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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTrans 2011-05-16 Item 2B - Discussion - Target Zero GRant Opportunity from WA State Traffic Safety Commission City of Tukwila Jim Haggerton, Mayor INFORMATiONAL MEMORANDUM TO: Mayor Haggerton Transportation Committee FROM: Public Works Director DATE: May 13, 2011 SUBJECT: Target Zero Grant Opportunity Washington State Traffic Safety Commission ISSUE Discuss the Target Zero grant program. BACKGROUND The Washington Traffic Safety Commission (WSTC) released the Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Target Zero grant program in March 2011. Grant applications were due by May 13, 2011. DISCUSSION The RFP suggests that a competitive grant application will include substantial data to prove that the grant proposal addresses the top two priorities of the Target Zero plan. Further, the WSTC states that only proposals that reduce accidents involving impaired driving, speeding, young drivers, unrestrained drivers /passengers and distracted drivers have a high probability of receiving funding. Further, the typical grant award will range from $1,000 to $50,000, with grants larger than $50,000 only going to regional projects. Matching funds are not required; however projects with a local match receive special consideration. None of our programmed projects in the 2011 -2016 Capital Improvement Program appear to meet the Target Zero criteria; therefore, the decision was made to not submit a grant application. RECOMMENDATION For information only. Attachment: Target Zero RFP (pp. 1 -3) W:1PW EngIOTHEROob GibersonVCommittee_Councilflnto Memo Target Zero Grant Opportunity -doc 5 a STATE OF WASHINGTON Traffic Safety C O M M I S S I O N WASHINGTON TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION (WTSC) PO Box 40944, 621 8 Avenue SE, Suite 409, Olympia, WA 98504 -0944 360.753.6197, FAX 360.586.6489 httr): /www.wtsc.wa. qov kstevens(@,wtsc.wa.gov slind(@mtsc.wa.gov (RFP Coordinator) REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) The Washington State Strategic Highway Safety Plan: Target Zero seeks to reduce traffic deaths and serious injuries to zero by the year 2030. The Washington Traffic Safety Commission is committed to the Target Zero plan and provides annual grants to qualified applicants for projects that address the priorities and strategies in Target Zero that move our state towards that goal. The Washington Traffic Safety Commission announces that the annual grant process is open and we are now accepting request for proposals for projects to reduce traffic fatalities and serious injuries. The application period is open from March 22 to May 13, 2011. All proposals must be received by 5:00 pm May 13, 2011. If your proposal receives an award, the funding period will be from October 1, 2011 to September 30, 2012. This Request for Proposal package contains the following parts: 1. Frequently asked questions about WTSC grants 2. Instructions for completing the Grant Request Form /Project Agreement 3. A description of how the proposals are evaluated 4. A list of required terms conditions 5. The Grant Request Form/ Project Agreement March 2011 WTSC Grant Application 1 6 1 Frequently Asked Questions What is Target Zero? Washington is building traffic safety partnerships throughout the state to align priorities and leverage our resources to improve traffic safety. Target Zero is the Washington State Strategic Highway Safety Plan that was built through those partnerships. It sets forth a vision to reduce fatalities and serious injuries to zero by the year 2030. It provides a comprehensive framework of specific goals, priorities, objectives, and strategies. The Washington Traffic Safety Commission commits agency resources and funding to implement the Target Zero plan. Therefore, successful request for proposals will align their projects with the Target Zero plan. The plan is available at http: /tarcietzero.com What are Target Zero Priority Areas? Please refer to the Target Zero plan (http: /targetzero.com to learn about Target Zero Priority Areas. The four priority levels are determined based on the percentage statewide of traffic fatalities and serious injuries associated with each factor. Currently, priority one has three areas impairment, speeding and run- off -the- road collisions. Priority two includes young drivers, unrestrained vehicle occupants, distracted drivers, intersection related collisions, and traffic data systems. Priorities three and four contain areas associated with fewer fatality crashes. In addition to the statewide priority areas listed in Target Zero, a local county /municipality may have data that shows a shift in the percentages of traffic fatalities in that county for one or morefocus areas.Projects