REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
May 19, 2026
FROM
NOEL CASTILLO, Director, Department of Public Works - Transportation
SUBJECT
Title
Grant Application to the United States Department of Transportation for the Safe Streets and Roads for All Call-For-Projects to Construct Pedestrian Safety Improvements and Infrastructure
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Approve and authorize the submission of a grant application to the United States Department of Transportation, under the Safe Streets and Roads for All discretionary grant program’s call-for-projects, in the amount of $3,395,520, to fund pedestrian infrastructure improvements in the Fontana area.
2. Authorize the Director of the Department of Public Works to electronically sign and submit the grant application, subject to review by County Counsel.
3. Direct the Director of the Department of Public Works to transmit the executed grant application to the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors within 30 days of submission.
(Presenter: Noel Castillo, Director, 387-7906)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Operate in a Fiscally Responsible and Business-Like Manner.
Foster Sustainable Development Through Strategic Partnerships.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of additional Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). This item requests approval to submit a grant application to the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) to request federal Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) funds for safety improvements. If selected for a grant award, the County must provide a 20% local match, which will be funded from the Public Works Local Match Reserve (PWLMF) allocated to the Department of Public Works (Department) in the 2025-26 adopted budget. The total project costs, funding request, and required local match are outlined in the table below.
|
Project |
Total Cost Estimate |
SS4A Grant Award |
Non-Federal Match and Source |
|
Road widening and other safety related improvements on Arrow Route, from Hickory Avenue to Almeria Avenue, in the Fontana area. |
$4,244,400 |
$3,395,520 |
$848,880 PWLMF |
Sufficient appropriation and revenue have been included in the Department’s 2025-26 Road Ops budget(6650002000). Should grant funds be awarded, the Department will return to the Board of Supervisors (Board) for award acceptance and any necessary budget adjustments.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The SS4A program is a discretionary grant program, established by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and administered by the - DOT, with $5 billion in appropriated funds over five years. For 2026, the bill authorizes and appropriates $1 billion to be awarded by the US DOT. Funding from this program is provided to encourage and support planning, infrastructure, behavioral, and operational initiatives to prevent death and serious injury on roads and streets involving all roadway users.
The SS4A program provides funding for two types of grants: 1) Action Plan Grants - for the initial development of a comprehensive safety action plan, and 2) Implementation Grants - for the development, completion or supplementing of an existing safety action plan. Implementation Grants are intended to implement safety strategies that are consistent with an agency’s existing Action Plan. Approval of this item will authorize the electronic submission of one Implementation Grant application.
In 2021, the County received a $180,000 grant, funded by the California Transportation Commission, to develop the County’s Local Roads Safety Plan (LRSP), which identified and analyzed several locations in need of safety improvements and provided recommended improvements to address enhanced safety opportunities. The proposed project provides the eligibility and basis for SS4A grant funding under the Implementation Grant criteria for implementation of the County’s existing LRSP. The grant application is a request to fund the recommended safety improvements identified in the approved LRSP for the proposed County sites and will support the grant program initiatives to prevent collisions on roads and streets involving all roadway users. Proposed safety improvements include a three-lane cross-section to accommodate a two-way left-turn lane and the installation of edge lines and pavement markers on Arrow Route, from Hickory Avenue to Almeria Avenue, in the Fontana area.
On March 27, 2026, the US DOT announced the SS4A call-for-projects. Because the SS4A is a competitive grant program, submission of an application is not a guarantee of funding. The terms included in the grant application require a local match. Therefore, pursuant to County Policy 05-13, Board approval of the grant application submission is required. The application is due May 26, 2026, and will be submitted electronically by the Director of the Department of Public Works upon Board approval.
This action meets the County’s and Chief Executive Officer’s goals and objectives of operating in a fiscally responsible and business-like manner by seeking grant funding for projects. Additionally, should grant funds be awarded, the action helps ensure the County will operate in a fiscally responsible and business-like manner and foster sustainable development through strategic partnerships.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Aaron Gest, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on April 15, 2026; and County Finance and Administration (Matthew Dalton, Administrative Analyst, 387-5005) on May 2, 2026.