Agenda Item 8BAGENDA ITEM # 8B
FEBRUARY 14, 2011
STAFF REPORT
City of Atlantic Beach
Commission Meeting
AGENDA ITEM: Request Authority to Apply for Florida Department of
Transportation (FDOT) Grant Funding
Purpose: Bicycle/Pedestrian Safety
DATE: February 03, 2011
SUBMITTED BY: David E. Thompson C. City Manager
BACKGROUND: The Florida Department of Transportation will be accepting Concept
Papers discussing proposed Traffic Safety Programs during the month of March, 2011.
The Concept Papers propose projects for potential grant funding opportunities intended to
provide seed money to start new programs that should become self sufficient and
continue after the grant funding terminates. Specifically, the FDOT has identified
priority areas for such funding requests.
After discussing the traffic safety needs of the community with the Chief of Police,
bicycle and pedestrian safety were identified as key areas of concern. This corresponds
with the FDOT priority area "Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety." As a result, staff would
like to submit a Concept Paper for a project to be considered for FDOT grant funding for
a bicycle safety program.
The proposal will include several areas for funding including but not limited to:
a. Personnel: Funding salary and benefits for one (1) full time police officer for one (1)
year to administer the program;
b. Equipment: Providing markings, lighting, and other mechanisms to increase visibility
and safety in high risk areas including busy pedestrian crossings;
c. Education: Providing posters, handouts, lectures, bicycle rodeos, and street level
information to encourage safe and lawful operation of bicycles by children and adults
operating bicycles; and to educate the drivers of motor vehicles relative to their
obligations relative to bicyclists and pedestrians.
d. Enforcement: Once education has been provided, then it will be necessary to enforce
the applicable laws relative to bicycle and pedestrian safety. This will include street level
enforcement on bicycles as well as in vehicles.
e. Traffic Engineering: As a part of the evaluation process to determine where and what
improvements are needed, a traffic engineer will be utilized to provide the assessment
and guidance. The City of Jacksonville has a traffic engineer on staff that will assist on
this project.
AGENDA ITEM # 8B
FEBRUARY 14, 2011
Once the program has been initiated and implemented, then maintaining the enhanced
safety and compliance with applicable laws should require fewer resources than the start-
up program requires.
BUDGET: The City will be requesting approximately $97,016. FDOT does not require
matching funding for the one -year commitment.
Although the application is for a single year, the City may choose to seek funding next
year to continue the program. In such a case, the City would be required to submit an
application next year for consideration. If the current year program is funded, and the
City applies to extend the grant for additional years, then the city will have a 25% match
the second year and a 50% match the third year for the personnel costs.
RECOMMENDATIONS: To authorize staff to submit a Concept Paper and a
subsequent application to FDOT for one year of grant funding, and to authorize the
Mayor to sign initial and subsequent documents for this grant.
ATTACHMENTS: None
REVIEWED BY CITY MANAGE
AGE A ITEM NUMBER: