City Council Memorandum
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL DATE: JUNE 20, 2023 FROM: PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT WARDS: ALL
SUBJECT: AUTHORIZATION OF A GRANT APPLICATION TO THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023 SAFE STREETS AND ROADS FOR ALL FUNDING FOR A TOTAL PROJECT COST OF $20,000,000 INCLUDING A 20% REQUIRED LOCAL MATCH OF $4,000,000 ISSUE:
Authorize the submittal of a grant application requesting up to $20 million in grant funding for a Fiscal Year 2023 Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Grant Program offered by the United States Department of Transportation to construct various traffic safety infrastructure improvements on Main St between the 60 Freeway and 3rd St, including a ½ mile project influence area, and Citywide supplemental safety action planning studies. The total project cost is estimated at $20 million with a grant funded component of up to $20 million and a required 20% City match of approximately $4 million.
RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council authorize the submittal of a Fiscal Year 2023 SS4A grant application to the United States Department of Transportation for a total estimated project cost of $20 million (including approximately $4 million in required City match funds), to construct the South Main Complete Street Project along with additional project components including high-visibility crosswalks and audible pedestrian push button systems, Citywide speed limit reduction evaluations, and a revision to the Local Roadway Safety Plan; and Authorize the City Manager or designee to sign any and all grant related documents, making minor corrections as necessary.
BACKGROUND:
Section 24112 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (also referred to as the “Bipartisan Infrastructure Law” or “BIL”) established the discretionary SS4A Grant Program with $5 billion dollars in advanced appropriations that are intended to be appropriated equally over the five-year period of 2022 through 2026. One billion dollars of grant funds are authorized and appropriated for the current Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 which is the second year of the five-year grant program. Additionally, the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) has $177,213,000 from FY 2022 in carryover funds set aside for Planning and Demonstration Grants. Thus, certain safety planning and demonstration activities may be included as part of an Implementation Grant application request for FY 2023 call for projects. Up to $1,177,213,000 total dollars are available for FY 2023 grants under the SS4A program. $600 million is available for Implementation Grant Type Projects and $577 million is available as set aside funds for Planning & Demonstration Type Projects.
The purpose of SS4A grants are to improve roadway safety by significantly reducing or eliminating roadway fatalities and serious injuries through safety action plan development, refinement and implementation focused on all users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, public transportation users, motorists, personal conveyance and micro mobility users, and commercial vehicle operators.
The SS4A grant program provides funding for two main types of grants: 1.) Planning and Demonstration Grants for comprehensive safety action plans, including supplemental safety planning, and/or safety demonstration activities; 2.) and Implementation Grants to implement strategies or projects that are consistent with an existing Action Plan and may also bundle funding requests for supplemental planning and temporary demonstration activities that are small-scale tests with finite trial periods. USDOT encourages the submittal of the bundled supplemental safety action planning projects and temporary demonstration activities because these projects are evaluated separately from main implementation grant applications and can result in an award for planning grant funds despite denial of the main implementation grant application.
The Federal share of a SS4A grant may not exceed 80% of total eligible activity costs. Recipients are required to contribute a local matching share of no less than 20% of eligible activity costs. Unless otherwise authorized by statute, all matching funds must be from non-Federal sources.
The FY 2023 SS4A grant application is due on July 8, 2023 at 5:00 PM (Eastern Time).
DISCUSSION:
The Public Works Department is requesting authorization from the City Council to submit a grant application requesting a total of up to $20 million in USDOT FY 2023 SS4A grant funding to construct the South Main Complete Street Project: a new road diet (reduction in the number of travel lanes from 4 to 2) along Main Street from the 60 Freeway to Third Street with zipper parking, concrete sidewalks, pedestrian ramps, speed feedback signs, rectangular rapid flashing beacons, planters, and diagonal parking in the median along with a bundled component for supplemental safety action planning projects. This project is included in the adopted circulation element of the Northside Specific Plan.
The project is anticipated to reduce roadway speeds and increase parking opportunities for residents and business patrons along Main Street. Additional components of the implementation grant application consist of high-visibility crosswalks and audible pedestrian push button within a ½ mile radius of the Main Street project influence area.
The bundled supplemental safety action planning projects include a citywide speed limit reduction evaluation project based on Assembly Bill (AB) 43 and a revision to the Local Roadway Safety Plan to meet the minimum eligibility requirements for future calls for projects for the SS4A Grant Program. The total project cost is up to $20 million ($16 million in grant funds and $4 million in local match funds). Attachment 1 illustrates the proposed road modifications on Main Street and a full list of project locations is included in Attachment 2.
Source: Northside Neighborhood & Pellisier Ranch Specific Plan. Main Street south of 60 Freeway. Proposed cross-section with zipper parking.
The recommended improvements are identified in the Local Roadway Safety Plan (LRSP), the Riverside P.A.C.T. Plan, and the Northside Neighborhood Pellisier Ranch Specific Plan. The proposed supplemental safety action planning components are consistent with the National Roadway Safety Strategies (NRSS) and align with the SS4A Grant Program Initiatives for Safer People, Safer Vehicles, Safer Speeds, Safer Roads and Post-Crash Care.
