TO: TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION
FROM: MARIA B. TIPPING, CITY ENGINEER
DATE: OCTOBER 24, 2024
SUBJECT:
Title
LOCAL ROADWAY SAFETY PLAN COMPLETION AND NEXT STEP-UPDATE
Body
SUMMARY
A Local Roadway Safety Plan (LRSP) provides the framework for identifying, analyzing, and prioritizing roadway safety improvements on local roads. The plan can be utilized for a number of purposes, including but not limited to meeting requirements to apply for specific regional, state, and federal grant opportunities, assessing current roadway safety conditions, prioritizing the implementation of safety improvements driven by the analysis of collision data, and identifying priority countermeasures that can be implemented to address specific public safety concerns.
The preparation of a LRSP is data driven, and needs to follow Caltrans criteria; which does not require public outreach. In order to provide an opportunity for public input, the Claremont LRSP scope of work included public outreach efforts, which were conducted during the preparation of the plan to ensure that the community could provide feedback with regard to observed safety concerns. The valuable feedback received was considered and incorporated with the preparation of the plan. The LRSP and the feedback gathered will also be considered with the preparation of future plans.
The Claremont LRSP is a valuable tool to prioritize the implementation of safety projects through the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) whenever feasible, and to monitor potential grant funding sources to assist with the planning and implementation of safety improvements at priority locations. The Claremont LRSP was completed in August 2024, in time to submit a Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant application for the preparation of a complementary safety plan for Indian Hill Boulevard corridor between Arrow Highway and American Avenue, and San Jose Avenue between Mills and Mountain Avenues.
Moving forward, staff will use the Claremont LRSP to prioritize and schedule the completion of safety improvements, use it as a reference to conduct more in-depth studies where necessary to develop plans and specifications addressing high-priority locations with safety concerns as stand-alone projects, and as a reference for the preparation of future plans.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommended Action
Staff recommends the Traffic and Transportation Commission receive and file the Local Roadway Safety Plan report.
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ANALYSIS
In 2022, a Request for Proposals (RFP) was issued for the preparation of a Local Roadway Safety Plan. KOA Corporation was selected for the preparation of the plan based on its experience and qualifications. Plan preparation started in July 2023 and was completed in August 2024. The plan preparation was extended to incorporate additional public outreach and feedback.
Staff often receives feedback from residents regarding safety concerns. The preparation of the Claremont LRSP was prompted by the need to provide a framework for identifying, analyzing, and prioritizing roadway safety improvements on local roads. In addition, the LRSP was pursued to create eligibility to apply for certain state and federal grants and to assist with assessing the current roadway safety conditions to identify safety improvements and countermeasures.
In particular, the Claremont LRSP was prepared to include Caltrans required compliance provisions necessary to apply for the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Grant Program, which the City was not eligible to apply for without a LRSP. Additionally, a few other available grant funding programs also require LRSPs.
The Claremont LRSP provides effective spot-location safety countermeasures based on industry standard practices, creates the framework for implementation that prioritizes infrastructure projects to achieve maximum benefit-to-cost ratios, and ultimately, provides a “living document” that can be continually leveraged into competitive grant application opportunities. As staff often receives requests for street improvements that far exceed City budget capabilities, having the LRSP will make the City’s grant applications more competitive.
The City Council approved the KOA Corporation award of contract at its May 9, 2023 meeting. The Traffic and Transportation Commission received a presentation on the plan at its December 14, 2023 meeting. During the presentation, the consultant provided an overview of the plan and explained the required criteria for its preparation, and their sub-consultant went over the proposed outreach efforts to be conducted with the plan preparation. The TTC supported the decision to include the proposed outreach efforts, and while not being required, the Claremont LRSP includes the feedback received through a City’s website survey and a neighborhood meeting, held on May 9, 2024.
The plan was completed in August 2024 in time to create eligibility to submit an SS4A grant application to request funding to prepare a Complementary Safety Plan for Indian Hill Boulevard (Arrow Highway to American Avenue) and San Jose Avenue (Mills Avenue to Mountain Avenue). This grant application required a Resolution, which was adopted by the City Council on July 23, 2024.
Staff will be using the LRSP for the preparation of future Capital Improvement Projects (CIP), as reference for future planning documents and as an eligibility requirement to apply for certain grants. Currently, the Claremont LRSP is being used as a reference document for the preparation of a SB1 Local Partnership Program grant application to request funding for the construction of the Mountain Avenue Complete Streets Project. The plan is also being used to investigate stand-alone locations of concern to design projects to incorporate prescribed countermeasures to be implemented to address site-specific conditions. In particular, staff is currently addressing collision pattern concerns with the intersection of Base Line Road at Towne Avenue, working on a design to incorporate the countermeasure recommended in the Claremont LRSP for this location.
Moving forward, staff will continue to use this plan to prioritize safety improvements through the CIP, implementing improvements at smaller locations and stand-alone projects whenever possible, and as necessary. Staff will also pursue grant funding to complete and implement larger, corridor-type safety projects.
The Claremont LRSP is provided as an Attachment. The plan can also be accessed on the City’s website.
CEQA REVIEW
This item is not subject to environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
PUBLIC NOTICE PROCESS
The agenda and staff report for this item have been posted on the City website and distributed to interested parties. If you desire a copy, please contact Commission Secretary, Nadia Ramirez at nramirez@ci.claremont.ca.us
Submitted by:
Maria B. Tipping, P.E.
City Engineer
Attachment:
Claremont Local Road Safety Plan