City of Sacramento
City Council Report
915 I Street, 1st Floor
Sacramento, CA 95814
www.cityofsacramento.org
File ID: 2022-01541 8/30/2022 Consent Item 14.
Authorization to Apply for Transportation Grants: Highway Safety Improvement Program (Cycle 11) and Local Partnership Program, and Active Transportation Program File ID: 2022-01541
Location: Districts 2, 4, 5, 6, and 8
Recommendation: Adopt a Resolution: 1) authorizing the City Manager or the City Manager’s designee to submit an application for the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) Grant (Cycle 11) for intersection traffic signal improvements; 2) authorizing the City Manager or the City Manager’s designee to submit an application for the Local Partnership Program (LPP) for safety and corridor improvements; 3) authorizing the City Manager or the City Manager’s designee to submit an application for the regional Active Transportation Program (ATP) for pedestrian safety improvements; and 4) authorizing the City Manager or the City Manager’s designee to execute the grant agreements and any related grant documents upon award.
Contact: Jennifer Donlon Wyant, Transportation Planning Manager, (916) 808-5913, [email protected]; Jesse Gothan, Supervising Engineer, (916) 808-6987, [email protected]; Lucinda Willcox, Program Manager, (916) 808-5052, [email protected]; David Edrosolan, City Traffic Engineer, (916) 808-5974, [email protected], Department of Public Works Presenter: None
Attachments:
1-Description/Analysis
2-Resolution-Final
Description/Analysis
Issue Detail: Two transportation grant programs have issued a call for projects, and one has announced additional funding. First, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has announced the Cycle 11 Call for Projects for the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP), which funds projects to address demonstrated safety issues on public streets. The HSIP application due date is September 12, 2022.
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File ID: 2022-01541 8/30/2022 Consent Item 14.
The Transportation Division of the Department of Public Works routinely evaluates the City’s roadway network as part of proactive safety management to review traffic operations and identify potential safety improvements. The identified projects best meet program guidelines and criteria for the HSIP grant and represent the most competitive candidate projects.
Second, on August 11, 2022, the Sacramento Transportation Authority (STA) approved the distribution formula for the $6.2 million it receives in state formula funds through the Local Partnership Program, allocating approximately $1.5 million to the City of Sacramento. This funding requires a one-to-one match and construction in FY 2023/24 or FY2024/25. In order to address local funding shortfalls and limitations, staff recommends using this funding on projects currently in development, including a federally funded projects for signals and signal improvements at nine intersections and the city’s corridor improvement program.
Finally, the Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG) announced additional funding allocation for the six-county Active Transportation Program (ATP). While the City Council approved application of projects on May 31, 2022, with this additional funding, City staff recommends submission of an additional application.
Project details for all potential applications are described in the Background section.
Policy Considerations: The submission of the project is consistent with the City General Plan goals of promoting safety and enhancing livability, sustainability, and economic vitality.
Funding for these improvements will advance the Vision Zero policy. On January 19, 2017, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 2017-0032 adopting the following Vision Zero goal: the City of Sacramento will work collaboratively in a data driven effort to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries by 2027.
These projects also advance adopted transportation funding criteria. On March 15, 2022, the City Council adopted Resolution 2022-0079 adopting Transportation Prioritization Criteria, Metrics and Points for Transportation Investments and Funding Opportunities that include Improving Air Quality and Health: Providing Equitable Investment; Providing Access to Destinations; Improving Transportation Safety; and Fixing and Maintaining the System.
Economic Impacts: None.
Environmental Considerations: California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA): Submission of grant applications is not subject to the provisions of CEQA. Under CEQA general rule 15061-B-3, CEQA applies only to projects which have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. These actions will have no effect on the environment and are therefore not subject to City of Sacramento Page 2 of 6
File ID: 2022-01541 8/30/2022 Consent Item 14.
CEQA review. Any projects funded with the subject grant will undergo appropriate environmental review.
Sustainability: The projects are consistent with the City sustainability goals by focusing on improving and optimizing transportation infrastructure and supporting walking and cycling by implementing safety improvements.
Commission/Committee Action: None.
Rationale for Recommendation: With limited available sources of local funding to meet the City’s goals to advance transportation safety, grant funding is essential to deliver projects. The Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP), codified as Section 148 of Title 23, United States Code (23 U.S.C. §148) is one of the core federal-aid programs. The purpose of the HSIP program is to achieve a significant reduction in traffic fatalities and serious injuries on all public roads, including non-State- owned public roads and roads on tribal land.
City staff recommend the proposed projects to best meet the grant program criteria, advance City policy and programming documents, and project delivery readiness.
Formula funding through the Local Partnership Program is intended to reward agencies with sales tax measures. Applying the funding to the projects selected will help address local funding shortfalls due to cost escalations and limited local transportation resources.
Financial Considerations: Federal and State funding is essential for delivery of transportation projects as the City’s available local transportation funding is extremely limited. Even satisfying grant criteria to provide matching funds can be challenging.
