City Council Memorandum
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL DATE: FEBRUARY 6, 2024 FROM: PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT WARDS: ALL
SUBJECT: FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION HIGHWAY SAFETY IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM (HSIP) CYCLE XI GRANT FOR RETROREFLECTIVE SIGNAL BACKPLATES AND LEADING PEDESTRIAN INTERVAL IMPROVEMENTS AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS AND A MEDIAN & HIGH FRICTION SURFACE TREATMENT ON MISSION INN AVENUE BETWEEN REDWOOD DRIVE TO SCOUT LANE – APPROVAL OF HSIP PROGRAM SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT AND ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION TO DESIGNATE OFFICIAL TO EXECUTE AGENCY-STATE AGREEMENTS FOR FEDERAL AND/OR STATE FUNDED PROJECTS ISSUE:
Approval of a Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) Cycle XI supplemental agreement and adoption of a resolution designating the City Manager, or designee, as the official to execute all Master Agreements, Program Supplemental Agreements, and subsequent supplements and amendments for federal and/or state funded projects.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That the City Council:
Approve the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) Cycle XI Program Supplemental Agreement, No. 08-5058F15-F051-ISTEA, with Caltrans; and Adopt the resolution designating the City Manager, or designee, as the official to execute all Master Agreements, Program Supplemental Agreements, and/or subsequent supplements and amendments thereto with Caltrans for federal and/or state funded projects.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
On September 6, 2022, the City Council authorized the submittal of a traffic safety grant application to Caltrans for citywide signalized intersections and roadway safety improvements as well as pedestrian and bicycle safety improvements.
On May 2, 2023, the City Council accepted the Federal Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) Cycle XI grant award in the amount of $7,815,420 to the Public Works Department for the purchase of equipment, implementation of new leading pedestrian interval signal timing, and a median & high-friction surface treatment on Mission Inn Avenue between Redwood Avenue and Scout Lane.
BACKGROUND:
The Federal Highway Administration’s Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) is a Federal-aid program which provides grant funding for select projects aimed at achieving significant reductions in traffic fatalities and serious injuries on public roadways. The Public Works Department requested $7,815,420 in HSIP grant funds and committed a local match of $1,202,780 (Measure A and Gas Tax) to complete the project.
DISCUSSION:
On March 14, 2023, Caltrans notified the Public Works Department that the City’s grant application requesting Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) (Cycle XI) grant funding was successful.
The approved grant application is in the amount of $7,815,420 with a city local match from Measure A and Gas Tax Funds in the amount of $1,202,780 to install retroreflective signal backplates, implement Citywide leading pedestrian intervals at roughly 400 signalized intersections, and install a median & high friction surface treatment on Mission Inn Avenue from Redwood Drive to Scout Lane.
The proposed safety countermeasure improvements are a direct result of the collision analysis, accident evaluation, and stakeholder meetings for the recently adopted Local Road Safety Plan (LRSP). Upon completion of the project, the traffic safety improvements are expected to: heighten driver awareness of upcoming signalized intersections, enhance safety and mobility for vulnerable road users such as pedestrians & bicyclists at signalized intersections by providing pedestrians the opportunity to enter the crosswalks 3-7 seconds before vehicles are given a green indication, and reduce head-on and hit object type collisions on Mission Inn Avenue between Redwood Avenue and Scout Lane. The leading pedestrian interval implementation would also reduce greenhouse gas emissions as residents would be encouraged to walk for their shorter trips. Pedestrian-related improvements submitted for the HSIP grant application are also supported by the Riverside PACT (Pedestrian Target Safeguarding Plan, Active Transportation Master Plan, Complete Streets Ordinance, and Trail Master Plan).
To secure grant funding for the preliminary design component of the project, the State is requesting the execution of the Program Supplement Agreement in the amount of $1,711,000, herein attached. The preliminary design amount of $1,711,000 consists of a city local match from Measure A Funds in the amount of $171,100.
The preliminary design component of the project will develop design plans, engineering cost estimates and specifications, and advance the implementation of the leading pedestrian interval at all traffic signalized intersections citywide. The project’s traffic safety countermeasures are intended to improve safety and reduce incidents.
While the City has an existing Master Agreement with Caltrans, a new certified resolution authorizing a designated city official to accept federal funds for this project is also required by the State. The attached resolution supersedes Resolution Number 23870 and designates the City Manager, or designee, as the official authorized to execute all Master Agreements, Program Supplement Agreements, and/or any subsequent supplemental and amendments thereto with Caltrans for federal and/or state funded projects.
The Public Works Department will return to City Council to award and provide updated projects costs after the project is advertised and bids are received.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT:
The proposed grant application contributes to Strategic Priority No. 2 Community Well-Being, goals 2.4 and 2.5 and Strategic Priority No.6 Infrastructure, Mobility & Connectivity, goals 6.2, 6.3, and 6.4.
This project aligns with EACH of the five Cross-Cutting Threads as follows:
Community Trust – The HSIP Cycle XI project required the development of an LRSP document, which is the product of various forms of inclusive community engagement. The HSIP grant application is supported by the priority objectives of the Riverside PACT.
Equity – Many of the proposed improvements will enhance safety for non-motorized roadway users; according to the California Healthy Places Index Map households in Riverside disadvantaged communities are more often reliant on non-motorized transportation to access employment, institutions, and recreation.
Fiscal Responsibility – Riverside is a prudent steward of public funds and ensures responsible management of the City’s financial resources by awarding construction and consultant services contracts to the lowest responsive bidders and utilizing available grant funding from the Federal Highway Administration Highway Safety Improvement Program.
Innovation – The proposed HSIP grant application features innovative transportation practices currently used in the City of Riverside and supported by the Federal Highway Administration. The City advanced the grant funds for implementation of the Leading Pedestrian Interval (LPI) as part of the preliminary design component of the project.
Sustainability & Resiliency – The proposed HSIP project will improve safety for vulnerable road users; pedestrian and bicycle safety enhancements can encourage mode shift and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The total fiscal impact of this action is $1,711,000. The grant portion is $1,539,900 and the local match is $171,100. Grant revenues in the amount of $1,539,900 are already appropriated and available in the Capital Outlay-Grants, Signal Backplate LPI Mission Inn project account number 9925328-440125 and the local match of $171,100 is budgeted and available in the Measure A Fund, Signal Backplate LPI Mission Inn project account number 9925330-440313 as indicated in the table below.
Table 1 – Program Supplemental Agreement Funding Sources Fund
Project
Account
Amount
Capital Outlay–Grants
Signal Backplate LPI Mission Inn
9925328-440125
$1,539,900
Measure A
Signal Backplate LPI Mission Inn
9925330-440313
*$171,100
Total:
$1,711,000
*Denotes Local Match
Prepared by: Philip Nitollama, City Traffic Engineer
Approved by: Gilbert Hernandez, Public Works Director
Certified as to
availability of funds: Kristie Thomas, Finance Director/Assistant Chief Financial Officer Approved by: Kris Martinez, Assistant City Manager
Approved as to form: Phaedra Norton, City Attorney
Attachments:
Program Supplemental Agreement No. 08-5058F15-F051-ISTEA Resolution
HSIP Cycle XI Program Supplemental Agreement and Resolution ● Page 2