Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Grant Program - FY 2024

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has announced a new cycle of the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) discretionary program, which offers $5 billion in appropriated funds. In fiscal year 2024 (FY24), up to $1.26 billion is available. The SS4A program funds regional, local, and Tribal initiatives through grants to prevent roadway deaths and serious injuries.

Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Grant Program

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has announced a new Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) discretionary program, which offers $5 billion in appropriated funds over the next five years. In fiscal year 2022 (FY22), up to $1 billion is available. The SS4A program funds regional, local, and Tribal initiatives through grants to prevent roadway deaths and serious injuries.

Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Grant Program - Cycle 2

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has announced a new cycle of the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) discretionary program, which offers $5 billion in appropriated funds. In fiscal year 2023 (FY23), up to $1.17 billion is available. The SS4A program funds regional, local, and Tribal initiatives through grants to prevent roadway deaths and serious injuries.

Competitive Funding via Infrastructure Bill and ATP Cycle 6 Grant Application

Of the Senate’s $1.1 trillion infrastructure bill, California expects to receive at least $39.4 billion over the next five years to help rebuild its roads and bridges, and to improve public transportation. KOA would like to share some updates in regards to ATP Cycle 6 and discretionary grant funding opportunities via the Infrastructure Bill.

South Waterfront Pier J Bicycle and Pedestrian Path

Long Beach, one of the Top 50 bicycle-friendly cities in the United States, had an existing bikeway across the Queensway Bridge from Downtown Long Beach into Port of Long Beach (POLB) but had no bicycle or pedestrian linkages to points of interest within the Port. KOA is proud to be the design engineer for the first recently constructed bike and pedestrian path for the POLB. Click the button on the right to learn more about this 2021 APWA BEST Award-winning project.

2020 Sustainable Communities Program

The 2020/21 Sustainable Communities Program (SCP) will provide local jurisdictions with multiple opportunities to seek funding and resources to meet the needs of their communities, address recovery and resiliency strategies considering COVID-19, and support regional goals. We can help! Tap into our services for support. Our team is ready to jump in and make an impact in your community.  

Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) Cycle 10

KOA can assist local jurisdictions with their Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) Cycle 10! We identify projects and prepare grant applications, particularly to complete the HSIP Analyzer and Engineers Checklist. As a full transportation planning and engineering company, KOA has been working on many SSARP, LRSP and HSIP projects, and helped secure over $20 million in HSIP funding for cities in Southern California. KOA has strong in-house capability of analyzing collision data, identifying transportation safety issues, proposing safety improvements, and applying for various type of federal and state grants.

Active Transportation Program Cycle 5

KOA is well-versed with the procedures for preparing grant applications, including ATP applications. In the last seven years, KOA planners have prepared 22 grant applications for Southern California cities, including eight applications for ATP Cycles 2 and 3. For 2018’s ATP Cycle 4 grant applications, KOA assisted 20 grant applications within three months. The grants KOA wrote received more than $41 million in funding for local agencies.

COVID-19: Client, Stakeholder, or Public Meeting Recommendation

KOA is committed to ensuring the health and safety of all those we serve, including the public, our clients, and our staff. We have implemented guidelines for our public outreach and engagement efforts moving forward during these unprecedented times. We want to be mindful of the outreach process and have recognized two questions to consider: Can the project proceed with public/stakeholder engagement happening at a different time in the project schedule and/or with a different approach? Note: To avoid cancelling or delaying current project tasks, KOA will be utilizing alternative strategies in our approach while still continuing to provide quality work to our clients and the communities we are serving

  • If conducting outreach activities at a later date (2-3 months from now) is a viable and preferable option, then the task should be postponed until further notice
  • If a project has to proceed with outreach due to scheduling constraints, then proceed to next question
How will a modified online engagement approach impact public participation and project input? KOA understands and acknowledges that public participation in project outreach efforts may look very different with online engagement-only strategies. Older community members, households or residents with unreliable internet service, and non-English speaking participants are among the groups that may have a difficult time participating. However, given the limitations, it may be advisable to proceed using online engagement tools, but also plan to conduct additional, in-person outreach to underrepresented groups at a later date.

Stimulating the Infrastructure Sector Post COVID-19

The Federal Reserve has utilized all of its monetary tools in fighting the COVID-19 crisis. A new recession is underway. When monetary policy isn’t enough, a country must turn towards fiscal policy. Currently, reviving the lagging US infrastructure sector may be the best approach - infrastructure creates economic growth. According to an ASCE report, California’s roadway system ranks as the second poorest state in the nation with approximately 44% of roadways in poor condition. Transportation systems are the backbone of economic engine and growth, and to accelerate the improvement of our transportation system in California immediately post COVID-19 lockdown will not only enhance our economic flow but will also pump out more than three times of economic benefit from investments. • The US infrastructure is 30 years behind its need, a data-driven approach to infrastructure projects could help it catch up • The COVID-19 crisis could lead to a recession in US. Infrastructure projects creating economic growth with over 300% return for every dollar invested • Revolutionized technologies and innovation could help make the industry more resourceful and cost-efficient

Neighborhood Traffic Management Program (NTMP)

KOA can improve or create your very own Neighborhood Traffic Management Program (NTMP) in your city! Enhance and protect the quality of living in your neighborhood by making it safer for pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists. If you would like more information on how KOA can help, check out the services we offer!

Local Roadway Safety Plan

The Caltrans Local Roadway Safety Plan (LRSP) helps local road owners address unique highway safety needs in their jurisdictions by creating a framework to systematically identify and analyze safety problems and recommend safety improvements. The LRSP offers a proactive approach to addressing safety needs and results in a prioritized list of improvements and actions that can demonstrate a defined need and contribute to the statewide Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP).

2019 Sustainable Communities Grant

The Caltrans Sustainable Communities Grant funds local and regional multimodal transportation and land use planning projects that further the goals and objectives of the region’s Regional Transportation Plan (RTP)/ Sustainable Communities Strategies (SCS).

Implementing SB 743 for Local Jurisdictions

Governor Brown signed Senate Bill (SB) 743 in September 2013. It requires changes on how public agencies should evaluate the transportation impacts of projects under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). In December 2018, the California Natural Resources Agency finalized updates to the CEQA Guidelines that incorporated the mandate from SB 743. The Guidelines identify Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) as the most appropriate metric to assess a project’s transportation impact, as opposed to using Level-of-Service (LOS). With SB 743, automobile delay no longer constitutes a significant environment effect under CEQA.

Active Transportation Program Cycle 4

The Active Transportation Program (ATP) comprises formulaic and competitive funding for statewide transportation projects that encourage the use of active transportation modes such as walking and biking. The program was created by Senate Bill 99 in 2013, and subsequently expanded by Senate Bill 1 in April 2017. In May 2018, the California Transportation Commission will release the call-for-projects for the fourth cycle of the Active Transportation Program (ATP Cycle 4).

Urban Greening Grant Program Fact Sheet

The Urban Greening Grant Program, administered by the California Natural Resources Agency, supports projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provide community benefits, including bicycle paths, bicycle lanes, or pedestrian facilities that will reduce Vehicle Miles Traveled. Projects should both reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance the local community, such as through creating or improving a community park or trail.