that involve higher priority areas (either using statewide or county level data) will receive special consideration for funding. What is data driven problem identification? In order to align your proposed project with the Target Zero goal of eliminating fatality and serious injuries, you will need to use data to clearly identify the problem that your proposed project seeks to solve. National, state and local data can be used to develop your data driven problem identification. Data used must be quantifiable and verifiable. The Washington Traffic Safety Commission web site contains a wealth of crash data. WTSC Crash Data: httr)://www.wtsc.wa.aov/statistics-rer)orts/crash-data/ What are evidence -based strategies? Research and evaluation studies have identified certain interventions that are proven strategies for improving traffic safety. The Target Zero plan includes dozens of strategies for reducing traffic fatalities and serious injuries. These strategies were developed using national -level research, existing pilot programs, and input from many stakeholders. Most of the strategies listed in Target Zero have been proven effective through professional evaluation. Some of the strategies are recognized best practices and some of the strategies have been tried, but lack a formal evaluation proving the link between the strategy and actual reductions in traffic deaths. Grant requests that employ strategies listed in Target Zero or one of the other publications listed below will receive extra consideration for funding. However, if you can demonstrate that your proposal is based on a model that has been rigorously evaluated as a proven strategy, even though it is not in one of the following publications, your grant may still receive extra consideration. If you are proposing an innovative demonstration project for which no research exists that supports its effectiveness, then your project must contain a strong evaluation plan to assess the effectiveness of the project at its conclusion. March 2011 WTSC Grant Application 2 7 Examples of proven strategies can be found by selecting the following hyperlinks: Washington State Strategic Highway Safety Plan: Target Zerohttp: /tar.qetzero.com/ Countermeasures that Work, a joint publication by NHTSA and the Governor's Highway Safety Association (GHSA) httD: /www.nhtsa. dot. aov /r)eor)le /iniury /airbags /Countermeasures /index.htm American Association of Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO), Strategic Highway Safety Plan httr):// safety .transoortation.ora /au ides. asox Who is eligible to receive WTSC grants? Washington state agencies Federally recognized tribal governments Cities, counties and their sub agencies Non profit organizations with existing IRS 501©(3) status Public schools (and private schools with non- profit status) What are the minimum qualifications grantees must demonstrate? Eligible agencies or organizations must be able to: Deliver services promptly; Manage public funds efficiently and ethically; Collaborate with other community, governmental and private organizations; Develop data driven problem solving plans; and, Adequately evaluate the success of a project. How are funds distributed? WTSC distributes funds on a "cost reimbursement" basis only. WTSC will not make payments in advance or in anticipation of goods or services. How much funding can I request? Typical project grants range in amount from $5,000 to $150,000.Applicants requesting funding in excess of $50,000 should target regional or statewide issues. Can I request funding under $1,000? No. Applicants should use a mini -grant request for funding under $1,000. Mini- grants are available throughout the year by contacting the appropriate WTSC Program Manager. Mini- grants are for one -time projects and may not be used as an on -going funding source. DO NOT request mini- grants through this grant process. For more information about mini grants, please refer to the WTSC website at httr): /www.wtsc.wa.00v/ What are Matching Funds? Matching funds are the hard or soft dollars that the applicant agency or organization will devote to the proposed project outside of those funds being requested from WTSC. Projects that document matching funds will receive special consideration. Agencies /organizations who document match funds in their proposals will be required to report on the use of these funds as part of their requests for reimbursement and /or in their quarterly project reports. What types of costs are allowable under this grant? All costs under this grant must follow the Federal Office of Management guidelines and 2 CFR Part 225, Cost Principles for State, Local and Indian Tribal Governments. These can be found at httD://www.whitehouse.ciov/OMB/circulars/aO87/aO87.html March 2011 WTSC Grant Application 3 8