The HSIP is one of the core federal-aid programs in the federal surface transportation act. The HSIP program strives to significantly reduce traffic fatalities and serious injuries on all public roads. This item will include a roundtable discussion to exchange information form agencies that submitted applications with the objective to identify best practices for successful grants. Two projects in Monterey County were selected for HSIP grant funding:

1. Prunedale Roundabout (San Miguel Canyon Road)
2. Salinas Road and Pajaro Project

The HSIP is administered under the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act. The Division of Local Assistance manages California's local agency share of HSIP funds. The maximum federal HSIP reimbursement amount for a single HSIP project is $10 million. Generally the maximum federal reimbursement ratio for an HSIP project is 90%. This ratio can be 100% if all countermeasures of the project are eligible for 100% federal reimbursement per the Local Roadway Safety Manual.

A Caltrans-initiated safety project on a state highway that involves local roads and requires financial participation by a local agency is eligible for funding. Typically, these types of projects involve new or upgraded traffic signals or a roundabout at an intersection. Due to the limited amount of local funding, Local HSIP will only fund projects/improvements on the state highway system where the state highway acts as the “main street” for the local agency.

The key delivery requirements for the local HSIP projects include two milestones and corresponding delivery deadlines: 1) Request for Authorization to Proceed with Preliminary Engineering within 9 months; 2) Request for Authorization to Proceed with Construction within 36 months. Two projects in Monterey County were selected for HSIP funding:

Prunedale Roundabout (San Miguel Canyon Road): The project will install a roundabout at the intersection of San Miguel Canyon Road and Castroville Boulevard. The project is estimated to cost $2,189,600 and will be fully funded by the HSIP grant. 

Salinas Road near Pajaro: The project will reduce Salinas Road from 4 travel lanes to 2 lanes and install a Class II buffered bike lane, raised medians, rectangular rapid flashing beacons, fill sidewalk gaps and dynamic speed warning signs. The project is estimated to cost $832,400 and the HSIP grant is expected to fund 90% of the project cost, for a total of $749,160.

The committee members are encouraged to participate in a roundtable discussion to exchange ideas that might benefit future grant applicants. Topics might include the common components of successful grants and lessons learned from applicants that might increase scoring on the next round of funding.