Enhancements Project for a two-year term beginning on February 25, 2025; and
2. Authorize the City Manager or his designee to execute the Agreement with the City of South Gate, including any non-substantive extensions and amendments.
BACKGROUND
The City adopted its Local Road Safety Plan (LRSP) in 2022 and updated the LRSP in 2024. The LRSP serves as a blueprint for traffic safety within the City and identifies systemic safety improvement measures to address observed traffic safety issues and enhance traffic safety within the City. The occurrence of pedestrian-related crashes comprises 25 percent of all traffic-related fatalities which occurred within the City between 2020-2023. In order to address this issue, the City opted to pursue funding towards the implementation of various safety measures as recommended by the LRSP.
COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT WITH CITY OF SOUTH GATE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PEDESTRIAN CROSSING SAFETY ENHANCEMENTS PROJECT, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT (CIP) NO. 22-10
FEBRUARY 25, 2025
PAGE 2
In the spring of 2023, the City applied for and was awarded a California Department of Transportation Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) Cycle 11 Grant in the amount of $224,910 in set-aside funds for the Pedestrian Crossing Safety Enhancements Project. There are three existing uncontrolled marked school crosswalks that will be upgraded through this project. Two of the crosswalks are shared with the City of South Gate and are located adjacent to St. Pius X- St. Matthias Academy on Gardendale Street at Hoover Avenue and at a point located approximately 300 feet east of Arizona Avenue.
These two pedestrian improvements are included in the First-Last Mile Plan for the future Gardendale Station of the Southeast Gateway Line. The third crosswalk is located adjacent to Our Lady Perpetual Help School on Downey Avenue between Cherokee Drive and Lexington Road. The three pedestrian crossing locations are shown on the Project Location Map (Attachment A).
ANALYSIS
The Project involves upgrading uncontrolled marked school pedestrian crosswalks to include rectangular rapid flashing beacons (RRFBs) and high visibility signing and pavement marking treatments to heighten the awareness of the presence of pedestrians, particularly school-age children, at the three aforementioned locations within the City of Downey and partially within the City of South Gate. The project will be a joint effort with the City of South Gate with Downey serving as the lead agency.
The cooperative agreement (Attachment B) defines the terms, conditions and responsibilities between the two cities, will allow Downey’s contractor to complete the improvements for this project within the South Gate city limits under a no-fee permit, specifies that Downey’s design standards will govern on the project, contains indemnity provisions, and requires each agency to share in the responsibility and cost of maintaining the improvements, once constructed, under a separate agreement. The City of South Gate has approved the cooperative agreement and staff recommends approval of the cooperative agreement in order for the project to move forward.
The project is currently in the environmental and preliminary engineering phase. Final design is anticipated in spring 2025 with construction estimated to commence in summer 2025.
This project is categorically exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act under section 15301 (c) Existing facilities.
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
Efficiency & Adaptability
Quality of Life, Safety & Infrastructure
COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT WITH CITY OF SOUTH GATE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PEDESTRIAN CROSSING SAFETY ENHANCEMENTS PROJECT, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT (CIP) NO. 22-10
FEBRUARY 25, 2025
PAGE 3
FISCAL IMPACT
Approval of the recommended actions will result in an expenditure of $249,900, including $224,910 from the Grants Fund (Account No. 26-1-6828) and $24,990 from the Measure R Local Return Fund (Account No. 56-1-6828) for the required 10% local match, as previously approved in the FY 2024-2025 capital improvement budget. There is sufficient fund balance for the recommended actions.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A – Project Location Map
Attachment B – Cooperative Agreement with City of South Gate.
ATTACHMENT A PROJECT LOCATION MAP
ATTACHMENT A
DOWNEY AVE