City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: JUNE 20, 2023
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
THROUGH: JAMES F. PARAJON, CITY MANAGER /s/
FROM: TARRENCE MOORER, INTERIM DIRECTOR, T&ES
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Consideration of a Resolution to Support a Grant Application to the Safe Streets & Roads for All Program of the U.S. Department of Transportation. [ROLL-CALL VOTE]
BODY
ISSUE: Should the City submit an application to the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Program of the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) to support Vision Zero safety initiatives?
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council:
1. Approve a Resolution (Attachment 1) supporting the submission of a grant application by July 10 for the Safe Streets and Roads for All Program for up to $5,000,000 to implement safety improvements at the intersections of Duke Street and South Henry Street and Duke Street and South Patrick Street; and
2. Authorize the City Manager to apply for the SS4A grant and enter into any agreements with USDOT to accept and implement the grant.
BACKGROUND: The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law established the Safe Streets and Roads for All discretionary grant program with $5 billion in appropriated funds from FY 2022 to 2027. Up to $1 billion is available in FY 2023. The SS4A program funds regional, local, and Tribal initiatives through grants to prevent roadway deaths and serious injuries. The SS4A program supports the National Roadway Safety Strategy and the USDOT’s goal of zero deaths and serious injuries on our nation’s roadways.
The program includes funding for either lower cost Planning and Demonstration grants or implementation grants that are expected to range from $2.5 to $25 million.
In 2017, the City adopted a Vision Zero Policy accompanied by an Action Plan with the goal of eliminating traffic fatalities and severe injuries by 2028. Early in 2022, the City conducted a comprehensive analysis of crashes throughout the city to identify areas with high crash rates.
In 2022, the City Council approved an application to the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments Regional Roadway Safety Program (RRSP) to conduct safety audits at two critical intersections: Duke Street at South Henry and South Patrick Streets. These intersections were recognized as high-crash areas within the city. Subsequently, the City was awarded the grant in late 2022, enabling its staff to engage with the community and gain insights into the issues faced by individuals at these intersections. A multidisciplinary project team, consisting of consultants and staff, conducted thorough intersection audits to determine measures that would enhance safety for all road users. Currently, conceptual designs are being developed, which may encompass various improvements such as signal enhancements, curb extensions, lighting upgrades, lane realignment, and pedestrian refuge islands. Implementation of these conceptual designs is currently unfunded.
DISCUSSION: Staff proposes to request up to $5,000,000 in funding under the Implementation Grant category to implement safety improvements at the intersections of Duke Street and South Henry Street and Duke Street and South Patrick Street. The project will include detailed design and construction of conceptual designs that result from the City’s 2022 RRSP grant project.
This project aligns with SS4A’s grant priorities to promote safety to prevent death and serious injuries on public roadways and supports the City’s Vision Zero Action Plan strategy to prioritize engineering efforts at high injury corridors and intersections. It also supports the Alexandria Mobility Plan strategy to create a safe, well-maintained, and comfortable walking and biking environment.
FISCAL IMPACT: SS4A grants require a 20% local match. If the City’s grant request is awarded, the match would be up to $1,000,000. The local match funding would be identified as part of the FY 2025 CIP development process, or through reprioritization of available project balances. A potential funding sources is Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA) 30% fund balance.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1 - Resolution
Attachment 2 - Transportation Commission Letter of Support
Attachment 3 - Presentation
STAFF:
Emily A. Baker, Deputy City Manager
Hillary Orr, Deputy Director of Transportation, T&ES
Christopher Ziemann, Division Chief, Transportation Planning, T&ES
Alex Carroll, Complete Streets Program Manager, T&ES