The estimated total cost of the proposed HSIP projects is approximately $2,300,000. The estimated local funds needed to cover costs ineligible for grant funding will be $500,000. The total cost and required local funds may vary in the final applications depending on the final scope of individual projects. If the requested grants are awarded, local funding will need to be provided through local transportation funds. Funding may be allocated from the Vision Zero Program (S15184100) and the State and Federal Grant Match Project (T15007200).
The projects proposed for funding through the LPP are already in development. Applications of these funds will reduce the need to contribute local transportation funds and to address cost escalations and increase capacity to apply for other grants.
The project proposed for ATP funding will support the grant funded project and reduce the need to support this project with local transportation funds.
If successful, staff will return to City Council to establish the Capital Improvement Project if City of Sacramento Page 3 of 6
File ID: 2022-01541 8/30/2022 Consent Item 14.
necessary, appropriate funding, and transfer the required local funds.
Local Business Enterprise (LBE): Not applicable.
Background: Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) : The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has announced Cycle 11 Call for Projects for HSIP funds. This Call for Projects is targeted for approximately $200 million of state and/or federal HSIP funds. Each jurisdiction may apply for up to $10 million of grant funding in Benefit Cost Ratio category (benefit cost ratio required) and up to one project in the Funding Set Aside category (no benefit cost ratio required).
The guidelines for the HSIP grant require that federal funds be expended on safety projects that can be designed and constructed expeditiously. For a project to be eligible for HSIP funding, a specific data demonstrated safety problem must be identified, and the proposed countermeasure(s) must substantially address the condition. Additionally, to meet delivery timelines the projects should not require the acquisition of significant rights of way, nor should they require extensive environmental review and mitigation. For projects to be competitive, they must have a high Benefit Cost Ratio (BCR), determined by the Caltrans developed HSIP Analyzer tool.
City staff reviewed over 27 potential locations and improvements and recommends the proposed projects to best meet the grant program criteria, advance City policy and programming documents, and project delivery readiness. The following three traffic signal safety improvement projects are recommended for HSIP Grant application:
· Stockton Boulevard at 47th Avenue/Elder Creek Road
· Stockton Boulevard at Fowler Avenue/Riza Avenue
· Mack Road at Valley Hi Drive/La Mancha Way
Local Partnership Program: The Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017 (Senate Bill 1) created the Local Partnership Program and continuously appropriates $200 million annually from the Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Account to local and regional transportation agencies that have sought and received voter approval of taxes or that have imposed fees, which taxes or fees are dedicated solely for transportation improvements. Of this total, 60% is allocated by formula to transportation sales tax agencies and toll agencies and 40% is allocated to eligible agencies through a statewide competitive program.
This grant funds construction activities and requires a one-to-one match. The Sacramento Transportation Authority (STA) is allocated $6.2 million by formula funding for fiscal years 2023/24 and 2024/25. On August 11, 2022, the STA Board approved the distribution of these funds to its member agencies, which included approximately $1.5 million to the City of Sacramento.
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File ID: 2022-01541 8/30/2022 Consent Item 14.
In order to address recent construction cost escalations and minimize the need to use scarce local funds, staff recommends these funds be applied to projects underway that are scheduled for construction in the required time frame. These include safety improvement and pavement rehabilitation projects within the Corridor Program (R15200000) planned for those construction years.
Using LPP funds in this program will free up local funding to use on other projects.
Second, staff recommends applying LPP funds to the federally funded Traffic Signal Safety Project (T15215000), which will improve safety and connectivity for motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians by installing new traffic signals or other safety control device, signs, and/or markings at the following nine locations:
· 16th Street at D Street
· Franklin Boulevard at 36th Avenue
· Freeport Boulevard at Kitchner Road
· Fruitridge Road at 60th Street
· Rio Linda Boulevard at Harris Avenue
· Stockton Boulevard at 11th Avenue
· 24th Street at 25th Street
· Munroe Street at Latham Drive
· Rio Linda Boulevard at Roanoke Avenue
LPP funding will help address funding shortfalls anticipated due to construction cost escalations.
After review of possible projects, staff does not recommend that the City pursue grant funding through the statewide competitive LPP program for this funding round for the following reasons:
· The City does not have available local transportation funds that could provide the required one -to-one match for a large project.
· The City does not have projects in development without dedicated construction funding that meet the grant criteria and will have completed all environmental clearance, right of way needs, and final design to be ready for construction within the grant time frame · The costs of preparing a grant application are typically $20,000 to $40,000, which cannot be justified without the clear identification of project feasibility and likely grant success.
Active Transportation Program (ATP)
: The ATP consolidates federal and state funding programs that support active transportation. The program is divided into statewide (50%), regional (40%), and small urban/rural (10%) funding allocations. The Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG) administers the regional program for the six counties in SACOG. Projects can be submitted to either City of Sacramento Page 5 of 6
File ID: 2022-01541 8/30/2022 Consent Item 14.
the state, region, or both. The State application deadline was June 15, 2022, and the SACOG regional funding application deadline is September 29, 2022.
