DATE: November 18, 2025
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Steven E. White, Director
Department of Public Works and Planning
SUBJECT: Road Safety Initiatives
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Receive presentation from the Department of Public Works and Planning regarding current and future initiatives to enhance road safety throughout Fresno County.
REPORT
Receive presentation on the Department’s continued implementation of data-driven strategies and infrastructure improvements aimed at reducing traffic-related injuries and fatalities.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
Your Board may choose not to receive the presentation or request additional information or modifications to the Department’s road safety strategy.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with receiving this report. Road safety projects are funded through a combination of state gas taxes, Measure C, State and Federal grants, including the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP), Active Transportation Program (ATP), SB1 allocations, Safe Streets for All Planning Grant, and Office of Traffic Safety Grants.
DISCUSSION:
The Department of Public Works and Planning is committed to roadway safety for all users across Fresno County’s 3,400-mile road network and 550 bridges. In response to increasing traffic volumes, aging infrastructure, and community concerns, the Department has launched a comprehensive Road Safety Initiative focused on the following key areas:
1. Infrastructure Enhancements:15 Highway Safety Improvement Projects including signals, striping, no passing zones and intersection alignments totaling $11.8 million were constructed over the past 10 years. Five projects including roundabouts, signal improvements and systemic safety improvements at stop-controlled intersections with a cost of $12.5 million are currently in design.
2. Bridge Safety Program: Prioritization of structurally deficient bridges for rehabilitation or replacement, with a focus on structural integrity and public safety. Over the past 10 years we have replaced 15 bridges and three are currently under construction, with over a dozen more in various stages of design.
3. Reflective Post-Sleeve Installation: The Department has allocated $375,000 of Flexible Measure C funds to install three-sided retroreflective sleeves designed to wrap around sign posts, increasing their visibility from multiple directions, especially in low visibility or poor weather conditions. The reflective sign-post sleeves should enhance driver awareness and reduce sign violations.
4. Active Transportation/Safe Routes to School Projects: Improvements near schools including sidewalks, crosswalks, flashing beacons, and speed feedback signs to enhance the safety of student pedestrians. 13 Safe Routes to School projects have been constructed over the past 10 years, with 6 currently in design, and 4 pending grant funding.
5. Safe Routes to School Walk audits were conducted at 15 schools in Spring 2025 through a grant from the Office of Traffic Safety and additional walk audits will be conducted at 25 schools over the fall and spring semesters under a grant from Caltrans Sustainable Planning. Demonstration projects at some of the selected school sites will be installed this fiscal year.
6. Safe Streets for All Planning Grant: Fresno County was awarded Safe Streets for All (SS4A) Planning Grants from the U.S. Department of Transportation in 2022 and 2023 to develop a Countywide Safety Action Plan, with specific goals to reduce traffic injuries and deaths, in the unincorporated areas and the cities of Kerman, Selma, Kingsburg, Reedley, Firebaugh, San Joaquin, Orange Cove, Coalinga, and Mendota. This plan will be presented to your Board for adoption in April 2026. The plan will include:
a. Data-Driven Safety Analysis. Identification of high-collision corridors and intersections using crash data, traffic volumes, and roadway conditions.
b. Identify systemic safety risks across the county.
c. Prioritize projects that reduce fatal and serious injury crashes.
d. Engage community stakeholders in shaping safety strategies. Active partners include representatives from the California Highway Patrol, CalFire, Emergency Medical Services, Public Health, Fresno Council of Governments, and from many cities.
e. Position the County to compete for future SS4A implementation grants. The planning process is underway and includes public outreach, data analysis, and coordination with regional partners.
f. Traffic Calming and Enforcement Support. Implementation of speed humps, roundabouts, and lane narrowing in residential areas, in coordination with law enforcement for targeted enforcement.
These efforts reflect the Department’s commitment to reducing traffic fatalities and serious injuries. With your Board’s support, the Department will continue to aggressively pursue State and Federal grants to support safety projects.
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
Presentation
CAO ANALYST:
Maria Valencia