TO: Mayor and City Council
THROUGH: Krishna Namburi, Interim City Manager
FROM: Brian D. Martin, PE, Public Works Director
SUBJECT:
title
Safe Streets and Roads for All grant application for pedestrian crossing improvement projects.
Ward(s): 1 and 6
Councilor(s): Tigan and Ward 6 Councilor
Neighborhood(s): East Lancaster Neighborhood Association, Northeast Neighbors, North East Salem Community Association, North Lancaster Neighborhood Association
Result Area(s): Safe, Reliable and Efficient Infrastructure
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SUMMARY:
summary
The United States Department of Transportation (US DOT) is offering grant funding through the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) program. Improving crossing facilities for pedestrians and conducting High Visibility Enforcement at pedestrian crossing locations align with the objectives of the SS4A program. The SS4A program requires a 20 percent match based on the total cost of the project. This match could be provided through funds allocated to Safer Pedestrian Crossings as part of the 2022 Safety and Livability General Obligation Bond.
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ISSUE:
Shall City Council authorize the Interim City Manager to apply for federal funding up to $10 million through the SS4A program, using up to $2.5 million of Safety and Livability Bond funds as match, to construct a series of pedestrian crossing improvement projects and provide funds to implement High Visibility Enforcement at pedestrian crossing locations; and further authorize the Interim City Manager to enter into an agreement with the US DOT to accept the funds?
RECOMMENDATION:
recommendation
Authorize the Interim City Manager to apply for federal funding up to $10 million through the SS4A program, using up to $2.5 million of Safety and Livability funds as match, to construct a series of pedestrian crossing improvement projects and provide funds to implement High Visibility Enforcement at pedestrian crossing locations; and further authorize the Interim City Manager to enter into an agreement with the US DOT to accept the funds.
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FACTS AND FINDINGS:
The US DOT SS4A Program <https://www.transportation.gov/grants/SS4A> is a nationwide $5 billion discretionary grant funded at $1 billion per year over five years. This is the fourth year of the five-year cycle. Details of the funding solicitation are included in Attachment 1. The purpose of the SS4A Program is to prevent deaths and serious injuries on the nation’s roadways. The grant is focused on comprehensive safety action planning and implementing projects and strategies identified in existing plans. Salem is limited to submitting one application this round. Applications for implementation grants are due June 26, 2025.
The recommended grant application will support construction of 12 enhanced pedestrian crossings and allot funds to implement High Visibility Enforcement at pedestrian crossing locations. These elements are identified as high priority strategies in the Salem-Keizer Metropolitan Transportation Safety Action Plan (2024) <https://www.mwvcog.org/media/5941>.
Enhanced crossings are recommended at the locations shown on Attachment 2 and listed below. The enhanced pedestrian crossings will incorporate safety features such as median islands, curb extensions, and flashing beacons. In addition to the enhanced pedestrian crossings, High Visibility Enforcement combines enforcement, visibility elements, and a publicity strategy to educate the public and promote voluntary compliance with the law.
The crossing locations were determined with input from the community through the Safer Pedestrian Crossings Program. Locations were prioritized based on roadway type, crash history, proximity to critical areas such as schools, parks, and transit, and demographic characteristics. The project list was further refined to a focused geographic area based on feedback provided by US DOT following an unsuccessful SS4A application in 2024. The resulting locations are loosely centered around the Market Street NE corridor.
Recommended Pedestrian Crossing Improvements for SS4A 2025 Grant Application:
• D St NE at 14th St NE (North Salem High School)
• 17th St NE at B St NE
• 17th St NE at Madison St NE
• Market St NE at 25th St NE
• Market St NE at Childs Ave NE
• D St NE at Evergreen Ave NE
• Hawthorne Ave NE between Market St NE and Center St NE
• Lancaster Dr NE at Cypress St NE
• Lancaster Dr NE between Wolverine St NE and Sunnyview Rd NE
• Hollywood Dr NE between Snowberry St NE and Roselawn Dr NE (McKay High School)
• Market St NE at Clay St NE
• Sunnyview Rd NE at Greentree Dr NE
The SS4A requires matching funds of 20 percent of the total project cost. The Bond Oversight Steering Committee, at its meeting on May 22, 2025, recommended that a portion of the funds allocated to pedestrian crossing improvements as part of the 2022 Safety and Livability General Obligation Bond Measure be used to meet the match requirement. The request for federal funds is expected to be less than $10 million, with the matching funds being up to $2.5 million depending on the total project costs. As of the writing of this report, cost estimates are still being finalized.
Staff is aware of the possibility that the US DOT may propose extraneous provisions in the grant agreement related to executive orders issued by the new federal administration. If the City is awarded grant funding and any such provisions are included in the grant agreement, staff will return to Council for additional guidance before entering into the agreement.
BACKGROUND:
The City applied for and was awarded $2.8 million in federal funds through the SS4A program in 2023. These funds are being used to develop a Vision Zero Plan and to implement a 20-is-Plenty program on residential streets throughout the City. Implementation is currently in progress. The City also applied for federal funds through SS4A in 2024 to construct a series of enhanced pedestrian crossings. Funding was not awarded in 2024.
Robert D. Chandler, PhD, PE
Assistant Public Works Director
Attachments:
1. Attachment 1 - FY25 SS4A Notice of Funding Opportunity
2. Attachment 2 - Federal Safe Streets for All (SS4A) Grant Application Map