Title
a. Ratify the project list submitted to the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) as candidate projects for Cycle 12 of the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP), totaling $31,534,770 in grant funds requested; and
b. Authorize the Director of Public Works, Facilities & Parks (PWFP), or designee, to act as the agent for the County in processing all documentation to secure these funds; and
c. Direct PWFP to return to the Board for approval prior to acceptance of any grant award(s).
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
a. Ratify the project list submitted to the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) as candidate projects for Cycle 12 of the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP), totaling $31,534,770 in grant funds requested; and
b. Authorize the Director of Public Works, Facilities & Parks (PWFP), or designee, to act as the agent for the County in processing all documentation to secure these funds; and
c. Direct PWFP to return to the Board for approval prior to acceptance of any grant award(s).
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
The Highway Safety Improvement Project (HSIP) was created by the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act and signed into law on December 4, 2015. Recently, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), aka Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), was signed into law by President Biden on November 15, 2021. Under IIJA, the HSIP, codified as Section 148 of Title 23, United States Code (23 U.S.C §148), is a core federal-aid program to States for the purpose of achieving a significant reduction in fatalities and serious injuries on all public roads. The Division of Local Assistance (DLA) manages California's local agency share of HSIP funds. California's Local HSIP focuses on infrastructure projects with nationally recognized crash reduction factors (CRFs). Eligible local HSIP projects must be identified on the basis of crash experience, crash potential, crash rate, or other data-supported means.
The County has identified the following project areas as top safety priority in the Transportation Agency for Monterey County’s (TAMC) G12: Pajaro to Prunedale Corridor Study due to the high number of collisions and increasing traffic in the area:
Project Area No. 1 is a 0.75-mile-long segment of the G12 corridor, extending between US 101 and Castroville Boulevard. This project consists of adding acceleration and deceleration lanes, the addition of a northbound lane, and bike lane and pedestrian facilities. These improvements will directly tie into the proposed roundabout project at Castroville Blvd. and San Miguel Canyon Road, the county was awarded an HSIP grant for this roundabout in 2021. These countermeasures will help mitigate unsafe speeds, passing or turning to/from corridor, roadway departures (head-on, run-off road, sideswipe, hit object, overturned), and bicycle and pedestrian collisions. These improvements are proven countermeasures to mitigate the types of collisions seen along this segment of G12, addressing the circulation needs of cars, pedestrians, and cyclists.
Project Area No. 2 is a 1.06-mile-long segment of the G12 corridor, extending between Ponderosa Lane to Strawberry Road. This project consists of installing a two-way left turn lane throughout the project area, the addition of a roundabout at Strawberry Road, and the conversion of the two intersections at Garlen Lane and Echo Valley Road into a single roundabout. These countermeasures will help mitigate unsafe speeds, passing or turning to/from corridor, and roadway departures (head-on, run-off road, sideswipe, hit object, overturned). These improvements are proven countermeasures to mitigate the types of collisions seen along this segment of G12, addressing the circulation needs of cars, pedestrians, and cyclists.
Project Area No. 3 entails the Las Lomas area, between San Miguel Canyon Road and Elkhorn Road. The project applied for this area consists of installing a roundabout at Hall/Elkhorn Road. This roundabout at Elkhorn Road and Hall Road will help slow traffic entering the Las Lomas community and provide safer access for vehicles to enter or exit on side streets or driveways. Also, the roundabout will provide the additional capacity needed for the projected increase in traffic volume, reduce the delays experienced at intersections, and slow travel speeds through the Las Lomas community. This project also includes roadway improvements and lane enhancements along Hall Road near Willow Road in the Las Lomas community. These improvements are aimed to improving access for vehicles turning into and out of Willow Road. This countermeasure will help mitigate unsafe speeds, passing or turning to/from corridor, and roadway departures (head-on, run-off road, sideswipe, hit object, overturned). Vehicle speeds along Hall Road within the Las Lomas community will be reduced with implementation of the roundabout, resulting in safer conditions for not only vehicles, but for non-motorized users as well. Per TAMC’s G12: Pajaro to Prunedale Corridor Study, these proposed improvements are proven countermeasures to mitigate the types of collisions seen along this segment of G-12 corridor, addressing the circulation needs of cars, pedestrians, and cyclists.
Project Area No. 5 is a 1.55-mile-long segment of the G12 corridor consisting of three non-signalized intersections at the junction of Salinas Road, Elkhorn Road, and Werner Road. This project consists of converting three existing intersections at the junction of Salinas Road, Werner Road, and Elkhorn Road into a single roundabout. This countermeasure will help mitigate unsafe speeds, passing or turning to/from corridor, roadway departures (head-on, run-off road, sideswipe, hit object, overturned), lighting, and bicycle and pedestrian collisions. This improvement is a proven countermeasure to mitigate the types of collisions seen along this segment of G-12, addressing the circulation needs of cars, pedestrians, and cyclists.
PWFP staff informed the Board that staff needed to submit by September 9, 2024, and would return to the Board to ratify the submittals. Please see Attachment B. Should any of the grants are awarded to the County, PWFP will present the project(s) and grant(s) to the Board of Supervisors for approval prior to acceptance of the award.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
PWFP coordinated with the Transportation Agency of Monterey County (TAMC) G-12: Corridor Study.
FINANCING:
The County applied for the maximum grant funding rate allowed by the HSIP program, which is 90% of the total project costs. The program caps grant amounts at a total project cost of $10 million (a $9 million grant award and a $1 million local match). These applications require a minimum local match of 10%, which can be provided by Road Fund’s Measure X funds. For all these projects, if awarded, the expected local match is $10,435,030. Should the State award a grant for any of these projects, staff will bring the matter back to the Board for further discussion.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC INITIATIVES:
The recommended action supports the Board of Supervisors Strategic Initiatives for Administration, Health & Human Services, Infrastructure, and Public Safety by proactively seeking grant funding to enhance the County’s ability to facilitate infrastructure projects and offer improved facilities and safe public recreation experiences to the community.
Economic Development
X Administration
Health & Human Services
X Infrastructure
X Public Safety
Prepared by: Jose Sanchez, Assistant Engineer, (831) 796-3009
Reviewed by: Chad Alinio, PE, Senior Civil Engineer (831) 755-4937
Approved by: Randell Ishii, MS, PE, TE, PTOE, Director of Public Works, Facilities, & Parks
Attachments:
Attachment A - HSIP Cycle 12 Proposed Project Maps
Attachment B - Board Memorandum