DATE:
July 18, 2023
TO:
Paul Buddenhagen, City Manager
FROM:
Mohamed Alaoui, Public Works Director
SUBJECT:
Local Road Safety Plan (LRSP) Grant:
Resolution Of The City Council Of The City Of Emeryville Accepting $40,000 In Grant Funding From Caltrans For Completing A Local Roadway Safety Plan Resolution Of The City Council Of The City Of Emeryville Authorizing The City Manager To Execute All Master Agreements, Program Supplemental Agreements, Fund Exchange Agreements, Fund Transfer Agreements, And Any Amendments Thereto With California Department Of Transportation Recommendation
Staff recommends that the City Council of the City of Emeryville adopt the above-entitled resolutions.
Background
A Local Road Safety Plan (LRSP) can be a means for providing local and rural road owners with an opportunity to address unique highway safety needs in their jurisdictions while contributing to the success of the State’s Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP). The process of preparing an LRSP creates a framework to systematically identify and analyze safety problems and recommend safety improvements. Preparing an LRSP facilitates the development of local agency partnerships and collaboration, resulting in a prioritized list of improvements and actions that can demonstrate a defined need and contribute to the statewide plan. The LRSP offers a proactive approach to addressing safety needs and demonstrates agency responsiveness to safety challenges.
The LRSP also provides a framework for organizing stakeholders to identify, analyze, and prioritize roadway safety improvements on local and rural roads. The process of developing an LRSP can be tailored to local protocols, needs, and issues.
In order to apply for State Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) funds, an agency must have completed their LRSP or an equivalent of the LRSP. Other equivalents of the LRSP may be reviewed and determined on a case-by-case basis. The LRSP or its equivalent must be updated and validated at least every five years. When an agency submits an HSIP funding application, the agency must self-certify that an LRSP or its equivalent has been completed. The agency must provide a copy of its LRSP or equivalent upon request.
It is strongly recommended that the City Council approve the LRSP and its update so that the City is eligible to submit project applications.
Discussion
Local Roadway Safety Plan
The City Council, Manager and the Public Works Department are committed to bicycle and pedestrian safety improvements. A Local Road Safety Plan (LRSP) will provide a framework for the City and its stakeholders to identify, analyze, and prioritize roadway safety improvements to reduce fatalities and serious injuries on the local road network.
The City of Emeryville currently maintains 19.7 centerline miles of streets upon which pedestrians, bicyclists, and vehicles travel and interact daily. Emeryville is committed to improving transportation safety to reduce the risk of death and serious injury that result from incidents on our transportation systems. The City has a longstanding commitment to pedestrian and bicycle safety expressed in various policies including the Transportation Element of the General Plan and the City of Emeryville Pedestrian and Bicycle Plan, and once adopted, the Active Transportation Plan.
In February 2020, the City applied for LRSP funding through a statewide call for projects. The LRSP application for $40,000 in grant funding was accepted in October of 2020. Because of statewide delays related to COVID-19, the funding agreements were sent to the City for execution in early 2023. To execute the funding agreement which will fund the professional services contract, the City Council will need to authorize the City Manager to accept the funds and execute a Program Supplemental Agreement (Exhibit A), and any other Caltrans agreements that will be necessary to implement the LRSP.
Resolution to Assign the City Manager Signature Authority for all Caltrans Agreements on projects Pre-Authorized by Council The City is eligible to receive Federal and/or State funding for certain Transportation Projects, through the California Department of Transportation. Before such funds can be claimed, Master Agreements, Program Supplemental Agreements, Fund Exchange Agreements and/or Fund Transfer Agreements need to be executed with Caltrans. The City has historically delegated authorization to execute these agreements and any amendments to the City Manager on a project by project basis.
In order to streamline executing funding agreements with Caltrans, staff recommends adopting a resolution to authorize the City Manager to execute funding agreements on all Caltrans projects that have received prior authorization from the Emeryville City Council. Staff has prepared a resolution that includes recommended language from Caltrans to this effect. The resolution will allow the City Manager to administratively approve such funding agreements which will expedite project delivery.
Fiscal Impact
The project has been approved for allocation of funds by the CTC as part of the Caltrans program. The LRSP will be completed using $40,000 from the LRSP Grant Program and an additional $5,000 of FY23/24 funds from the City’s On-Call Traffic Engineering Consultant contract.
Staff Communication with the Public
None.
Conflict of Interest
None.
Conclusion
Staff recommends that the City Council of the City of Emeryville adopt the above-entitled resolutions.
PREPARED BY: Ryan O’Connell, Senior Civil Engineer
Approved and Forwarded to the
City Council of the City of Emeryville:
Paul Buddenhagen, City Manager
Attachments
Draft Resolutions
Exhibit A – Program Supplemental Agreement No. A029 for LRSP Funding LRSP and Resolution for City Manager Signature Authority City Council Meeting | July 18, 2023
City of Emeryville
CALIFORNIA
MEMORANDUM