DATE: July 18, 2023
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Steven E. White, Director
Department of Public Works and Planning
SUBJECT: Grant Agreement with Federal Highway Administration for Safe Streets and Roads for All
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Approve draft Funding Agreement with the Federal Highway Administration in connection with the construction of the Safe Streets for All Grant Action Plan.
2. Authorize the Director of the Department of Public Works and Planning, subject to the review and approval of County Counsel as to legal form and the Auditor-Controller/Treasurer-Tax Collector as to accounting form, to approve and execute a Funding Agreement with the Federal Highway Administration, and any amendments thereto, in connection with the construction of the Safe Streets for All Grant Action Plan ($302,720).
REPORT
Approval of this action will authorize the Director of the Department of Public Works and Planning (Department) to sign an agreement accepting grant funding from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and develop an Action Plan to supplement the Multijurisdictional Local Road Safety Plan (MLRSP) as required by the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) program. This action’s impact is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
The Board may reject the draft Funding Agreement with the Federal Highway Administration, which would leave the County of Fresno’s portion of the MLRSP, also known as the Local Road Safety Plan (LSRP), in its current form and prevent the Department from pursuing project implementation grants under the SS4A program.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. The cost associated with carrying out the activities for the Action Plan grant are expected to be $378,400. The grant award covers 80% of the cost ($302,720), with the County responsible for a 20% local match, ($75,680). This will be covered by the Department of Public Works and Planning Road Fund 0010 Org 45104513.
DISCUSSION:
The Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) competitive grant program was created as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to help communities both plan and carry out projects to significantly reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries on our highways, streets, and roads. The SS4A program is part of the work toward an ambitious long-term goal of reaching zero roadway fatalities. The Department applied for an Action Plan Grant as part of the SS4A program in September 2022 and was awarded $302,720.
As part of the grant, the Department will update the existing LSRP, adopted by your Board on June 7, 2022 to develop a more detailed Action Plan. This Action Plan would include measurable outputs and outcomes for implementing safety countermeasures, create a task force of internal and external stakeholders to develop and monitor the plan, and assess current policies and processes (including a financial analysis of road safety resource allocation), to ensure accountability, identify priorities and improve processes. As part of the LRSP update, the Department will perform an updated safety analysis which utilizes innovative technology at high-priority locations and analyzes crash causes and conditions to evaluate the highest-impact, lowest-cost systemic solutions. In addition, an in-depth equity assessment will be conducted to address and remediate a legacy of harm and provide disadvantaged residents an opportunity to engage actively in road and pedestrian safety. Once the Action Plan is adopted by your Board, the Department will be eligible to apply for funding to implement the safety improvements identified in the Action Plan.
Through the SS4A program, agencies with an adopted Action Plan have received tens of millions of dollars. The Department plans to utilize staff and consultants to develop an Action Plan and will return to the Board by July 2024 to adopt the Action Plan.
FHWA requires that the County enter into a standard template funding agreement, prior to authorizing activities under the grant. As of May 2023, the agreement was still being finalized.
SS4A funds must be expended within five (5) years after the grant agreement is executed and the US Department of Transportation obligates the funds. This date will be included in the finalized grant agreement. Furthermore, the grant agreement also requires the Department (signing as the grant recipient) acknowledge that the Action Plan will be made publicly available and that the Department (signing as the grant recipient) agrees it will publish the final Action Plan on a publicly available website.
The Department requests that your Board authorize the Director of the Department to approve and sign the final agreement, subject to the approval as to legal form by County Counsel and as to accounting form by the Auditor-Controller/Treasurer-Tax Collector, that might be necessary in the future. A draft version of the agreement is included as Exhibit A.
OTHER REVIEWING AGENCIES:
The Federal Highway Administration under the U.S. Department of Transportation is implementing the grant agreement.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #13, June 7, 2022
BAI #40, November 8, 2022
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Exhibit A - Draft Agreement
CAO ANALYST:
Salvador Espino