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C. 20

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	Brian M. Balbas, Public Works Director/Chief Engineer
Date:	August 11, 2020

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

Submission of grant applications to Caltrans under Highway Safety Improvement Program, Countywide.

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 08/11/2020

APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED

OTHER

Clerks Notes:

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS

AYE:

John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Candace Andersen, District II Supervisor
Diane Burgis, District III Supervisor
Karen Mitchoff, District IV Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor

Contact:

Mary Halle, 925.313.2327

I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: August 11, 2020
David Twa,

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Public Works Director, or designee, to submit grant applications to the State Department of Transportation (Caltrans) under the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP), as recommended by the Transportation, Water and Infrastructure Committee, Countywide.

FISCAL IMPACT:

No fiscal impact.

BACKGROUND:

On May 4, 2020, Caltrans announced the Call for Projects for Cycle 10 of the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP). This potential award of State and Federal funding will augment local road funds, stretching local dollars to build improvements that would not be possible otherwise.

BACKGROUND: (CONT'D)

HSIP is a core federal-aid program to the States for the purpose of achieving a significant reduction in fatalities and serious injuries on all public roads. HSIP focuses on infrastructure projects with nationally recognized crash reduction factors (CRFs) and must be identified on the basis of crash history.

Examples of eligible type of projects may include, but are not limited to, the following list:

- Intersection safety improvement
- Pavement and shoulder widening
- Installation of rumble strips or other warning devices
- Installation of a skid-resistant surface
- Improvement for bicycle or pedestrian safety
- Elimination of hazards at a railway-highway crossing
- Traffic calming feature
- Elimination of a roadside obstacle
- Highway signage and pavement markings
- Traffic control or other warning device
- Installation of guardrails, barriers, and crash attenuators

There are two application categories in HSIP Cycle 10: Benefit Cost Ratio (BCR) and Funding Set-asides (SA). $178 million will be for BCR applications and $42 million for four (4) funding set-asides (Guardrail Upgrades, Pedestrian Crossing Enhancements, Installing Edgelines and Tribes). BCR calculation is not required for applications pursuing funding set-asides.

On August 10, 2020, the Transportation, Water & Infrastructure Committee reviewed the candidate projects listed below and recommended that the Board of Supervisors approve their submission as grant applications.

RECOMMENDED CANDIDATE PROJECTS:

The Public Works Department recommends the following projects as candidates for Cycle 10 of HSIP funding (in no particular order), based upon collision history and initial project scoping:

1. West County Guardrail Upgrades (Funding Set-Aside) (Districts 1 and 5)

This project proposes to upgrade existing guardrails along Bear Creek Road and along Alhambra Valley Road between Bear Creek Road and Reliez Valley Road. The rail height and the end treatments of the guardrails will be upgraded to current Caltrans standards. Guardrails are typically installed in locations where the terrain is steep and where running off the roadway is likely to lead to serious injury. The new Flared Energy Absorbing Terminal (FLEAT) end treatments are designed to absorb the impact and direct errant vehicles back towards the traveled way, reducing the injury severity of vehicles hitting the guardrail. This cluster of guardrails was selected to assure cost effectiveness given their close proximity to each other.


2. San Pablo Dam Road and Bailey Road Intersections Improvements (Districts 1 and 5)

This project proposes to upgrade the signalized intersections along San Pablo Dam Road and Bailey Road to reduce vehicular collisions associated with factors such as red light running and unsafe speeding. Eight intersections along San Pablo Dam Road from El Portal Drive to Castro Rancho Road and three signalized intersections along Bailey Road from Canal Road to Willow Pass Road will be upgraded with improvements such as signal hardware, advanced dilemma zone detection hardware, and pedestrian countdown signal heads. Improvements along these two roadways will be combined into one application to assure competitiveness.


3. Franklin Canyon Road Rumble Strips (District 5)

This project proposes to install centerline rumble strips along Franklin Canyon Road from Cummings Skyway to Dutra Road to reduce collisions associated with lane departures. Six collisions resulted in severe injury and one fatality occurred along this segment within a five-year span. Centerline rumble strips provide an auditory and tactile indication, alerting drivers that they are drifting out of their travel lane and should correct their travel path. Rumble strips are one of twenty proven safety countermeasures by FHWA.

4. Camino Diablo Road Safety Improvements (District 3)

This project proposes to install street lighting along Camino Diablo Road between Vasco Road and Holway Drive to reduce nighttime collisions. Twenty-one nighttime collisions occurred along this segment within a five-year span. Providing roadway lighting improves nighttime safety by making drivers aware of the surroundings, which improves drivers’ perception-reaction times, and enhances drivers’ sight distance. Staff will also consider installation of fog line rumble strips as a second countermeasure to alert drivers that they are drifting out of their travel lane. Rumble strips are one of twenty proven safety countermeasures by FHWA. On July 28, 2020, this project was presented to the Byron MAC to obtain their feedback. The community demonstrated support.

5. Vasco Road/Camino Diablo Road Intersection Improvements (District 3)

This project proposes to upgrade the signalized intersection at Vasco Road at Camino Diablo Road to reduce collisions associated with factors such as red light running and speeding. Forty-three collisions have been reported at this intersection within a five-year span. The primary improvement considered at this intersection will be advanced dilemma zone detection hardware. This hardware will enhance safety at this intersection by modifying traffic control signal timing based upon driver behavior within the dilemma zone. Additional countermeasures will be considered during site analysis and may be included with the project application.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

If staff is not authorized to submit applications, grant funding will not be available, which will delay the design and construction of these projects.