TITLE
The Mayor and City Council shall discuss and possibly take action to accept the Highway Safety Improvement Grant through the Maricopa Association of Governments and enter into a Joint Project Agreement between the City of Maricopa and the State of Arizona in the amount $415,3000 to create a sign inventory program. The match for Year 1 in an amount of $15,000 will come from County Road Tax, Transportation, Street Projects-Capital (30044146-67750-34005). Discussion and Action.
AGENDA ITEM DESCRIPTION
On 11/5/2013 the Mayor and City Council ratified the submission of the grant application to the Highway Safety Improvement Program through the Maricopa Association of Governments. Notification of award was provided on 12/9/2013.
The Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) is part of the new federal surface transportation act, "Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century" (MAP-21), was signed into law on July 6, 2012. Under MAP-21, the Highway Safety Improvement Program remains as one of the core federal-aid programs. The High Risk Rural Roads (HR3) Program is part of the HSIP Program in MAP-21, not a set-aside as in the previous federal surface transportation act. The specific provisions of the HSIP are defined in Section 1112 of MAP-21 which amended Section 148 of Title 23, United States Code (23 USC 148) to incorporate these provisions. The purpose of this program is to achieve a significant reduction in traffic fatalities and serious injuries on all public roads, including non-State-owned public roads and roads on tribal land.
Starting in 2010, the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) began allocating $1 million per year in federal (HSIP) funds to the MAG region for road safety projects that meet Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) qualifying criteria. The Transportation Safety Committee at MAG recommended a total of 67 qualifying road safety improvement projects programmed for implementation by local agencies during the period FY2010-2014. Typical road safety improvements recommended through this process are:
•Larger traffic signal lights 12-inches in diameter (improves visibility)
•Pedestrian traffic signals with countdown timers (better understood by pedestrians)
•Traffic signal pre-emption equipment needed to allow safe passage for emergency vehicles
•Street name signs using Clearview Font (improves legibility at nighttime)
The Public Works Department, through this application, will create a Sign Inventory Program. This management program will allow for tracking of all traffic signs installed and maintained, enabling the City to be compliant with federal MUTCD minimum sign panel reflectivity requirements. This program would include a professional services contract with a procured firm to complete a GIS layer of all signs, a night-time assessment and data entry of inventory into a cloud system. In addition the program will include the cost of signs identified "not to current standards" and replaced as needed. There is a project management cost associated with the project if awarded that would need to be paid to the ADOT in the amount of $60,000. This is not cost allowable under the grant award. This expense to the ADOT could be aggregated over a three year period as such:
· Year 1 $15,000
· Year 2 $30,000
· Year 3 $15,000
The costs for Years 1 - 3 (FY15-16 through FY17-18) be taken from County Road Tax, Transportation, Street Projects-Capital (30044146-67750-34005) and will be budgeted through the annual budget process.
This item will be presented by Bill Fay, Public Works Director
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the Mayor and City Council accept the Highway Safety Improvement Grant through the Maricopa Association of Governments and enter into a Joint Project Agreement between the City of Maricopa and the State of Arizona in the amount $415,3000 to create a sign inventory program. The match for Year 1 in an amount of $15,000 will come from County Road Tax, Transportation, Street Projects-Capital (30044146-67750-34005).