Title
FDOT Highway Safety Grant Application (NB)
This is a request for the City Commission to authorize staff to submit a grant application to the Florida Department of Transportation to a Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Action Plan.
Explanation
The City of Gainesville ranks at the top 25% of its category (cities with population of 100,000 or greater) in the number of crashes that involved cyclists (# 2) and pedestrians (# 7) in Florida. During the 5-year period between 2005 and 2009, a total of 866 crashes involving cyclists and pedestrians were recorded. Over 62% of the recorded crashes resulted in fatalities and injuries: 11 crashes resulted in fatalities, and 527 crashes resulted in injuries. While Statewide trends indicate a decline in the similar types of crashes, the number of occurrences in Gainesville remain fairly constant from year to year. When compared to the Highway Safety Matrix - Ranking of Florida Cities published in 2009 the City moved up on the ranking from #4 to #2 in the occurrence of bicycle crashes. The development and implementation of a Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Action Plan advances the goals of the FDOT Strategic Highway Safety Plan in the protection of vulnerable roadway users by allowing the City to: (1) implement a plan that identifies effective safety countermeasures for pedestrians and cyclists in the areas of engineering, education and enforcement; (2) make strategic safety investments, focusing resources where opportunities for safety improvement are greatest for pedestrians and cyclists; and (3) establish mobility strategies that enhance pedestrian and cyclist safety. It is expected that the grant will fund the plan development, targeted education campaign and pedestrian safety enforcement. The total estimated cost of the project is estimated at $75,000; the grant request is for $50,000 with a $25,000 local match that includes in-kind services.
Fiscal Note
There are no fiscal impacts for FY11. Matching funds wou...
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