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To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to
execute a Grant Agreement Under the Fiscal Year 2024 Safe Streets and Roads for All Grant
Program between the City of Richmond and the United States Department of Transportation
for the purpose of funding the implementation of Vision Zero safety program activities.
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THE CITY OF RICHMOND HEREBY ORDAINS:
§ 1. That the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, is hereby authorized to execute a Grant Agreement Under the Fiscal Year 2024 Safe Streets and Roads for All Grant Program between the City of Richmond and the United States Department of Transportation for the purpose of funding the implementation of Vision Zero safety program activities. Such agreement shall be approved as to form by the City Attorney and shall be substantially in the form of the document attached to this ordinance.
§ 2. This ordinance shall be in force and effect upon adoption.
DATE: October 27, 2025
TO: The Honorable Members of City Council
THROUGH: The Honorable Dr. Danny Avula, Mayor
THROUGH: Odie Donald II, Chief Administrative Officer
THROUGH: Alfred Wiggins; Deputy Chief Administrative Officer- Operations
THROUGH: Bobby Vincent; Director of Public Works
FROM: M.S. Khara, P.E.; City Engineer
RE: TO AUTHORIZE THE CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER OR
DESIGNEE TO EXECUTE A STANDARD CITY / UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (USDOT) AGREEMENT FOR THE FEDERAL ‘SAFE STREETS AND ROADS FOR ALL’ (SS4A) GRANT PROGRAM TO FUND SUPPLEMENTAL PLANNING ACTIVITIES FOR VISION ZERO.
ORD. OR RES. No.
PURPOSE: To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer or designee, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to execute a standard City/ United States Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) agreement for the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Grant Program.
BACKGROUND: This agreement follows Resolution 2022-R-041 which expressed City Council’s support for the City’s participation in the FHWA SS4A Grant Program to provide funding for the implementation of Vision Zero traffic safety program activities to achieve the goal of zero deaths and serious injuries on the streets of the city of Richmond.
The U.S. Department of Transportation published a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for estimated total of $1,256,687,000 for FY24 grants funding under the SS4A program. Of the funding made available, up to $580 million is available to implement projects and strategies. The remainder $656,687,000 must be awarded for developing Action Plans; conducting supplemental planning to update existing Action Plans; or carrying out demonstration activities to inform the development of, or updates to, Action Plans. The SS4A discretionary grants can be used to implement projects and strategies found within the Safe and Healthy Street Commission’s adopted Vision Zero Action Plan.
The City submitted a comprehensive grant application by the deadline of August 29, 2024. A partial award of the supplemental activities grant was selected and approved by the USDOT on November 15, 2024.
The total award of the supplemental activities is $1,250,000. The grant program requires the City to provide 20% ($250,000) matching fund as the USDOT will provide 80% ($1,000,000) fund for the project. The City’s matching fund is proposed to be appropriated using City CVTA Local Special Fund for FY26 ($125,000 adopted) through FY27 ($125,000 proposed) budget years.
The proposed supplemental actions met the required criteria of SS4A Grants. The criteria include (1) safety impact, (2) equity, engagement, and collaboration (3) effective practices and strategies, (4) climate change and sustainability, and economic competitiveness, (5) project readiness, and (6) funds to underserved communities.
Traffic-related deaths and serious injuries on city streets are not limited to one location. These severe crashes occur across the city with greater frequency on the arterial streets that carry more people who walk, bike, roll, ride transit, and drive. These streets are wider and often have multiple travel lanes. Richmond’s High Injury Network (HIN) will continue to be the focus. The HIN comprises 9 percent of the roadway network and account for 76 percent of the severe crashes that result in a permanent detour from a person’s original destination to the morgue or hospital with life ending or life altering injuries. A safe systems approach coupled with a complete streets process will enable the City of Richmond to deliver a comprehensive approach that serves all users, regardless of age or ability through a proposed package of projects and supplemental activities to reduce the likelihood of a severe crash to zero.
