Title
Staff Report for the Resolutions Approving Program Supplement Agreement No. 021-N to Administering Agency-State Master Agreement No. 04-5041R for the Safe Routes To School (SRTS) Program, San Leandro K-8th Schools Traffic Safety Education Program, State Project No. SRTSLNI-5041(040), City Project No. 150-38-338 and Approving Contractual Services Agreement with Safe Moves Relating to Conducting San Leandro K-8th Schools Traffic Safety Education Program, Project No. 150-38-338
Staffreport
SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends approval of a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute the Program Supplement Agreement that accepts $410,000 in state funding for the subject project.
Staff also recommends approval of a contractual services agreement with Safe Moves in the amount of $375,000 to conduct the San Leandro K-8th School Traffic Safety Education Program.
BACKGROUND
In July 2011, Staff applied for Cycle 3 of the Safe Routes to School (SR2S) program to conduct a school traffic safety education program at thirteen (13) K-8th schools in San Leandro and was awarded the $410,000 grant in October. A Program Supplemental Agreement is needed whenever Caltrans awards grant funds.
A multifaceted approach will be used to accomplish the goals of educating elementary and middle school students about pedestrian and bicycle safety as ways to commute to and from school safely. Workshops will be conducted for students in each grade level (K-8th) in ten (10) elementary and three (3) middle schools. Students will participate in demonstrations that include how bicycling and walking are effective modes of locomotion and promote travel under one's own power while decreasing air pollution, making the community safer and getting physically fit. The program will also address student's own perceptions and reactions to hazards created by vehicles. Students will perform in role playing exercises consisting of bicyclists, pedestrians, and drivers to simulate "real-life" traffic conditions and hazards. The interactive lesson plans are designed to accommodate the abilities and cognitive learning skills of each grade level and are relevant to the diverse school communities. Bicycles, traffic signs, traffic signals, and a miniature cityscape will be set up at the workshops to simulate a traffic environment to encourage greater learning. Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Rodeos will be conducted to allow students to learn about safety by walking and bicycling through a miniature city. The miniature city will consist of streets, sidewalks, intersections, crosswalks, traffic signals, traffic signs, residential areas, business districts, cars, trucks, buses, and a railroad track with signals, crossing gate, and train. The miniature city is designed to simulate the diverse traffic environments within San Leandro and to create "problem solving" experiences for each grade level. Under the supervision of staff, students will walk and/or ride a bicycle through the miniature city while trying to avoid over twenty (20) traffic hazards.
Analysis
Upon the City Council authorizing the City Manager to execute Program Supplement Agreement No. 021-N to the Master Agreement with Caltrans, Local Assistance staff will make the grant funds available to conduct the traffic safety education program. The grant provides for 100% of the $410,000 award amount and there are no matching funds required. The traffic safety education will be completed over the 2012-13 school year with additional community based educational opportunities extending through the summer of 2013. The grant funds will be used to hire a consultant, Safe Moves, to conduct the education program.
Safe Moves is a non-profit organization recognized as the leading authority in traffic safety education in the country. Safe Moves has not only been credited with saving thousands of children's lives through education, but also through legislation with new traffic safety laws. Safe Moves has been featured on "The Today Show", "Good Morning, America", "20/20", "Dateline", and "Oprah," as well as in the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, Newsweek, Time Magazine, and Sports Illustrated. Safe Moves is one of the few organizations in the country that has the capabilities to complete a project of this size.
Safe Moves conducted a similar and successful school education program in San Leandro in the early 2000s. Staff recommends hiring Safe Moves again to educate all K-8th students in San Leandro on traffic safety skills that can positively impact students for the rest of their lives.
Applicable General Plan Policy
· Policy 14.03-Funding: Aggressively pursue state and federal funding for bicycle and pedestrian improvements, while also including funding for bicycle and pedestrian improvements in the City's Capital Improvement Program
· Policy 14.07-Pedestrian Environment: Strive to achieve a more comfortable environment for pedestrians in all areas of San Leandro, with particular emphasis on the BART station areas, downtown, and major commercial thoroughfares such as East 14th Street
· Policy 18.01-Law Enforcement: Aggressively enforce traffic safety laws on San Leandro streets, including speed limits, red light violations, and pedestrian and bicycle lane right-of-way violations
· Action 18.02A-Accident Data Collection and Remediation: Collect and evaluate collision data on the top 25 accident locations in San Leandro. Develop measures to reduce the number of collisions at these locations
· Action 18.02B-Pedestrian Safety Improvements: Develop programs to improve pedestrian safety at both controlled and uncontrolled intersections throughout the City. Programs that use innovative technology, such as lighted crosswalks and warning countdowns, should be explored
· Policy 18.03-Public Education: Increase public education on laws relating to parking, circulation, speed limits, right-of-way, pedestrian crossings, and other aspects of transportation safety in the City
· Action 18.03A-Safe Routes to School Program: Continue the Safe Routes to School program and other bicycle, pedestrian, and non-motorized transportation safety programs for children and seniors
· Policy 18.05-Funding: Pursue grants for the improvement of pedestrian, bicycle, and motor vehicle safety
· Policy 18.06-Staff Education: Ensure that City staff is up-to-date and educated on the latest technology and/or methods of improving safety for all modes of transportation
Environmental Review
Categorical Exemption and Categorical Exclusion have been approved by Caltrans.
Fiscal Impact
The total amount approved by the state for the project is $410,000, and the project does not require a local match.
Budget Authority
The Finance Department established a grant fund account in the amount of $410,000, Account 150-38-338. The total cost of services included in this two-year contractual services agreement is not to exceed $375,000.
ATTACHMENTS
None.
PREPARED BY: Reh-Lin N. Chen, Senior Transportation Engineer, Engineering and Transportation Department