On May 31, 2022, the City Council approved submission of applications for the following projects (Resolution 2022-0159):
· Envision Broadway in Oak Park (submitted for state funding) · Franklin Boulevard Complete Streets (submitted for state funding) · Phase 3 Low Stress Bikeways to Support the Urban Core (to be submitted for regional funding program)
The State augmented the ATP program, increasing the amount available through the regional funding allocation of funds. In order to maximize potential City funding, City staff recommend submission of an additional funding application to support an existing safety project in development. This project includes pedestrian crossing improvements at four locations near the following intersections: Raley Boulevard and Santa Ana Avenue, Folsom Boulevard and Seville Way, Alhambra Boulevard and X Street, and W Street and 8th Street. All four locations currently have marked, uncontrolled crossings that have been analyzed and determined to be candidates for enhancements based on vehicle speeds, average daily traffic, pedestrian volumes, and visibility. The City applied for and received $248,600 in Highway Safety Improvements Program (HSIP) funds in 2020. The HSIP program has limited activities that are eligible for funding through that program, typically requiring supplemental funds to complete all aspects of a project. ATP funding would complement the HSIP funds and come closer to fully funding the project, reducing the need to support this project with limited local transportation funds.
..End
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RESOLUTION NO.
Adopted by the Sacramento City Council
DATE
Authorization to Apply for Grants from the Highway Safety Improvement Program (Cycle 11), Local Partnership Program, and Active Transportation Program
BACKGROUND
A. The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has announced Cycle 11 call for projects for the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) funds.
B. Staff routinely evaluates the City’s roadway network as part of proactive safety management to review traffic operations and identify potential safety improvement projects. The projects recommended in this report for potential HSIP grant funding are consistent with Caltrans’ guidelines and criteria for the subject grant and represent the most competitive candidate project.
C. The Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017 (Senate Bill 1) created the Local Partnership Program and continuously appropriates $200 million annually from the Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Account to local and regional transportation agencies that have sought and received voter approval of taxes or that have imposed fees, which taxes or fees are dedicated solely for transportation improvements.
D. On August 11, 2022, the Sacramento Transportation Authority approved the distribution of $6.2 million in LPP formula funds to its member agencies, including approximately $1.5 million to the City of Sacramento.
E. The Active Transportation Program (ATP) is intended to encourage increased use of active modes of transportation by increasing the proportion of trips accomplished by biking and walking, increasing safety for non-motorized users, ensuring disadvantaged communities fully share in benefits, and to enhance public health.
F. On May 31, 2022, the City Council adopted Resolution 2022-0159 authorizing submission of several projects for funding through the State and regional ATP.
G. The Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG) has announced additional funding available in the regional program, supporting potential funding for additional projects.
H. On January 19, 2017, City Council adopted Resolution No. 2017-0032 adopting the following Vison Zero goal: The City of Sacramento will work collaboratively in a data driven effort to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries by 2027.
I. On March 15, 2022, City Council adopted Resolution 2022-0079 adopting Transportation Prioritization Criteria, Metrics and Points for Transportation Investments and Funding Opportunities that include Improving Air Quality and Health: Providing Equitable Investment; Providing Access to Destinations; Improving Transportation Safety; and Fixing and Maintaining the System.
J. Staff has reviewed the guidelines for these grant programs, reviewed City priorities, and identified the recommended projects that would be most suitable and competitive for these grants.
BASED ON THE FACTS SET FORTH IN THE BACKGROUND, THE CITY COUNCIL RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The City Manager or the City Manager’s designee is authorized to submit an application for the HSIP grant (Cycle 11) for intersection traffic signal improvements at the following locations:
1. Stockton Boulevard at 47th Avenue/Elder Creek Road
2. Stockton Boulevard at Fowler Avenue/Riza Avenue
3. Mack Road at Valley Hi Drive/La Mancha Way
Section 2. The City Manager or the City Manager’s designee is authorized to submit applications for the Local Partnership Program (LPP) formula funding to the Sacramento Transportation Authority (STA), to submit to the California Transportation Commission, for the following projects:
1. Transportation Corridor Program (R15200000)
2. Traffic Signal Safety Project (T15215000)
Section 3. In addition to the projects authorized in Resolution 2022-0159, the City Manager or the City Manager’s designee is authorized to submit an application for the regional ATP to support pedestrian crossing improvements near the following intersections:
1. Raley Boulevard and Santa Ana Avenue
2. Folsom Boulevard and Seville Way
3. Alhambra Boulevard and X Street
4. W Street and 8th Street
Section 4. The City Manager or the City Manager’s designee is authorized to execute the grant agreements, amendments, and any related grant documents upon award.