City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: JUNE 21, 2022
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
THROUGH: JAMES F. PARAJON, CITY MANAGER /s/
FROM: YON LAMBERT, DIRECTOR, TRANSPORTATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES
DOCKET TITLE:
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Consideration of a Resolution to Approve a Grant Application to the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) for the FY 2022 Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Grant Program. [ROLL-CALL VOTE]
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ISSUE: Should City Council approve the grant application for 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. Adopt a resolution to authorize the submission of a grant application by September 15, 2022 for up to $1 million to perform stakeholder intersection audits and design safety improvements at up to 10 (ten) intersections;
2. Commit the 20% local match funding; and
3. Authorize the City Manager to apply for SS4A funding through the USDOT and enter into any agreements with USDOT to accept and implement the grant.
BACKGROUND: The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law established the new Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) discretionary program with $5 billion in appropriated funds over the next 5 years. In FY 2022 up to $1 billion is available. The SS4A program funds regional, local, and Tribal initiatives through grants to prevent roadway deaths and serious injuries. The SS4A program supports Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg’s National Roadway Safety Strategy and the Department’s goal of zero deaths and serious injuries on our nation’s roadways.
The program provides funding for three overarching activities:
• Action Plan: Develop or update a comprehensive safety action plan ($200,000 to
$1,000,000)
• Action Plan - Supplemental Activities: Conduct planning, design, and
development activities in support of an Action Plan ($200,000 to $1,000,000)
• Implementation: Carry out projects and strategies identified in an Action Plan ($5,000,000 to $30,000,000)
There is a 20% local match requirement for all projects. Applications are due September 15 with award announcements expected in early 2023.
In 2017, the City adopted a Vision Zero Policy and Action Plan with the goal of eliminating traffic fatalities and severe injuries by 2028. In early 2022, the City completed an updated citywide crash analysis to identify high-crash locations (Attachment 2).
DISCUSSION: The City has a Vision Zero Action Plan and therefore does not need funding to develop a new Action Plan. However, staff is proposing to request funding under the Action Plan - Supplemental Activities program for a “high crash intersection” project that would involve the following activities for up to ten locations:
• Organize intersection audits including representation from the City, consultant
team experts, community members, and key stakeholder organizations.
• Compile intersection data including detailed crash analyses, vehicle and
pedestrian volumes, turning movement counts, signal timing, and lane
configurations.
• Conduct engagement opportunities throughout the process.
• Identify safety countermeasures based on intersection audit feedback and design
best practices.
• Develop concept designs for safety improvements at the selected intersections.
Intersections will be selected on criteria including number of fatal and severe crashes, equity emphasis areas, and relationship to ongoing projects. This project would align with several priorities specific to SS4A and USDOT’s overall mission, including promoting safety, ensuring equitable investment in the safety needs of underserved communities, and incorporating evidence-based projects and strategies.
Although staff will not do so this year, staff expects to apply for Implementation funds in subsequent years, pending availability of the 20% local match funding which could be considered in a future resolution and City budgets.
Implementation projects must be, at minimum, $5 million and would require a 20% match. For example, in a future year, the City could apply for $5 million (or more) to finalize and construct the concept designs developed through this project, so long as the City identifies the required 20% match.
This project supports the Vision Zero Action Plan goal of building safer streets for everyone as well as the following strategies in the Alexandria Mobility Plan:
• Implement the Vision Zero Action Plan to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious
injuries by 2028.
• Create a safe, well-maintained, and comfortable walking and biking environment.
The Transportation Commission endorsed this project at their June 15th , 2022 meeting (Attachment 3) as being consistent with the Transportation Long Range Plan, a prioritized list of unfunded recommendations from plans and studies. In November 2021, the Commission added a project titled “Vision Zero High Crash Intersection Improvements” to account for the high priority of Vision Zero for the City.
FISCAL IMPACT: The SS4A grant program requires a 20% local match. If the City’s $1 million grant request is awarded, the match would be approximately $200,000. The match can include staff time. Unappropriated Northern Virginia Transportation Authority 30% fund balance exists to cover any remaining match. Staff time to manage and administer these projects will be included in the applications where feasible.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1: Resolution
Attachment 2: Vision Zero Crash Analysis 2022
Attachment 3: Transportation Commission Letter of Support
Attachment 4: Presentation
STAFF:
Emily A. Baker, Deputy City Manager
Yon Lambert, Director, T&ES
Hillary Orr, Deputy Director, T&ES
Tarrence Moorer, Assistant Director, T&ES
Christopher Ziemann, Division Chief, T&ES
Alexandria Carroll, Complete Streets Program Manager, T&ES
Helen Lee, Environmental Program Manager, T&ES