Agenda Item Wording:
title
Authorization to apply for the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Grant Program - Authorization to submit a multijurisdictional application in partnership with the Tulare County Association of Governments (TCAG) to the USDOT SS4A Grant Program for a Planning and Demonstration Grant in the development of a Regional Services Center Multimodal Action Plan for the Downtown area in an estimated amount of $1 million (Resolution No.2025-47 required).
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Deadline for Action: 6/16/2025
Submitting Department: Administration
Contact Name and Phone Number:
John Lollis, Assistant City Manager, John.Lollis@Visalia.City, (559)713-4323
Department Recommendation:
Authorize staff to submit a multijurisdictional application in partnership with the Tulare County Association of Governments (TCAG) to the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Grant Program for a Planning and Demonstration Grant in the development of a Regional Services Center Multimodal Action Plan for the Downtown area in an estimated amount of $1 million (Resolution No. 2025-47 required).
Summary:
On March 28, 2025, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) announced the opportunity to apply for approximately $982 million in competitive grants for the fiscal year (FY) 2025 Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Grant Program, split between $580 million for Implementation Grants and approximately $402 million for Planning and Demonstration Grants. Eligible applicants are metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs), political subdivisions of a State or territory (e.g. counties, cities, towns, special districts, certain transit agencies, and similar units of local government), federally recognized Tribal governments, and a multijurisdictional group of entities described in any of the previously mentioned types of entities. Applications are due June 26, 2025.
Funds for the FY 2025 SS4A grant program are to be awarded on a competitive basis to support planning, infrastructure, and behavioral and operational initiatives to prevent fatalities and serious injuries on highways, streets and roadways involving all roadway users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, public transportation, motorists, personal conveyance and micromobility users, emergency vehicles, and commercial vehicle operators.
The USDOT expects to award between forty (40) and seventy (70) Implementation Grants in the funding range of $2.5 million to $25 million. With respect to Planning and Demonstration Grants, the USDOT expects to award between 400 and 700 in the funding range of $100,000 to $5 million.
Eligible project types for application include:
1. Develop a comprehensive safety action plan (Action Plan)
2. Conduct supplemental safety planning to enhance an Action Plan.
3. Carry out demonstration activities to inform the development of, or an update to, an Action Plan.
4. Perform planning, design, and development activities for projects and strategies identified in an Action Plan.
5. Implement projects and strategies identified in an Action Plan that address roadway safety problems.
Given the City does not have a federally recognized Action Plan for the purposes of this grant opportunity, the City first needs to apply for a Planning and Demonstration Grant to develop an approved Action Plan to subsequently apply for an Implementation Grant in a future grant cycle.
Background Discussion:
In FY 2024, the SS4A Grant Program made awards for over $1.2 billion to 710 eligible entities, including 640 Planning and Demonstration Grants totaling approximately $435 million, and seventy (70) Implementation Grants totaling approximately $806 million.
In 2020, the City drafted a Central Visalia Traffic Safety Action Plan with recommendations for a bicycle and pedestrian facility network in Downtown and East Downtown Visalia, with the recommendations serving as guidelines to make the study area more walkable and bikeable. In staff’s review of this plan, the plan addresses approximately five (5) of the eight (8) components necessary for a federally recognized Action Plan. One of the purposes of the Planning and Demonstration Grant would be to update and address each of the necessary components for an federally approved Action Plan.
With respect to potential demonstration activities of the Planning and Demonstration Grant, City and TCAG staff have been coordinating on the development of a demonstration project on Main Street to improve the pedestrian experience and make the Downtown area more walkable. TCAG has committed to funding both the federal and State environmental clearance of the entire Downtown project area to support eligibility for both federal and State funds, as well as fund the design and construction of pedestrian improvements on Main Street with Measure R Bike/Pedestrian (Air Quality) funds. The City also has $1.3 million in federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds programmed in support of the demonstration project.
As part of the Planning and Demonstration Grant, eligible demonstration grant activities include:
1. Feasibility studies using quick-build strategies, low-cost, and temporary materials that have the potential to inform future permanent projects;
2. Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) engineering studies that further safety applications of the MUTCD;
3. Behavioral or operational activity pilot programs that include at least one (1) element of the Safe System Approach; and
4. New technology pilot programs that demonstrate safety benefits of new technologies commercially available but not yet adopted in the community.
The Downtown Visalia area serves as a significant service center to the broader Tulare and Kings County region, including Kaweah Health Medical Center, Family HealthCare Network Medical Clinic, Family HealthCare Network All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), Veterans Administration Clinic, Crescent Valley K-12 Public Charter li, Redwood High School, and the Visalia Convention Center. With the planning for the development of the Cross Valley Express between Porterville and Naval Air Station (NAS) Lemoore underway with the City’s Transit Center to serve as the central regional hub of the proposed new service, the Downtown area will experience an increase in all modes of transportation, and in particular motorists, pedestrian and public transportation. The development of a federally approved Action Plan would make the City eligible for future federal funds for Downtown improvements that enhance safe multimodal transportation.
Fiscal Impact:
If awarded the SS4A grant, the City would have a twenty percent (20%) share of the cost, which staff would return to the City Council to appropriate funds, which must be from non-Federal sources and will likely be funds allocated by TCAG (e.g. Measure R Bike/Pedestrian (Air Quality) funds.
Prior Council Action: None
Other: N/A
Alternatives:
Do not authorize the City’s multijurisdictional application to the USDOT SS4A Program in partnership with TCAG.
Recommended Motion (and Alternative Motions if expected):
recommendation
I move to authorize staff to submit a multijurisdictional application in partnership with TCAG to the USDOT SS4A Grant Program for a Planning and Demonstration Grant in the development of a Downtown Regional Services Multimodal Action Plan for an estimated amount of $1 million (Resolution No. 2025-47 required).
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Environmental Assessment Status: N/A
CEQA Review: N/A
Attachments:
Draft Resolution No. 2025-47
Grants.Gov Announcement