The goal of the Safe Streets Pilot Program is to demonstrate how road maintenance projects, such as repaving, can improve pedestrian and bicycle safety with minor changes to how they have been traditionally designed. Under the program, TAMC will work with the selected jurisdictions to enhance an existing project with additional "Safe Street" design features. A portion of the Regional Surface Transportation Program's set aside for Complete Street implementation provide this incentive funding to pay for bicycle and/or pedestrian safety features above and beyond what would be included in a traditional repaving project.
With input from Transportation Agency's Technical Advisory Committee, staff developed brief project application to allow jurisdictions to identify how their project aligns with the goals of the Safe Streets Pilot Program.
Staff distributed the pilot program application to agencies represented on the Transportation Agency's Technical Advisory Committee on November 1 and closed the application period on November 14, 2019.
The program encouraged jurisdictions to propose pilot projects based on their road maintenance schedule.Transportation Agency staff also prioritized projects on streets and roads that:
- Provide access to a school, community center, or park;
- Are identified in TAMC's Active Transportation Plan and/or an existing local-level bicycle or pedestrian plan; and
- Provide access to transit.
The Transportation Agency received eight applications from jurisdictions across the County. Based on the above criteria, Staff is recommending the following six projects receive funding:
- Salinas: E Rossi St Safe Street Project
- Seaside: Pedestrian Intersection Improvements Project
- King City: Broadway Street Bulbout Project
- Marina: Cardoza Ave Corridor Improvement Project
- Pacific Grove: Forest Lodge Road / PG High School Sidewalk Improvement
- Monterey: Casa Verde / Helvic / Portola / McNear Intersection Improvements
Jurisdictions recommended for funding will be required to meet with TAMC Staff to discuss the proposed improvements prior to the awarding of funds in order to solidify the design for the proposed improvements.
The projects not selected for the Pilot Program did not submit applications with well defined scope. TAMC Staff will meet with jurisdictions not selected to refine project scopes to be more competitive for the next cycle.