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Home My WebLink About08. Grants Highway Safety AGENDA MEMO DATE: November 23, 2010 TO: Mayor and Members of the City Council FROM: Office of the City Manager By: John Oskoui, P.E., Director of Public Works SUBJECT: RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING SUBMITTAL OF GRANT APPLICATIONS FOR THE HIGHWAY SAFETY IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council adopt: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY APPROVING THE SUBMISSION OF GRANT APPLICATIONS FOR THE “RETROREFLECTIVE STREET NAME SIGNS”, “IMPERIAL HIGHWAY AT COLUMBIA WAY TRAFFIC SIGNAL UPGRADE” AND “PEDESTRIAN COUNTDOWN HEADS” PROJECTS UNDER THE HIGHWAY SAFETY IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM. BACKGROUND: The Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) was established as a result of the passage of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU). The HSIP funds projects that improve roadway safety. Currently, Caltrans is accepting applications under the HSIP for Federal Fiscal Year 2010-11. The deadline for submitting applications to Caltrans is December 9, 2010. Approximately $50 million is available statewide for funding during this cycle. The City has successfully competed for grant funding through previous HSIP grant funding cycles for the Paramount Median Boulevard Project, Pedestrian Countdown Heads, School Zone Signage and Pavement Marking Upgrades, the Woodruff Avenue at Washburn Road Traffic Signal Upgrade, the installation of a new traffic signal at the intersection of Woodruff Avenue at Via Amorita and Vehicle Speed Feedback Signs to support the City’s Traffic Calming Program. DISCUSSION: The following three project applications are suggested for submission to HSIP for the FY 2010-11 funding cycle: Retroreflective Street Name Signs – This project will retrofit all pole-mounted street name signs in the City with retroreflective street name signs that enhance visibility, particularly at night. Sign visibility is a significant safety issue and, as such, has CITY OF DOWNEY, CALIFORNIA Mayor and Member of the City Council Resolution Authorizing Submittal of Grant Applications for the Highway Safety Improvement Program November 23, 2010 Page 2 prompted the Federal Highway Administration to mandate the retrofitting of street names and other traffic signs with retroreflective sheeting by the year 2018. Funding of this grant request will replace over 10,000 street name signs at up to 2,500 intersections in the City. Total costs for this project are estimated at $1,000,000 and a 10% ($100,000) local match is required. Imperial Highway at Columbia Way Traffic Signal Upgrade – This project will involve a complete upgrade of the existing traffic signal at the intersection of Imperial Highway at Columbia Way, adding protected left-turn signals on the Imperial Highway approaches, as well as modernizing all traffic signal equipment at this intersection to comply with current standards. This project is intended to reduce accidents at this intersection, particularly those involving left-turning traffic along the Imperial Highway approaches, which accounted for 74% of all accidents at this intersection between 2007 and 2009. Total costs for this project are estimated at $150,000 and a 10% ($15,000) local match is required. Pedestrian Countdown Heads – This project will supplement the City’s existing project (Cash Contract No. S.S. 610) involving the installation of pedestrian countdown heads at twenty (20) intersections by expanding this effort to install these devices at up to thirty (30) additional intersections. Pedestrian countdown heads are similar to conventional pedestrian indications used at signalized intersections with the exception that the countdown head features a countdown timer which is displayed along with the “flashing hand” symbol during the “flashing don’t walk” interval of the traffic signal cycle. The countdown timer enhances pedestrian safety at signalized intersections by encouraging the pedestrian to use better judgment when deciding whether or not to cross the street during the “flashing don’t walk” interval by informing the pedestrian of how much time remains during this portion of the traffic signal cycle. Total costs for this project are estimated at $50,000 and a 10% ($5,000) local match is required. It is anticipated that Caltrans will announce the successful project applicants by the end of March, 2011. The next step will be for Caltrans to program the funded projects in the Federal Transportation Improvement Program (FTIP), a process which will take anywhere from two (2) to six (6) months following the announcement of the funded projects. Based on this timeline, the earliest any of the successful project applicants will be able to begin the federal funding obligation process for their respective projects will be the end of May, 2011. Mayor and Member of the City Council Resolution Authorizing Submittal of Grant Applications for the Highway Safety Improvement Program November 23, 2010 Page 3 FINANCIAL IMPACT: The total requested funding for these projects is $1,200,000. The maximum federal reimbursement ratio for any HSIP project is 90%. Therefore, if the three applications are funded, a total local match of up to $120,000 will be required. Funding for the projects, if funded through the Federal Fiscal Year 2010-11 HSIP cycle, will be programmed in the City’s Fiscal Year 2011-12 Capital Improvement Program. The required local match amount will be funded through Gas Tax revenues. Attachment: Resolution S:\AgendaMemosCC2010\11-23-10\HSIP Adopt Resolution RESOLUTION NO. 10- A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY APPROVING THE SUBMISSION OF GRANT APPLICATIONS FOR THE “RETROREFLECTIVE STREET NAME SIGNS”, “IMPERIAL HIGHWAY AT COLUMBIA WAY TRAFFIC SIGNAL UPGRADE” AND “PEDESTRIAN COUNTDOWN HEADS” PROJECTS UNDER THE HIGHWAY SAFETY IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM WHEREAS, the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) was established as a result of the passage of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) federal funding program; and WHEREAS, the HSIP is intended to fund projects which improve roadway safety; and WHEREAS, Caltrans is soliciting project grant applications for the HSIP for Federal Fiscal Year 2010-11; and WHEREAS, the City desires to install retroreflective street name signs at up to 2,500 intersections as a safety measure to improve visibility of street name signs, to upgrade the existing traffic signal at the Imperial Highway at Columbia Way intersection to enhance traffic safety at this intersection, and to enhance pedestrian safety by retrofitting up to thirty (30) signalized intersections with pedestrian countdown heads; and WHEREAS, agencies are required to submit an application to Caltrans for each project. NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. To approve the submittal of the “Retroreflective Street Name Signs”, “Imperial Highway at Columbia Way Traffic Signal Upgrade” and “Pedestrian Countdown Heads” applications for HSIP funding. SECTION 2. That the City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this Resolution. APPROVED AND ADOPTED THIS day of , 2010. ANNE M. BAYER, MAYOR ATTEST: KATHLEEN L. MIDSTOKKE, City Clerk RESOLUTION NO. 10- PAGE TWO HEREBY CERTIFY I that the foregoing Resolution was approved and adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Downey held on the ______ day of ____________, 2010, by the following vote: AYES: Council Members: NOES: Council Members: ABSENT: Council Members: ABSTAIN: Council Members: KATHLEEN L. MIDSTOKKE, City Clerk