REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: SCOTT L. MOZIER, PE, Director
Public Works Department
BY: JILL M. GORMLEY, TE, Assistant Director
Public Works Department, Traffic & Engineering Services Division
CHERYL L. BURNS, MPA, Business Manager
Public Works Department, Traffic & Engineering Services Division
SUBJECT
Title
***RESOLUTION - Authorizing the Submission of a Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant Application to the California Department of Transportation and Authorizing the Execution of the Grant Application, Acceptance of Grant Funds, and Execution of Grant Agreement Documents by the Public Works Director or Designee (Citywide) (Subject to Mayor’s Veto)
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommend that the City Council adopt a resolution authorizing the submission of a Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant (STPG) application to the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) for a project totaling up to $700,000 and authorize the execution of all grant application documents, acceptance of grant funds, and the execution of grant agreement documents by the Public Works Director or Designee.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Staff is requesting authorization to submit an application to the 2027-2028 STPG grant program for the purpose of conducting a School Area Safety Audit. The STPG program is funded under Senate Bill 1 Chapter 5, Statutes of 2017 of the State Highways Account and the California Road Maintenance, Repair and Accountability Act of 2017 (SB1). There are four categories of grants under the STPG program umbrella, and the City is an eligible applicant for the Sustainable Communities Competitive (SCC) grant category.
The proposed Public Works Department (DPW) application for a STPG grant would request funding for up to $700,000 for the purpose of continuing the work of the Vision Zero Action Plan to conduct a School Area Safety Audit (Project) of 15 locations near schools across the City of Fresno (see attachment). The Project will utilize the same methodology used by the Vision Zero Action Plan to analyze and develop recommended safety countermeasures for the selected intersections. The recommendations would be finalized and adopted as a supplement to the Vision Zero Action Plan.
BACKGROUND
Funded under SB1, the STPG grant program was created to support Caltrans’ mission of providing safe and reliable transportation networks that serve all people while respecting the environment. The program provides funding to develop tools to strengthen a community’s approach to roadway safety and save lives.
A Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) was published on August 17, 2026, with approximately $34.9 million available in total STPG funding for Federal Fiscal Year 2027-2028. Approximately $17.9 million is allocated specifically for the SCC grant category.
DPW requests authorization to submit a Sustainable Communities Competitive Grant application to conduct a School Area Safety Audit of 15 locations across the City of Fresno, with a focus on areas surrounding schools, to identify and improve safety conditions for students, families, school faculty, and residents. Selected school site locations are included as an attachment.
On May 21, 2026, the City of Fresno adopted the Vision Zero Action Plan. Vision Zero is a strategy that strives to eliminate all traffic fatalities and severe injuries, while increasing safety, health, and equitable mobility for all. It is a commitment to approach traffic safety in fundamentally different ways through systemic changes.
TDG Engineering, Inc., an affiliate of Toole Design Group, LLC, was hired as the selected consultant to prepare the City’s Vision Zero Action Plan. They began their efforts with an existing conditions analysis, reviewing all relevant plans, policies, and procedures to create a baseline to build upon. The consultant also collected data and conducted a thorough analysis to identify the High Injury Network within the City. The fatal injury and severe injury data was then used to identify the Top 10 Corridors and the Top 10 Intersections that would benefit from additional safety analysis. The consultant further narrowed the lists to the Top 5 Corridors and Top 5 Intersections that were analyzed within the Vision Zero Action Plan and the final Plan recommends safety countermeasures that would be appropriate for each location.
The proposed Project will utilize the same methodology used by the Vision Zero Action Plan consultant to analyze and develop recommended safety countermeasures for the selected intersections. The recommendations would be finalized and adopted as a supplement to the Vision Zero Action Plan. The safety countermeasure recommendations from the proposed Project would be considered as projects for future funding opportunities.
Grant applications are due on October 9, 2026. Sustainable Communities Competitive Grant projects must be completed, and all grant funds must be fully expended, within 32 months of receiving the award. State share of the STPG grant may not exceed 88.53% of total activity costs; therefore, recipients are required to provide an 11.47% matching share.
The City Attorney’s office has reviewed and approved the resolution as to form.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
Pursuant to California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15378, this action is not subject to CEQA at this time.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference is not applicable because this resolution does not include a bid or award a construction or services contract.
FISCAL IMPACT
This resolution will have no immediate impact on the General Fund. Should the grants be awarded, local matching funds will be identified through future fiscal year capital budgets.
Attachments:
Resolution
School Area Safety Audit Project Locations