That the City Council:
A. Approve staff to issue a Notice to Proceed (NTP) to Fehr & Peers of Irvine, California, for Safe Routes to School Action Plan Development Project, City Project No. 1-TC-24; and,

B. Approve an appropriation of $320,000 from available, unencumbered Measure M2 Fair Share fund balance to fully fund the Safe Routes to School Action Plan Development Project, City Project No. 1-TC-24.

On September 15, 2025, City Council authorized the City Manager to execute an agreement with Fehr & Peers for Safe Routes to School Action Plan Development Project, City Project No. 1-TC-24. This approval was in conjunction with a prior request made by Mayor Pro Tem Gomez, seconded by Mayor Medrano on May 6, 2024, for City staff to review and consider updates to the City's Safe Routes to Schools plans. 

The Safe Routes to Schools (SRTS) Program is a federal transportation funding program administered by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), a division of the U.S. Department of Transportation. SRTS is a nationwide initiative to make it safer and easier for students to walk or bike to school. The Project is expected to be completed within 13 months. If approved by City Council, staff will issue a Notice to Proceed (NTP) for work to begin April 6, 2026.

Funding for the Safe Routes to School Action Plan Development Project was included in the approved Fiscal Year 2025-2026 budget. The Project was originally to be funded by the Federal Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Program Grant in the amount of $320,000 with a local match of $80,000 allocated from available, budgeted Gas Tax funds; however, due to recent changes in the terms for the Federal Grant, staff now recommends that the City Council approve a new appropriation of $320,000 from available, unencumbered Measure M2 Fair Share funds to replace FHWA SS4A Grant Award No. 693JJ32340200. If approved, the total project cost of $400,000 will be funded from available, unencumbered Measure M2 funds.

Safe Routes to School Action Plan Development Project, City Project No. 1-TC-24 has a total approved budget of $400,000. The Project funding approved in Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Budget was a combination of Federal SS4A Program Grant and Gas Tax funds. Staff is now requesting that the City Council authorize an appropriation of $320,000 from available, unencumbered Measure M2 Fair Share funds to replace FHWA SS4A Grant Award No. 693JJ32340200, bringing the total amount of Measure M2 funding for this project to $400,000.