The Virginia Department of Health uses a Health Opportunity Index (HOI) as a composite measure of the social, economic, educational, demographic, and environmental factors that relates to a community’s well-being. A “health in transportation” approach is required to address traffic-related deaths and serious injuries in an equitable manner. The HOI includes indicators of neighborhood walkability and access to transportation for those that are low income, disabled, or elderly. These factors are relevant to Vision Zero, Safe Systems, and Complete Streets. Areas in the City that scored a “very low” HOI have almost three times as many traffic related deaths and serious injuries compared to the other four quintiles of HOI combined in the City of Richmond. Further investment in these communities of concern with a package of projects with supplemental activities will improve the overall health outcomes of residents in the areas with
the greatest needs. Our stakeholders continue to determine which factors have the greatest influence in these communities.
Streets classified as arterials in the City of Richmond are the location of the overwhelming number of traffic-related deaths and serious injuries, including pedestrians because of a greater number of users and higher vehicle operating speeds. 81 percent of all traffic related deaths and serious injuries occur at intersections with 51 percent of pedestrian crashes occurring at intersections. Pedestrian related deaths and serious injuries are disproportionately high when compared to other localities in Virginia and across the country. Where pedestrian activity is higher and there is more exposure, the number of crashes increases.
By providing the funding for these following supplemental activities, this will enable the City of Richmond with its partners to provide a critical transportation safety improvement on the HIN resulting in lives saved and life changing injuries prevented. The supplemental activities are Post-Crash Care Action Plan Development, Pedestrian Safety Master Plan with Virginia PBSAP Focus, Road Safety Assessments, Speed Management Outreach, and Health in Transportation - Substance Use and Mental Health Screening and Assessment.
If future funding for implementation is not obtained, traffic related deaths and serious injuries will continue to occur on city streets and the city’s residents and visitors will not see the benefits of our Vision Zero goals realized. Transportation safety can have huge negative impacts on health, well-being, and personal finances. This funding will allow the City to address severe traffic-related crashes on heavily used city streets for multimodal transportation users of all ages and abilities.
The intent of this ordinance is to enter a City/USDOT standard agreement to continue the commitment made by City Council and the Mayor to authorize the City to participate in the 2022 SS4A Grant program and to commit 20% matching funds as federal funding was awarded for the supplemental planning activities.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: Safe and Healthy Streets Commission adopted a resolution of support at its April 16, 2025 meeting. A formal public hearing of this paper will also be conducted through City Council Land Use, Housing and Transportation Standing Committee. The Department of Public Works recommends approval.
STRATEGIC INITIATIVES AND OTHER GOVERNMENTAL: Grant supports the Richmond 300 Master Plan; Vision Zero Action Plan. The City Planning Commission (CPC) will review for approval this Ordinance request. No other governmental entity needs to review.
FISCAL IMPACT: Revenue of $1,000,000 (80%) Federal Funds. $250,000 in matching 20% City funds in the City CVTA Local Special Funds thru FY26 ($125,000 adopted) and FY27 ($125,000 proposed).
DESIRED EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon Adoption.
REQUESTED INTRODUCTION DATE: December 8, 2025.
CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING DATE: January , 2026.
REQUESTED AGENDA: Consent Agenda.
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL COMMITTEE: City Council Land Use, Housing and Transportation Standing Committee.
AFFECTED AGENCIES: Department of Public Works; City Attorney’s Office; Planning and Development Review; Finance Department; Budget and Strategic Planning; Copies also sent to: City Mayor (Dr. Danny Avula); Chief Administrative Officer (Odie Donald II); Deputy Chief Administrative Officer- Operations (Alfred Wiggins), and City Attorney (2).
RELATIONSHIP TO EXISTING ORD. OR RES.: Resolution 2022-R041 adopted by City Council on June 27, 2022, which expresses the City Council’s support for the City’s participation.
ATTACHMENTS:
• City/USDOT Standard Project Agreement.
• Safe and Healthy Streets Resolution of Support
STAFF: Prepared for: Mr. Bobby Vincent, Jr., Director, DPW 646-6444
Reviewed by: M. S. Khara, P.E., City Engineer, DPW 646-5413
Coordinated by: Michael Sawyer, P.E., City Transportation Engineer 646-3435