| ITEM #: 8. DATE: 03/25/2024 AI #:1969 |
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CITY COUNCIL ACTION REPORT
| SUBJECT: | SAFE STREETS AND ROADS FOR ALL (SS4A) GRANT AND RESOLUTION |
| STAFF PRESENTER(S): | Chris Bridges, Deputy Director of Engineering-Transportation |
SUMMARY
Council adoption of a resolution approving the pursuit of the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Grant Program funds for conducting a citywide comprehensive safety action plan and demonstration project.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT
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RECOMMENDATION
ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 2024-2400 AUTHORIZING THE SUBMISSION OF AN APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL FY 2024 SAFE STREETS AND ROADS FOR ALL (SS4A) DISCRETIONARY PROGRAM FUNDS TO THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE ALL DOCUMENTS RELATING TO SAID APPLICATION, AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A GRANT AGREEMENT (IF GRANT FUNDS ARE AWARDED), AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO APPROVE THE REQUIRED BUDGET TRANSFER (IF GRANT FUNDS ARE AWARDED). (Chris Bridges, Deputy Director of Engineering)
FISCAL IMPACT
If the SS4A grant is awarded to Goodyear, the 80% federal grant award requested is $650,000 with a City of Goodyear 20% match of $130,000, for a total project amount of $780,000. Final federal grant award and City match will be determined once awarded and a budget amendment will occur as appropriate.
BACKGROUND AND PREVIOUS ACTIONS
The 2023 Transportation Master Plan (TMP) recommended that the city pursue an SS4A grant to conduct a Safety Action Plan. The benefits of a Safety Action Plan as recommended and identified in the TMP include the following:
- Reduced fatalities and serious injuries from speeding-related crashes
- Greater potential for motorists to avoid crashes
- Enhanced safety for pedestrians, cyclists, and other vulnerable road users
- Driving population educated on the risks and consequences of speeding
- Enhanced community-wide safety culture, where safety is a top priority
STAFF ANALYSIS
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) established the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) discretionary program with $5 billion in appropriated funds over 5 years, 2022-2026. The SS4A program funds regional, local, and Tribal initiatives through grants to prevent roadway deaths and serious injuries.
The SS4A program supports the development of a comprehensive safety action plan (Action Plan) that identifies the most significant roadway safety concerns in a community and the implementation of projects and strategies to address roadway safety issues. The goal of an Action Plan is to develop a holistic, well-defined strategy to prevent roadway fatalities and serious injuries in a locality, Tribal area, or region.
SS4A grants also fund supplemental planning activities as well as demonstration activities in support of an Action Plan. Demonstration activities are temporary safety improvements that inform comprehensive safety action plans by testing proposed project and strategy approaches to determine future benefits and future scope.
Eligible demonstration activities must measure potential benefits through data collection and evaluation to inform an Action Plan’s list of selected projects and strategies and their future implementation at a systematic level.
As part of this grant application, the City will conduct feasibility studies using quick-build strategies, low-cost, and temporary materials like paint, plastic delineator posts, water-filled plastic barriers, planters, traffic cones, raised line separators, and temporary speed humps/bumps, to test safety countermeasures that slow speeds and make the roads safer for multiple road user types and inform future permanent projects.
Once the Action Plan is completed, it will provide a guide for future safety improvement projects including the type of improvement, recommended locations, estimated costs, and educational opportunities. This guide will allow the City to invest in infrastructure and educational programs in an efficient and fiscally responsible manner.
The SS4A program supports the development of a comprehensive safety action plan (Action Plan) that identifies the most significant roadway safety concerns in a community and the implementation of projects and strategies to address roadway safety issues. The goal of an Action Plan is to develop a holistic, well-defined strategy to prevent roadway fatalities and serious injuries in a locality, Tribal area, or region.
SS4A grants also fund supplemental planning activities as well as demonstration activities in support of an Action Plan. Demonstration activities are temporary safety improvements that inform comprehensive safety action plans by testing proposed project and strategy approaches to determine future benefits and future scope.
Eligible demonstration activities must measure potential benefits through data collection and evaluation to inform an Action Plan’s list of selected projects and strategies and their future implementation at a systematic level.
As part of this grant application, the City will conduct feasibility studies using quick-build strategies, low-cost, and temporary materials like paint, plastic delineator posts, water-filled plastic barriers, planters, traffic cones, raised line separators, and temporary speed humps/bumps, to test safety countermeasures that slow speeds and make the roads safer for multiple road user types and inform future permanent projects.
Once the Action Plan is completed, it will provide a guide for future safety improvement projects including the type of improvement, recommended locations, estimated costs, and educational opportunities. This guide will allow the City to invest in infrastructure and educational programs in an efficient and fiscally responsible manner.