Agenda Item: 12
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA
AGENDA REPORT
CONSENT CALENDAR
CITY MANAGER APPROVAL:
DATE: October 14, 2025
SUBJECT: AGREEMENT FOR THE CITY OF SANTA CLARITA TO ASSUME
MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION OF TRAFFIC SIGNAL
FACILITIES WITHIN CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION JURISDICTION
DEPARTMENT: Public Works
PRESENTER: Joel Bareng
RECOMMENDED ACTION
City Council:
1. Approve the Delegated Maintenance Agreement and Electrical Facilities Cost Sharing Agreement from the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) to accept maintenance responsibility for traffic signals within Caltrans jurisdiction.
2. Increase revenue account 354-462101 (Streetlight Maintenance Fund Miscellaneous Revenue) by $35,000 annually and appropriate ongoing $35,000 to expenditure account 3544402-514107 (Traffic Signal Maintenance) annually, contingent upon the appropriation of funds in the annual budget for each fiscal year.
3. Authorize the City Manager or designee to execute all documents, subject to City Attorney approval.
BACKGROUND
There are currently 207 traffic signals within City of Santa Clarita (City) limits owned and operated by the City. An additional 16 signals in City limits are owned and operated by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans). These signals are located at intersections of local streets and state highway routes.
In 1989, the City entered into a cost-sharing agreement with Caltrans, with the City paying a portion of the maintenance cost for Caltrans-owned and -maintained traffic signals. The specific cost share varies between signals, based on the number of approaches to the intersection. The
agreement has subsequently been amended to include new intersections that had been constructed or to remove signals relinquished to the City.
City staff has been working with Caltrans to transition maintenance and operational responsibility of the Caltrans signals to the City to enhance coordination with the City’s traffic signal system and provide consistency in maintenance standards and operational strategies across the City’s signal network. This allows the City to quickly respond to knockdowns, outages, or detection failures without waiting for Caltrans response times. The City can adjust signal timing by including the signals in the City's synchronized corridor timings and implementing special timing plans for emergencies or special events without requiring Caltrans approvals.
Additionally, the City will upgrade the signals to integrate with the City's central traffic management system, allowing for collection of signal performance metrics and more proactive and adaptive control.
The proposed agreements authorize the City to operate Caltrans-owned signals at five intersections along Sierra Highway, located at Dockweiler Drive, Placerita Canyon Road, Golden Valley Road, Rainbow Glen Drive, and the Northbound SR-14 off ramp near Via Princessa, as indicated in the attached location map. The agreements are available in the City Clerk’s reading file.
If approved, the City will be responsible for all operation, maintenance, and emergency response for these traffic signals. Caltrans will remain responsible for highway pavement, striping, and other right-of-way elements.
The same cost-sharing allocation will remain in place with the new agreement, with Caltrans reimbursing the City for its portion of maintenance expenses, up to $35,000 annually. Electricity service to the signals will continue to be paid by Caltrans.
Staff will continue to evaluate transitioning Caltrans-owned signals into the City’s network for enhanced maintenance and service.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION
Other action as determined by the City Council.
FISCAL IMPACT
Upon approval of the recommended action, budget for the Traffic Signal Maintenance expenditure account (3544402-514107) will increase by $35,000 and Streetlight Maintenance Miscellaneous Revenue account (354-462101) will increase by $35,000 for FY 2025-26. The ongoing base budget commencing FY 2026-27 will be contingent upon apporpriations of funds by the City Council during the annual budget process.
ATTACHMENTS
Location Map
Caltrans Delegated Maintenance Agreement with the City of Santa Clarita (available in the City Clerk’s Reading File)
Caltrans Electrical Facilities Cost Sharing Agreement with City of Santa Clarita (available in the City Clerk’s Reading File)