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Resolution in Support of a Revised Safe Streets for All (SS4A) Demonstration Grant Application.
PURPOSE: This item requests Town Council approval of a resolution (Attachment A) supporting a revised application for a SS4A Demonstration Grant.
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Department
DEPARTMENT: Planning
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Council Direction
COUNCIL DIRECTION:
_X_ Race/Equity _X_ Climate _X_ Comprehensive Plan _X_ Other
Council Direction Statement
The Town of Carrboro plans to apply for a SS4A Demonstration Grant. The grant, if awarded, would allow for the Town of Carrboro to make improvements to demonstrate effectiveness for improved bicycle and pedestrian safety and mobility, with a focus on Safe Routes to School (SRTS) improvements. The project would support implementation of the Town’s Safe Routes to School Action Plan, the Community Climate Action Plan, and Transportation & Mobility strategy 2.2-H, I, and K in the Comprehensive Plan. (Racial equity pocket questions were prepared as part of the April 1st agenda item.)
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Information
INFORMATION: The SS4A Program provides $5 billion ($2 billion remaining for future years) nationwide for projects that prevent roadway deaths and serious injuries (FY25 SS4A Notice of Funding Opportunity | US Department of Transportation <https://www.transportation.gov/grants/ss4a/fy25-nofo>). Planning and Demonstration Grants are available to create a SS4A Action Plan or to fund demonstration projects that can be analyzed for future projects.
Staff has determined that improving Safe Routes to School (SRTS) should be the focus of the Town’s Demonstration Grant application. The proposed demonstration projects will be located near Carrboro Elementary School and McDougle Elementary and Middle Schools. A list of the projects and projected costs is provided (Attachment B), and to meet the requirements of the Demonstration grants, none of the projects will permanently alter the roadway. The proposed scope of work includes pavement markings in multiple locations, both for bike lane buffers and intersection refuge islands, possible installation of flexible delineators, and rectangular rapid flashing beacons (RRFBs) at key intersections. Before and after data collection and analysis is also required for the grant, as the projects are intended to be a model, should they be successful, for future projects, and to be removed if they are proven to be unsuccessful. Town staff has been working closely with the staff from UNC’s Highway Safety Research Center and UNC’s Injury Prevention Center to develop a proposal that aligns with the program criteria and meets current Town interests and needs.
The Town Council approved a resolution of support for a grant application on April 1, 2025 (Town of Carrboro - Meeting of Town Council on 4/1/2025 at 6:00 PM <https://carrboro.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=1278097&GUID=9923198E-7915-4727-A230-60635D1BD0B4&Options=info|&Search=>). Staff has recently received an updated preliminary engineer’s estimate for the cost of installing RRFBs in other locations in downtown. Based on this new information, the project budget for the grant proposal has been increased to allow for more accurate estimated costs as described in detail below. The purpose of this agenda item is to request Council authorization to submit a revised application reflecting the updated project cost and local match.
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Fiscal and Staff Impact
FISCAL IMPACT: A 20% local match is required for the Demonstration Grant, should the Town’s application be chosen for funding. Per the updated cost estimate, the anticipated cost for the grant proposal has been increased by $430,000 for a total project budget of $780,000: $624,000 (80% federal) and $156,000 (20% local match). The SS4A Demonstration Grant is a reimbursement grant, which requires the Town to pay costs up front and submit invoices for reimbursement. If the Town is awarded the grant, a separate agenda item relating to the project budget and necessary agreements will follow. Staff time is associated with grant administration, data collection, and data analysis.
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Recommendation
RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that the Town Council consider the resolution (Attachment A) supporting the submittal of the updated SS4A Demonstration Grant application.
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