Agenda Item Wording:
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Grant submittal authorization - Authorize the submittal of a funding application to the Senate Bill 1 Local Partnership Competitive Program for construction funding for the Riggin Ave Widening from Roeben St to Akers St project; and authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement between the City of Visalia, as the implementing agency, and the Tulare County Association of Governments, as the applicant to the funding application.
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Agenda Date: 11/02/2026
Prepared by:
Dolores Verduzco, Financial Analyst, dolores.verduzco@visalia.gov, (559) 713-4540
Rudy Lopez, Associate Engineer, rudy.lopez@visalia.gov, (559) 713-4270
Chris Crawford, City Engineer, chris.crawford@visalia.gov, (559) 713-4331
Jason Huckleberry, Engineering & Building Director, jason.huckleberry@visalia.gov, (559) 713-4495
Department Recommendation:
The Engineering and Building Department recommends that the City Council authorize the submittal of a funding application to the Senate Bill (SB) 1 Local Partnership Competitive Program to request funding for the construction phase for the Riggin Ave widening from Roeben St to Akers St project, and authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement between the City of Visalia, as the implementing agency, and the Tulare County Association of Governments (TCAG), as the applicant to the funding application.
Summary:
The SB 1 Local Partnership Competitive Program only provides funding for the construction phase of a capital project and requires a one-to-one match of private, local, or federal or state funds. City of Visalia is partnering with TCAG to submit a funding application for the Riggin Ave widening from Roeben St to Akers St project. The City of Visalia will be responsible for project delivery. Project nominations are due to the California Transportation Commission on November 18, 2026.
The proposed project improvements include widening Riggin Avenue from an existing two-lane roadway to a four-lane divided roadway, with two through lanes in each direction, extending from approximately 700 feet west of Roeben Street to approximately 500 feet west of Akers Street. The project will also include restriping N. Roeben Street approximately 700 feet south of W. Riggin Avenue. Additional improvements will include Class IV bicycle lanes and sidewalks extending from east of Roeben Street to west of Akers Street, as well as installation of a new traffic signal at the Riggin Avenue and Roeben Street intersection. The Class IV bicycle lanes will close the remaining gap in the existing bicycle network along Riggin Ave. At the Akers Street intersection, the project will include restriping the eastbound and westbound left-turn lanes and modifying the existing traffic signal software to accommodate the proposed roadway improvements. Other improvements will include an approximately 18-foot-wide landscaped median, curb and gutter installation, and roadway drainage enhancements. City and TCAG staff have determined that the Riggin Ave Widening from Roeben St to Akers St project meets the grant program’s eligible scope criteria and implementation schedule.
Background Discussion:
The Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017, Senate Bill 1 (SB 1), created the Local Partnership Program (LPP). The California Transportation Commission (CTC) allocates funding to the LPP from the SB 1 to local or regional transportation agencies that have sought and received voter approval of taxes or have imposed fees, which taxes or fees are dedicated solely to transportation improvements.
Eligible projects that may be funded by the LPP include the following:
• Improvements to the state highway system
• Improvements to transit facilities
• Acquisition of zero-emission buses or other rolling stock necessary for the provision of or maintenance of fixed route or demand responsive transit services
• Capital projects that employe advanced and innovative technology
• Improvements to the local road system
• Improvements to bicycle or pedestrian safety or mobility
• Improvements to mitigate the environmental impact of new transportation infrastructure
• Road maintenance and rehabilitation
• Other transportation improvement projects
The SB 1 Local Partnership Competitive Program identifies eligible applicants as a local or regional transportation agency that administers voter-approved taxes, tolls, or fees dedicated solely to transportation improvements, and to provide documentation to establish such eligibility. TCAG has been previously recognized by the California Transportation Commission (CTC) as an eligible agency to receive Local Partnership Program funding. Through Measure R, TCAG has established eligibility with the CTC to receive funding from the LPP through the year 2037, the end of the transportation measure.
The Measure R is a voter approved 30-year ½ cent countywide sales tax measure to fund transportation projects throughout Tulare County. The Measure R transportation measure was approved in November 2006 to fund projects including the improvement of roads, bike paths and interchanges. The Measure R Program is administered by TCAG acting as the local transportation authority. Improvements to the Riggin Avenue corridor are one of original projects voted upon Tulare County voters with the passage of the Measure R. Therefore, city staff recommend partnering with TCAG to submit a funding application for the Riggin Widening from Roeben to Akers project.
In the funding application TCAG will be identified as the nominating agency and the City of Visalia as the implementing agency. The program guidelines require an interagency agreement to be submitted with the project nomination when the project is to be implemented by an agency other than the nominating agency. The City of Visalia as the implementing agency will assume responsibility and accountability for the use of program funds. Both the nominating agency and implementing agency must comply with all relevant and applicable federal and state laws. A copy of the draft agreement between the City of Visalia and TCAG is available under Attachment B of this agenda item.
