The Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) is a federal and state funding source administered by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) through the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) as part of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act. HSIP aims to achieve significant reductions in traffic fatalities on public roads through data-driven and strategic approaches to improve the safety of public roads. In Cycle 12 of the HSIP, 288 projects for a total of $299.6 million dollars were awarded. A summary of the County of Tulare’s application projects and awards are as follows:
Four locations have been identified for the Corridor Safety Improvement Project. Improvements to these locations will include installing/upgrading signs and installing rumble strips. The project will cover the following locations:
Additionally, the installation of a left-turn lane at the intersection of Avenue 256 and Road 156 and flashing beacons at the stop-controlled intersections of Avenue 256 with Road 124 and Road 188, are being considered.
The overall project cost is estimated at $4,535.000. The Corridor Safety Improvement Project was awarded $4,081,500 in HSIP Federal funds.
This project addressed the intersection of Avenue 184 and Orange Belt Drive which has experienced a higher-than-average number of collisions. Staff believe that the intersection of left-turn lanes will minimize the collisions severity and frequency. The overall project cost is $1,387,700.
The Avenue 184 and Orange Belt Drive Intersection improvement Project was awarded $1,248,930 in HSIP federal funds.
This project will be upgrading existing, damaged, outdated, and destroyed guardrails to the most recent standards though the Guardrail Upgrades Set-Aside. Locations for this project include:
The overall project cost is estimated at $1,109,400. The Guardrail Improvements Project was awarded $998,460 in federal funds.
This project will utilize the Pedestrian Crossing Enhancements Set-Aside component to improve the crossing at three (3) locations. The project will consist of the following three (3) locations:
Improvements include the installation of high visibility crosswalks, Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFB), advanced flashing beacons, and pavement markings. The overall project cost is estimated at $388,500. The Pedestrian Crossing Enhancement Project was awarded $349,650 in HSIP state funds.
The Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) has awarded the County of Tulare a significant amount of funding for safety projects across the County. With over $6.6 million in HSIP federal and state funds, these projects will enhance road safety and address high-risk areas throughout the county. These projects will not only enhance the County’s infrastructure but also demonstrate the County’s commitment to protecting its residents by ensuring safer travel on public roads.