The proposed citywide speed limit reduction project utilizes the AB 43 legislation which provides local authorities with greater flexibility in setting and reducing speed limits and is consistent with the Safer Speeds initiative of the SS4A Grant Program and NRSS. Funds would be used to examine potentially eligible roadways and determine the City’s approach to implementation.
The proposed update to the LRSP is required to remain eligible for future calls for projects for the SS4A Grant Program. The City must carefully consider any proposed changes to the Local Roadway Safety Plan.
The recommended streets and intersections are in close proximity to local schools, parks, medical facility, the downtown area, employment centers, and commercial retail shopping centers and support requests from the community through previous comprehensive public outreach efforts to improve traffic safety at these facilities and locations.
If the projects are awarded, the proposed proven safety countermeasure improvements are expected to reduce or eliminate fatal and severe injury traffic collisions as well as improve sidewalk connectivity, enhance safety and mobility for residents, and improve public health by encouraging increased walking and a more active lifestyle. The combined effects would also reduce greenhouse gas emissions as residents would be encouraged to walk for shorter trips.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT:
This item supports Strategic Priority 6 – Infrastructure, Mobility, and Connectivity and aims to ensure safe, reliable infrastructure that benefits the community and facilitates connection between people, places, and information. The proposed USDOT FY 2023 SS4A funded projects align with the goals below:
Goal 6.1 – Provide, expand and ensure equitable access to sustainable modes of transportation that connect people to opportunities such as employment, education, healthcare, and community amenities.
Goal 6.2 – Maintain, protect, and improve assets and infrastructure within the City’s built environment to ensure and enhance reliability, resiliency, sustainability, and facilitate connectivity.
Goal 6.3 – Identify and pursue new and unique funding opportunities to develop, operate, maintain, and renew infrastructure and programs that meet the community’s needs.
Furthermore, this project aligns with each of the five Cross-Cutting Threads as follows:
Community Trust – The proposed improvements are part of a more significant endeavor to improve the City’s transportation network and increase the traffic safety of residents and visitors along city streets. The proposed improvements are identified in the Local Roadway Safety Plan (LRSP), the Riverside P.A.C.T. Plan and the Northside Neighborhood & Pellissier Specific Plan.
Equity – Public Works strives to improve the City’s roadway network to provide safe and reliable transportation in all areas of the City. All Wards will benefit from the review of potential posted speed limit reductions.
Fiscal Responsibility – The proposed traffic safety improvement projects leverage various city funds to garner grant funding of an 80%-20% split for traffic safety improvements to a total up to $20,000,000 (which includes the agency grant award of $16,000,000).
Innovation – The proposed bundled safety action planning component aims to reduce posted speed limits citywide by utilizing the recent executed California Assembly Bill 43 (AB 43) legislation which gives local agencies throughout the state more control over deciding how speed limits should be set and whether speed limits should be reduced on certain roads and highways.
Sustainability & Resiliency – The proposed South Main Complete Street project will reuse existing rights of way creatively to facilitate reduced vehicle speeds and improved pedestrian access.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The total estimated fiscal impact of this recommendation is up to $20,000,000, which is comprised of $16,000,000 in USDOT grant funds, and an additional $4,000,000 in local matching funds to complete the SS4A infrastructure and planning improvements (Table 1).
Table 1 – Project Costs:
Project Name
Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) (FY 2023) Grant Program Funds Requested (maximum) Local Match Funds (20%)
Total Project Cost
Implementation Grant:
Main St (SR-60 Fwy to 3rd):
Road diet (reduce travel lanes to 2 lanes)
Zipper parking
Curb extensions
Sidewalks & ped ramps
Bike signage & striping
Speed feedback signs
Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons
High-visibility crosswalks (within a ½ mile radius of the Main St South project) Audible Pedestrian Push Button Systems (within a ½ mile radius of the Main St South project) $15,680,000
$3,920,000
$19,600,000
Bundled Supplemental Safety Action Planning Component:
Citywide Speed Limit Reduction Study
Update Local Roadway Safety Plan (LRSP) to meet eligibility requirements for future SS4A Grant Program calls for project. $320,000
$80,000
$400,000
Estimated SS4A Grant Program (FY 2023) Total:
$20,000,000
If awarded, staff will return to the City Council to receive and appropriate funding and will make a recommendation for allocating the required 20% matching funding in the amount of up to $4,000,000, from potential funding sources that may include bond proceeds, surplus reserves, Special Gas Tax, Measure A, or other sources as available.
Prepared by: Gilbert Hernandez, Public Works Director
Certified as to
availability of funds: Edward Enriquez, Interim Assistant City Manager/Chief Financial Officer/City Treasurer
Approved by: Kris Martinez, Assistant City Manager
Approved as to form: Phaedra A. Norton, City Attorney
Attachments:
Main Street Road Diet Exhibit
Traffic Safety Project List of Improvements
United States Department of Transportation Fiscal Year 2023 Safe Streets for All (SS4A) Grant Application ● Page 6