Riggin Ave Widening from Roeben St to Akers St - Project Information
The project will widen Riggin Avenue from the existing two-lane roadway to a four-lane divided roadway. Improvements will include a new traffic signal at the Riggin Ave and Roeben St intersection, a landscaped median, curb and gutter, sidewalk, and Class IV bike lanes. The project will also include the restriping of the eastbound and westbound left-turn lanes at the Akers St intersection and modification of the traffic signal software to accommodate the roadway improvements.
The installation of Class IV bikes along Riggin Ave between Roeben St and Akers St will close the gap in the existing bicycle network along Riggin Ave, and will tie into the existing bike lanes west and east of the project limits. There are a few differences in the new proposed bike lanes along the project segment. The proposed Class IV bikes will be installed on both the north and south side of Riggin Ave. This design continues the currently existing Class IV bike lanes, located east of Akers St. However, the Class IV bike lanes between Roeben and Akers St (project limits) will be protected by 2-3-foot horizontal rubber delineators, reference Attachment C for an image, instead of the white vertical delineators that exist east of Akers St. West of the Roeben St project limits, the north side of Riggin Ave also features a Class IV bike lane and is protected by a parkway and landscaping. West of the Roeben St project limits, the south side of Riggin Ave has Class II bike lanes separated from vehicle traffic by a painted striped buffer and not a physical barrier.
The Riggin Ave project is currently in the design phase and the design is expected to be completed by February 2027 with right-of-way activities to be completed by March 2027, and utility pole relocations to be completed by May 2028. Construction is anticipated to begin in July 2028. The project schedule aligns with the program delivery guidelines that identify projects are to be implemented between fiscal years 2027/28 through 2028/29.
City staff conducted a comprehensive public outreach and community engagement effort by participating in the City of Visalia and Visalia Police Department’s annual National Night Out event, held on October 6th, 2026. During the event, attendees were provided with information regarding the project scope, anticipated timelines, and potential impacts to traffic configurations to encourage public participation and promote transparency throughout the project development process. Attendees who visited the City’s informational booth expressed strong support for the project, emphasizing the need to reduce traffic congestion, improve pedestrian, cyclist, and motorist safety, and enhance access to surrounding residential developments.
This project is the final phase of a multi-phase effort to improve the Riggin Ave corridor, providing a continuous connection from State Route 99 to the east side of Visalia. The completion of this project will improve traffic flow, increase roadway capacity, and address existing congestion and safety concerns along Riggin Avenue.
Fiscal impact including annual maintenance and operating costs:
The SB1 Local Partnership Competitive Program requires a one-to-one match and only provides funding for the construction phase. The estimated construction phase cost for the Riggin Ave project is $9,000,000.
The funding application will request $4,500,000 from the LPP, 50% of the construction phase cost, with $4,500,000 to be leveraged utilizing a combination of local funds and committed federal funds. Local funds include Measure R Regional funds and Transportation Impact Fee funds. Federal funds committed towards the project include $1,308,000 of FY 2025 Earmark Repurposing funds and $250,000 of grant funds awarded from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. There are sufficient funds currently budgeted and approved for appropriation in the fiscal year 2026/27 to meet the matching funds requirement.
If funds are awarded from the SB 1 Local Partnership Competitive Program, staff will return to City Council to request authorization for the appropriation of the final award amount.
Prior Council Action:
December 4, 2023
Authorized the City Manager to award a professional design services contract to 4 Creeks, Inc. for the design of Riggin Ave Widening from Roeben St to Akers St for an amount not to exceed $470,035.
September 19, 2023
Authorized the City Manager to execute a Measure R Supplemental Agreement with the Tulare County Transportation Authority (TCTA), and appropriate Measure R Regional funds and Transportation Impact Fee funds to the Riggin Ave Widening from Roeben to Akers project.
Alternatives:
Do not submit a funding application to the SB 1 Local Partnership Competitive Program for the Riggin Ave Widening from Roben to Akers project.
Recommended Motion (and alternative motions if expected):
recommendation
I move to authorize the submittal of a funding application to the SB 1 Local Partnership Competitive Program for construction funding for the Riggin Ave widening from Roeben St to Akers St project; and authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement between the City of Visalia, as the implementing agency, and the Tulare County Association of Governments, as the applicant to the funding application.
Environmental Assessment Status:
NEPA Studies In Progress.
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Review:
Categorical Exemption No. 2026-29.
Deadline for Action: 11/02/2026
Attachments:
A. Project Location Map
B. Draft Agreement between the City of Visalia and TCAG
Strategic Goal: Indicates which City Strategic Goal(s) this item supports. Select all that apply.
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