City Council
Report
City Council Meeting: May 26, 2026
Agenda Item: 4.E
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To: Mayor and City Council
From: Christopher Dishlip, Director of Public Works, Mobility Division Subject: Approval to Accept Local Highway Safety Improvement Program Grant and Award RFP# 11125 to H.W. Lochner for the Systemic Crosswalks Improvements on Ocean Avenue, Colorado Boulevard, and 23rd Street and Hill Street
Recommended Action
Staff Recommends that the City Council:
1. Adopt a finding of categorical exemptions pursuant to Section 15301 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines;
2. Authorize the City Manager to accept a grant awarded to the City in the amount of $1,223,640 from the Local Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) for the Systemic Crosswalk Improvements on Ocean Avenue, Colorado Avenue, and 23rd Street & Hill Street in the Public Works Department, and to accept all grant renewals;
3. Authorize the City Manager to execute all necessary documents to accept the grant and all grant renewals;
4. Award RFP #11125 to H.W. Lochner to provide transportation planning and traffic engineering services for the Systemic Crosswalk Improvements on Ocean Avenue, Colorado Avenue, and 23rd Street & Hill Street for the Public Works Department;
5. Authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with H.W. Lochner in an amount not to exceed $375,000 over a two-year period, with future year funding contingent on Council budget approval; and
6. Authorize the budget amendment as outlined in the Financial Impacts & Budget Actions section of the report (requires 5 votes).
Summary
The City of Santa Monica (City) Public Works Department continues to advance Vision Zero safety improvements, which support the City Council priority of Achieving Safe Neighborhoods & Clean Streets and the City Council’s Vision Zero commitment to 2 of 5
eliminate fatalities and serious injuries on our roadways. In August 2025, the City was awarded California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) grant to implement targeted improvements at priority intersections identified in the City of Santa Monica Local Roadway Safety Plan— completed in 2022 (Attachment A). This contract would fund the design to implement these roadway improvements, with funding provided through a combination of grant and local funds. Staff recommends contracting with H.W. Lochner for a total amount not to exceed $375,000 over a two-year period.
Discussion
The City completed its Local Roadway Safety Plan (LRSP) in 2022, which analyzed the most recently available crash data to help prioritize safety improvements (Attachment A). Based on the analysis, in September 2024, the City applied for a Caltrans Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) grant to address the crash patterns with proven and HSIP-eligible safety countermeasures at 11 priority intersections throughout the City.
In August 2025, the City was awarded a $1,223,640 federally funded Caltrans HSIP grant to implement the following eligible safety countermeasures:
• At 23rd Street and Hill Street, the project would install curb extensions, Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFBs), and a new crosswalk on the south leg of the intersection.
• Along Ocean Avenue, at Idaho Avenue, Alta Avenue, and Marguerita Avenue, the project would install curb extensions, RRFBs, and update signs and pavement markings. At Ocean Avenue and Georgina Avenue, as well as Ocean Avenue and Washington Avenue, the project would install RRFBs and update signs and pavement markings.
• Along Colorado Avenue, at Princeton Street and Franklin Street, the project would install RRFBs; and at Franklin Street and Harvard Street, the project would update signs and pavement markings.
Vendor Selection
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Bidder Recommendation
Best Qualified
Firm
H.W. Lochner, Inc.
Evaluation
Criteria
Demonstrated Technical Expertise; Experience with Similar Kinds of Work; Experience with State and Federal Procedures; Project Team; Understanding of the Breadth of Work; Financial
responsibility and schedule management.
Municipal Code SMMC 2.24.190
RFPs Received
AYCE Consulting Engineers, Inc. LIN Consulting, Inc.
General Technologies and Solutions
(GTS)
Michael Baker International
H.W. Lochner, Inc. TJKM
Toole Design Group, LLC
Bid Data
Posted On Posted On Advertised In
(City Charter & SMMC)
Vendors
Downloaded
Date Publicly
Opened
01/29/2026 City's Online
Bidding Site OpenGov 51 3/2/2026
Justification for Award
The evaluation committee evaluated proposals and qualifications from seven proposers. The City received an eighth proposal that was disqualified because the vendor did not properly seal their bid from evaluators, as explicitly required by the RFP.
The evaluation committee was comprised of staff from the Mobility Division and the Engineering Division who evaluated the H.W. Lochner team as the best qualified to provide final design services based on their knowledge and experience working on curb extensions and crosswalk improvement projects; curb extension design and crosswalk improvement expertise of key staff on the project team; and familiarity with state and their federally funded grant procedures.
Environmental Review
The grant awards for the crosswalk improvements are exempt from CEQA pursuant to Section 15301 (Existing Facilities) of the CEQA Guidelines, which exempts minor 4 of 5
alterations to roadways such as the addition of bicycle facilities, including but not limited to bicycle parking, bicycle-share facilities and bicycle lanes, transit improvements such as bus lanes, pedestrian crossings, street trees, and other similar alterations that do not create additional automobile lanes. The project will include new crosswalk markings, signals, curb extensions, and signal improvements on the existing roadways. These minor alterations would not increase the vehicle capacity of the existing roadways.
Therefore, the award contract for this project is exempt pursuant to Section 15301.
Financial Impacts and Budget Actions
Staff seeks authority to accept a grant from the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) for the HSIP grant for the Systemic Crosswalk Improvements on Ocean Avenue, Colorado Boulevard, and 23rd Street & Hill Street project and recommends the following budget amendment.
FY 2025-26 Budget Amendment
Establish Revenue Budget Appropriate Funds
Account Number Amount Account Number Amount
20500012.416370.91059 –
HSIP Grant Funds $1,223,640 C2009240.689261.91059 $78,480
Remaining grant funds will be programmed in the FY 2026-28 Capital Improvement Program budget for FY 2027-28.
Staff also seeks authority to approve available funding from the General Fund, the Miscellaneous Grants Fund, and the Special Revenue Source Fund to award a contract with H.W. Lochner for design services for a construction plan.
Contract Request
Funding
Source
FY 2025-26
Request Amount CIP Account Number Total Contract Amount General $220,000 C0109140.689000 $220,000
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HSIP Grant $78,480 C2009240.689261.91059 $78,480
Special
Revenue
Source
$76,520 C1007600.689000 $76,520
Total $375,000 $375,000
Future year funding is contingent on Council budget approval.
Prepared By: Kyle Kozar, Principal Transportation Planner Approved Forwarded to Council
Attachments:
A. Santa Monica Local Roadway Safety Plan (2022)
B. 06_Lochner_OAKS INITIATIVE FORM
C. Levine Act Disclosure Form_Lochner