DATE: September 25, 2018
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Steven E. White, Director
Department of Public Works and Planning
SUBJECT: Highway Safety Improvement Program - Cycle 9 Grant Application
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Retroactively authorize the Department of Public Works and Planning’s previous submittal of a grant application in the amount of $956,000 to the California Department of Transportation for the Cycle 9 Highway Safety Improvement Program for the Ashlan and Palm Traffic Signal project.
REPORT
On August 31, 2018, the Director of the Department of Public Works and Planning submitted a competitive grant application to the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) for Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) funding to upgrade the existing signal facilities at the intersection of Ashlan Avenue and Palm Avenue to include left-turn phasing and other improvements. This item pertains to a location in District 2.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
If the recommended action is not approved, the Department would withdraw from the grant application process.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. If the grant application were successful, no local match would be required for the $956,000 in Federal funding. If the application is approved, the Department will return to your Board with any necessary resolutions. Awards are anticipated in November 2018.
DISCUSSION:
The Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act was signed into Federal law on December 4, 2015 (Public Law No. 114-94). Under FAST, the HSIP is a core Federal-aid program to States and local governments for the purpose of achieving a significant reduction in fatalities and serious injuries on all public roads, including non-State-owned public roads on tribal land. Local HSIP projects must be identified on the basis of crash experience, crash potential, crash rate, or other data-supported means.
Caltrans announced HSIP Cycle 9 Call for Projects on April 30, 2018. The application submittal deadline was Friday, August 31, 2018. The Call for Projects is targeted for approximately $140 to $160 million of Federal HSIP funds.
The intersection of Ashlan Avenue and Palm Avenue experiences heavy traffic during the peak morning and evening hours. Between August 11, 2013 and July 24, 2018, there were 62 traffic collisions, many of which were left-turn versus through movements on Palm Avenue.
The proposed project will upgrade the existing signal facilities to include left-turn phasing, a new traffic signal controller, and new signal standards, among others.
Funding consideration is given to projects with an expected Benefit/Cost Ratio (BCR) greater than 3.5. The BCR is calculated by dividing the economic benefit expected through crash reductions due to the project by the overall cost of the project. The benefit calculation must be based upon statewide crash reduction factors associated with the type of proposed improvement and the actual collision history. Projects with a ratio of less than 3.5 will be rejected by Caltrans. Based on the traffic collision history and countermeasures (left-turn phasing and improved traffic signal hardware) used on the project application, the BCR ratio was over 8.0. There is a good chance the funding request will be approved by Caltrans due to the BCR.
It is the practice of the Department to inform your Board of various funding grants that the Department is actively pursuing to maximize the use of Road Funds. It is also the practice of the Department to submit a preliminary list of projects for your Board’s approval.
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
Vicinity Map
Project Application with Exhibits
CAO ANALYST:
Sonia M. De La Rosa