Purpose

Staff requests City Council approval of a resolution authorizing the submission of a grant application to the Department of Transportation (Caltrans) for a Safe Routes to School (SR2S) grant.

 BACKGROUND

State Assembly Bill 1475 created a revised Safe Routes to School (SR2S) Program in 1999. The SR2S Program provides federal transportation funds for construction of school bicycle/pedestrian safety and traffic calming projects to improve safety at or near elementary schools.

In 2001, Senate Bill 10 was enacted to extend the program for an additional three years.  It is now scheduled to sunset on January 25, 2005. The SR2S Program is in its fourth cycle in Federal Fiscal Year 2003/2004.  Caltrans expects to fund $20 million for SR2S projects statewide during the fourth cycle.  The maximum federal reimbursement per project is $450,000. The typical reimbursement ratio for these projects is 90% for eligible project costs.   Grant funds are allocated based on demonstrated need, potential for the reduction of child injuries, potential for increased walking or bicycling, and the identification of safety issues.  The applications must be submitted to the Caltrans District Office by May 30, 2003.

  Proposals for funding are rated on the following factors:

1)     Demonstrated needs of the applicant,

2)     Potential for the reduction of child injuries and fatalities,

3)     Potential for increased walking and bicycling among students,

4)     Identification of safety hazards,

5)     Identification of walking and bicycling routes to school, and

6)     Project support by schools, elected officials, and law enforcement.

The Safe Routes to School program may fund six types of projects:

1)     Sidewalk Improvements � new or widened sidewalks, sidewalk repairs, and curb and gutter improvements,

2)     Traffic Calming and Speed Reduction � roundabouts, traffic circles, bulb-outs, raised pavements, signs, or pavement markings,

3)     Pedestrian or Bicycle Crossing Improvements � traffic signals, crosswalks, medians, pavement markings, flashing beacons, pedestrian signal upgrades, or bicycle sensitive signal actuation devices,

4)     On Street Bicycle Facilities � bikeways, street widening, geometric improvements, or pavement channelization,

5)     Pedestrian Facilities � bicycle or pedestrian trails, bicycle parking facilities, signs, or pavement markings, and

6)     Traffic Diversion Improvements � improved pick-up or drop-off areas, traffic diversion away from school access routes.

In Fiscal Year 2002-03, Burbank was awarded a total of $140,000 in State grant funds for several sidewalk and pedestrian safety projects with a total construction cost of $155,000.

ANALYSIS

The proposed application for the fourth cycle of this program will include Traffic Diversion Improvements designed to improve student pick up and drop off areas in front of six elementary schools, shown in Attachment 1: Emerson School, Joaquin Miller School, Edison School, Stevenson School, Bret Harte School, and Providencia School.  Currently, there are student valet drop-off programs on Cypress Avenue in front of Emerson School, Providencia Avenue in front of Joaquin Miller School, Keystone Street in front of Edison School, Oak Street in front of Stevenson School, Lima Street in front of Bret Harte School, and Pacific Avenue in front of Providencia School.

The Valet Program at these schools has been in place for several years, and it has been very successful in minimizing traffic congestion at drop-off areas for the schools by giving drivers a designated area to quickly drop off students.   However, because the streets with the drop off areas are only one lane each way, traffic can back-up behind the cars using the Valet Program.  The lanes adjacent to the schools are 18 ft wide, which does not leave enough room for traffic that wants to continue past the drop off area to move around the cars waiting to use the Valet Program.  Therefore, it is recommended to widen the lane from 18 ft to 21 ft to provide enough room for cars to bypass the Valet area, relieving congestion and making the Valet Program more efficient and safer.  The widening is only recommended at locations where sufficient sidewalk width exists to safely accommodate students.

Emerson School

There is an existing 12 ft sidewalk along the east side of Cypress Avenue, adjacent to the school.   The proposed project will reduce the sidewalk to 9 ft and increase the adjacent lane to 21 ft.  This would result in increased traffic safety at arrival and dismissal times.    The total length of the project is approximately 200 ft long, with an estimated cost of $35,000.

Joaquin Miller School

There is an existing 12 ft sidewalk along the south side of Providencia Avenue, adjacent to the school.   The proposed project will reduce the sidewalk to 9 ft and increase the adjacent lane to 21 ft.  This would result in increased traffic safety at arrival and dismissal times.    The total length of the project is approximately 300 ft long, which includes relocation of one catch basin and modifying one driveway.  The total estimated cost is $40,000.

Edison School

There is an existing 12 ft sidewalk along the west side of Keystone Street, adjacent to the school.   The proposed project will reduce the sidewalk to 9 ft and increase the adjacent lane to 21 ft.  This would result in increased traffic safety at arrival and dismissal times.    The total length of the project is approximately 200 ft long, which includes relocation of an electrical vault.  The total estimated cost is $35,000.

Stevenson School

There is an existing 12 ft sidewalk along the north side of Oak Street, adjacent to the school.   The proposed project will reduce the sidewalk to 9 ft and increase the adjacent lane to 21 ft.  This would result in increased traffic safety at arrival and dismissal times.    The total length of the project is approximately 200 ft long, which includes modifying two driveways.  The total estimated cost is $30,000.

Bret Harte School

There is an existing 12 ft sidewalk along the east side of Lima Street, adjacent to the school.   The proposed project will reduce the sidewalk to 9 ft and increase the adjacent lane to 21ft.  This would result in increased traffic safety at arrival and dismissal times.    The total length of the project is approximately 250ft long, which includes modifying one driveway.  The total estimated cost is $30,000.

Providencia School

There is an existing 12 ft sidewalk along the north side of Pacific Avenue, adjacent to the school.   The proposed project will reduce the sidewalk to 9 ft and increase the adjacent lane to 21 ft.  This would result in increased traffic safety at arrival and dismissal times.    The total length of the project is approximately 200ft long, with an estimated cost of $30,000.

The total estimated capital cost for the above improvements is $200,000.  The systems are expected to operate relatively maintenance free for a useful life of about 15 to 20 years.  Current Public Works maintenance staff will complete the routine maintenance.   The construction of the improvements will begin by July 2004 and be complete by the end of year.

The Traffic and Transportation Committee has been notified of this grant program at their meeting and recommended that the City Council authorize the submittal of an application for grant funding.  The projects were also reviewed and endorsed by the Burbank Unified School District Safety Committee and the school principals.

FISCAL IMPACT

The proposed school safety improvement project will cost a total of $200,000, and the SR2S program requires a 10 percent local match.  Caltrans will evaluate projects during the summer and grant funds will be awarded in the fall of 2003.  Staff proposes to utilize funds from several other safety projects for the local matching funds.  A total of $10,000 will be allocated from the Audible Pedestrian Signal project (Project No. 125.PW22G.70002.0000.13639).  Two audible signals were installed in conjunction with the left turn phasing project, and savings were realized by City purchase of the equipment and combining the installation with another project.  The remainder of the funds ($10,000) will be obtained from the Empire center NPP project (Project No. 370.PW22A.70002.000.12853).  This project is complete.

RECOMMENDATION

Staff recommends that the City Council adopt the attached proposed resolution authorizing the Public Works Department to apply for a Safe Routes to School grant for the above projects.

go to the top