Report to Mayor and City Council
Tuesday, June 06, 2023
Consent
SUBJECT:
Title
CONSIDER ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION NO. 23-065 APPROVING THE CITY OF CARSON LOCAL ROADWAY SAFETY PLAN
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I. SUMMARY
The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has established a program for cities to prepare a Local Roadway Safety Plan (LRSP) to identify safety needs and recommend projects to address these needs. LRSPs are intended to help local roadway owners contribute to the goals of Caltrans’ statewide Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP) by focusing on local-level concerns. An LRSP provides a framework for organizing stakeholders to identify, analyze, and prioritize roadway safety modifications on local roads.
The City of Carson retained the services of KOA Corporation (KOA) to work with City Staff to complete the Local Roadway Safety Plan (LRSP). This LRSP provides a broad safety analysis that was conducted for the entire City. An LRSP analyzes collision data, assesses infrastructure deficiencies through an inventory of roadway system elements, and identifies roadway safety solutions on a City-wide basis. The LRSP framework and process was created by the State to help local agencies develop safety projects that can be submitted for funding by the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP). HSIP funding eligibility requires an LRSP or equivalent plans such as a Vision Zero Plan or Systemic Safety Analysis Report. This report has been prepared per Caltrans LRSP guidelines and the Caltrans Local Roadway Safety Manual (LRSM) version 1.6 dated April 2022. This LRSP was approved by the Public Works Commission at the May 8, 2023, meeting.
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt the Plan to provide a roadmap for City traffic improvements and maintain eligibility to receive HSIP funds in the future.
II. RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
TAKE the following action:
WAIVE further reading and ADOPT Resolution No. 23-065, “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARSON, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING THE CITY OF CARSON LOCAL ROADWAY SAFETY PLAN”.
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III. ALTERNATIVES
TAKE another action the City Council deems appropriate and consistent with the requirements of the law.
IV. BACKGROUND
Federal Regulations require that all state, county, and local agencies adopt a Local Roadway Safety Plan (LRSP) or equivalent to be eligible to receive Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) grant funds. Project No. 1658: Local Roadway Safety Plan is included in the City’s Capital Improvement Program (CIP) list. The project consists of analyzing collision and traffic data, selecting emphasis areas, developing safety strategies and countermeasures, and preparing and adopting the final plan. The LRSP plays a critical role in addressing traffic collision risks and identifies specific and unique conditions that contribute to traffic collisions within the City. The LRSP provides the City the opportunity to proactively correct high collision or problem locations and prevent local road fatalities and injuries. The final plan recommends proven countermeasures and provides a structured and realistic set of responses that implement changes over time. The LRSP integrates engineering, enforcement, education, and emergency service strategies, and identifies road safety partners that could sustain a long-term safety effort.
The City of Carson was awarded a grant fund from the State of California to develop a Local Roadway Safety Plan (LRSP). The City adopted a Resolution and executed an Agreement with the State of California obligating a grant of up to $72,000 in LRSP State funds for the traffic safety analysis, and it requires a local city match of $8,000.00.
On July 05, 2022, the City of Carson awarded the LRSP to KOA Corporation for a not-to-exceed amount of $78,013.32. A project kick-off meeting was held between KOA and City Staff on November 3, 2022. After collision analysis was conducted, a stakeholder meeting was held on January 11, 2023, where individuals from California State University Dominguez Hills, Carson Bicycle Coalition, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, and South Bay Cities Council of Governments provided input on roadway safety problems within Carson.
The results of the LRSP’s collision analysis and stakeholder input are summarized with a prioritized list of countermeasures that address the City’s collision history and roadway environment. This LRSP was presented to the Public Works Commission and was approved at the May 8, 2023 meeting.
V. FISCAL IMPACT
None, as part of this staff report. Preparation of the plan was made possible through State funding in the amount of $72,000, along with a local city match of $8,000, which was included in the FY 22-23 budget. This LRSP may also be used to pursue HSIP and other grant funding for roadway safety projects.
VI. EXHIBITS
1. Resolution No. 23-065 - “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARSON, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING THE CITY OF CARSON LOCAL ROADWAY SAFETY PLAN” (pgs. 4-5)
2. Local Roadway Safety Plan (pgs. 6-119)
Prepared by: Gilbert Marquez, P.E., City Engineer & Ian Holst, P.E., Associate Civil Engineer