Meeting_Body
PLANNING AND PROGRAMMING COMMITTEE
OCTOBER 23, 2024
Subject
SUBJECT: STREET SAFETY, DATA SHARING AND COLLABORATION PROGRAM
Action
ACTION: APPROVE RECOMMENDATION
Heading
RECOMMENDATION
Title
AUTHORIZE the Chief Executive Officer to award a two-year firm, fixed price Contract No. PS120787000, to Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. for the Street Safety, Data Sharing, and Collaboration Action Plan in the amount of $1,108,043, subject to resolution of properly submitted protest(s), if any.
Issue
ISSUE
Staff is seeking the Board’s approval of a contract award to implement Metro’s Street Safety, Data Sharing, and Collaboration Action Plan and support street safety efforts. This work will include the development of two annual progress reports, technical support, interagency coordination, and data compilation and analysis.
Background
BACKGROUND
In January 2021, the Board approved Motion 55 Metro Street Safety Policy by Directors Garcetti, Solis, Mitchell, and Bonin in support of helping to address the critical public health crisis of unsafe streets. (Attachment A) The motion instructed staff to report back on the development of a Street Safety Policy; a countywide street safety data collection program developed in partnership with local, regional, state, and federal partners; and an assessment of internal risk and liability to the safety of all Metro-provided public transportation services.
In June 2022, the Board adopted the Street Safety, Data Sharing, and Collaboration Policy, which includes four interrelated goals: 1. Improve Safety 2. Robust Data Sharing & Analysis 3. Equity Lens, and 4. Improve Collaboration. The Policy underscores that local jurisdictions and state agencies have the frontline responsibility for street safety. The Policy further emphasizes the safety needs of transit riders, especially those from vulnerable populations, in accessing Metro’s transit stations and bus stops. The Policy features an action plan that emphasizes steps to improve safety for transit riders. It further supports local efforts by developing and sharing unique and valuable data sources available to Metro as a Countywide transit and transportation planner. The proposed Action Plan contained in the policy includes draft objectives and action items for seven of Metro’s roles as an agency: Operator, Planner and Builder, Funder, Data Collaborator, Legislative Advocate, Educator, and Innovator. Furthermore, the policy requires annual reports on progress in implementing the action plan and achieving the goals of the policy.
In February 2023, Metro was awarded a Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) federal grant in the amount of $6,320,257, in partnership with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health and the Gateway Cities Council of Governments. This contract will advance a segment of Metro’s portion of the grant to develop a comprehensive Safety Action
Plan and provide annual progress reports on the development, adoption, and innovative approaches to pilot the policy countywide.
Discussion
DISCUSSION
In LA County, fatalities from vehicle collisions increased by nearly 20% between 2020 and 2021. People walking are involved in 8% of all collisions but account for 44% of those killed in collisions. Since a majority riders access Metro’s transit stations and bus stops by walking, biking, or rolling, Metro is situated in a unique position to support local agencies as they implement strategies to improve street safety. Through the Street Safety, Data Sharing, and Collaboration Policy and SS4A grant, Metro will be able to identify a set of activities that is appropriate to Metro’s role as a transportation agency and that supports local jurisdictions who have a frontline responsibility for street safety. The contract award will support a portion of these activities, including:
• Development of annual progress reports
• Development of a federally recognized safety action plan
• Creation of effective data collaboration arrangements
• Support for technical work associated with Metro’s seven functional roles in the policy
• Development of a data sharing platform (optional)
Other actions directed by the Policy will be undertaken by Metro staff. The support provided under this contract will be critical in addressing the public health crisis of unsafe streets. It will help Metro ensure accountability, identify opportunities, and comply with the Board-adopted policy and will also provide support to jurisdictions as they develop safety action plans and implement and measure mitigation measures.
Determination_Of_Safety_Impact
DETERMINATION OF SAFETY IMPACT
Approval of this contract award will help improve safety outcomes for road users, especially those in vulnerable groups such as pedestrians, people using bicycles and other rolling modes, and transit riders.
Financial_Impact
FINANCIAL IMPACT
In FY25, $500,000 is budgeted in Cost Center 4340, Project # 473002 “Street Safety Program”, Account 50316 for Professional services. Since this is a multi-year contract, the Project Manager and Chief Planning Officer will be responsible for budgeting in future years.
Impact to Budget
Funding for this project is provided by Measure M 2% Active Transportation and the SS4A grant.
Equity_Platform
EQUITY PLATFORM
Implementation of the Street Safety, Data Sharing, and Collaboration Policy can help reduce disproportionate harm experienced by vulnerable road users caused by unsafe streets. The annual progress reports will include an equity-focused assessment that will identify and recommend corrective actions where needed. The contractor will use Metro’s Equity Focus Communities (EFC) maps and other equity tools to analyze data and provide targeted recommendations. Local jurisdictions and agencies have primary responsibility for advancing street safety efforts, and Metro has identified unique, targeted inputs to support those local efforts. The safety action plan deliverable will help partner agencies, especially lower-resourced cities, be able to develop plans of their own. Additionally, the data collaboration task will identify gaps in data and consolidate, compile, and analyze data that can be used for street safety efforts countywide. The technical support provided for Metro’s seven roles in the policy will also be completed through an equity lens and will be implemented by the corresponding Metro group leading the work.
The Diversity and Economic Opportunity Department (DEOD) established a 24% Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) goal for this solicitation. Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc., exceeded the goal by making a 32.86% DBE commitment.
Implementation_of_Strategic_Plan_Goals
IMPLEMENTATION OF STRATEGIC PLAN GOALS
Awarding this contract will advance the following goals of Vision 2028:
1. Provide high-quality mobility options that enable people to spend less time traveling by reducing roadway collisions and injuries.
2. Deliver outstanding trip experiences for all users of the transportation system by improving trip safety and comfort.
3. Enhance communities and lives through mobility and access to opportunity by improving access to safe, complete streets through an equity lens.
4. Transform LA County through regional collaboration and national leadership by facilitating external street safety data collaboration and partnerships
5. Provide responsive, accountable, and trustworthy governance within the Metro organization by fostering internal street safety data collaboration.
Alternatives_Considered
ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED
The Board could choose not to approve this contract award. This is not recommended, as the support from this contract award will execute Metro Board-directed policy. Additionally, delaying the work that the contractor will deliver would stall critical street safety activities that provide safe pathways to transit, especially for vulnerable communities.
Next_Steps
NEXT STEPS
Upon Board approval, staff will execute Contract No. PS120787000 with Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. to implement Metro’s Street Safety, Data Sharing, and Collaboration Policy and Action Plan and support street safety efforts. These activities will continue to advance Board direction.
Attachments
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A - Motion 55 Metro Street Safety Policy
Attachment B - Procurement Summary
Attachment C - DEOD Summary
Prepared_by
Prepared by: Neha Chawla, Senior Manager, Transportation Planning, (213) 922-3984
Jacob Lieb, Senior Director, Countywide Planning & Development, (213) 547-4272
Avital Barnea, Senior Executive Officer, Multimodal Integrated Planning, (213) 547-4317
Allison Yoh, Interim Deputy Chief Planning Officer, Countywide Planning & Development, (213) 922-4812
Carolina Coppolo, Interim Deputy Chief Vendor/Contract Management Officer, (213) 922-4471
Raymond Lopez, Deputy Executive Officer, Corporate Safety, (213) 922-4065
Reviewed_By
Reviewed by: Ray Sosa, Chief Planning Officer, Countywide Planning & Development, (213) 547-4274
