Safety case & program alignment
⚠ Critical First Step: Action Plan adoption required before May 26
SS4A Implementation Grants require an adopted Comprehensive Safety Action Plan (CSAP) — the federal equivalent of an LRSP — as a prerequisite. Confirm whether Union City has adopted a qualifying plan. If not, the USDOT pre-application review window (by ~April 24, 2026) may help clarify eligibility. An emergency adoption timeline is feasible if Council action occurs before the deadline.
+45% KSI rate surge post-COVID — a documented and sustained worsening trend
KSI rate: 6.4% Pre-COVID → 9.3% Post-COVID (+45%). Total post-COVID KSI: 43 in just 5 years. 2023 was the worst year on record: 13 KSI, 4 fatalities in a single year. Pedestrian KSI rate at 19.5% Post-COVID — nearly 1 in 5 ped crashes ends in death or severe injury. Alcohol-involved KSI rate: 17.8% vs. 6.4% non-alcohol.
+45%
KSI rate
post-COVID surge
34
HIN intersection
nodes ranked
Project breakdown by category (2021–2025 crash data basis)
| Category | Projects | Est. Cost | Focus |
|---|
| HIN Intersections |
12 |
$4.8M |
Whipple/Huntwood, UC Blvd/Smith, Alvarado Niles — ranked by 2021–25 KSI |
| Corridor Programs |
2–5 |
$2.0–7.5M |
Alvarado Niles Rd, Whipple Rd, Dyer St — raised median, LPI, lighting |
| Citywide Programs |
2 |
$3.7M |
City-wide LPI+APS rollout; LED intersection lighting at 25 dark locations |
| Technology |
1 |
$0.85M |
DERQ/C-V2X pilot on Whipple Rd (Plan C); adaptive signal control |
Plan C — Hybrid ★ Recommended: best overall merit score
Top 3 HIN intersections (INT-01/02/03) + Alvarado Niles and Dyer St corridor segments + citywide LPI+APS + LED lighting + DERQ/C-V2X tech pilot on Whipple Rd. Est. federal ask: ~$7.5–8.5M. Balances spot KSI evidence with corridor breadth and demonstration activity, maximizing all five SS4A merit criteria.
Priority SS4A projects — 2021–2025 crash data
Tier 1 — Fatal & high-KSI intersections (2021–2025)
| Location | KSI | Fatal | Countermeasures |
|---|
Whipple Rd & Huntwood Ave INT #1 3 KSI · 1 fatal · 14.9% KSI rate |
3 | 1 |
Protected LT, LPI 7-sec, Bulb-outs, HV Crosswalk, APS, LED Lighting |
Union City Blvd & Smith St INT #2 2 KSI · 1 fatal · 13.2% KSI rate |
2 | 1 |
LPI, Protected LT, HV Crosswalk, APS, LED Lighting |
Alvarado Niles Rd & Central Ave INT #3 2 KSI · 0 fatal · bike-ped priority |
2 | 0 |
LPI, HV Crosswalk, APS, Bike Detection, LED Lighting |
Dyer St & Whipple Rd INT #6 6 KSI post-COVID (Dyer corridor) · 16.2% |
2 | 0 |
LPI, All-red extension, HV Crosswalk, APS, Lighting |
Top HIN corridors & proposed treatments
| Corridor | Post KSI | Trend | Countermeasures |
|---|
Whipple Rd COR #1 47 crashes · 14 KSI · 3 fatal |
7 |
STABLE |
Protected LT at key nodes, Class IV bike lanes, Street lighting, Ped crossings, Speed calming |
Alvarado Niles Rd COR #2 72 crashes · 13 KSI · 3 fatal |
5 |
IMPROVING |
Ped countdown signals, HV crosswalks, Buffered bike lanes, RRFB beacons, Raised medians |
Dyer St COR #3 37 crashes · 11 KSI · 1 fatal |
6 |
STABLE |
Bike lane completion, LED lighting, Ped crossings, Speed enforcement coordination |
Decoto Rd COR #4 57 crashes · 7 KSI ↑ worsening |
5 |
WORSENING |
Class IV bike lanes, RRFB at crossings, Ped refuge islands, LED lighting |
Union City Blvd COR #5 38 crashes · 10 KSI · 3 fatal |
5 |
STABLE |
Median improvements, LPI at signals, Ped refuge islands, LED lighting, Speed calming |
Citywide programs
| Program | Type | Crash basis (2021–2025) |
|---|
| LPI + APS Rollout (~20 HIN intersections) |
SYS |
162 signal-violation crashes (3rd-largest PCF); 19.5% ped KSI rate; LPI CMF=0.71 |
| LED Intersection Lighting (25 locations) |
DARK |
289 dark-condition crashes; 38% of KSI in low-light; lighting CMF=0.72 |
| Speed Feedback Sign Program (15+ signs) |
SPEED |
Speed = #1 PCF: 250 crashes, 14 KSI on Whipple; CMF=0.74 |
| DUI Enforcement + Safe Routes (3-yr program) |
BEH |
118 alcohol crashes (17.8% KSI rate); Fri/Sat night concentration on HIN corridors |
What we bring & recommended ask
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+45% KSI rate surge — most urgent safety case in Alameda County. Post-COVID severity rate of 9.3% vs. 6.4% pre-COVID, with 2023 reaching 15.5% — the worst year on record. This trend line is the central piece of the safety need narrative for SS4A evaluators.
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FHWA Safe System HIN analysis complete — 34 intersections ranked. Weighted scoring across all Union City HIN locations using FHWA formula (KSI×30, Injury×20, Ped×20, Bike×20, Intersection×10). Score components and coordinates ready for the project list and safety narrative.
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1,073 crashes fully analyzed, 2015–2025 (excl. 2020). Pre/Post-COVID KSI trends, 12 fatalities documented, pedestrian/bicycle/alcohol crash patterns quantified with corridor-level breakdowns. This is the evidence base for the application narrative.
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HIN-to-countermeasure mapping complete. Every HIN location matched to FHWA CMF-eligible countermeasures across three application plans (A/B/C). Project identification is done — remaining work: plan adoption, formal narrative, project workbook, budget documentation.
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19.5% ped KSI rate + 156 ped crashes = compelling equity narrative. Nearly 1 in 5 pedestrian crashes results in death or severe injury. Decoto Rd and Dyer St ped concentration, combined with dark-condition exposure (31% ped crashes in dark), supports a strong Safe Road Users pillar and equity documentation.
Analysis basis: FHWA Safe System HIN methodology · SWITRS/TIMS 2015–2025 (excl. 2020) · SS4A FY2026 & HSIP Cycle 13 programs · Deadlines: May 26, 2026 (SS4A) and ~Fall 2026 (HSIP C13)
SS4A FY2026 — Plan C ★ Recommended Hybrid Application
Hybrid: Top 3 HIN Intersections + 2 Corridors + Citywide LPI/LED + Tech Pilot
$7.5M – $8.5M federal · 80% federal / 20% local
INT-01/02/03 spot treatments (3 fatality locations) + Alvarado Niles & Dyer St corridor segments + City-wide LPI+APS+backplates + LED lighting at 20 dark-crash locations + DERQ/C-V2X pilot on Whipple Rd. Demonstration Activity: DERQ/C-V2X at all 3 fatal intersections qualifies as innovative technology deployment. Addresses all 5 Safe System pillars.
SS4A FY2026 — Plan A Alternative (Spot/Citywide)
12 HIN Intersections + Citywide LPI/LED + Behavioral Program
~$8.5M federal · 80% federal / 20% local
Full intersection portfolio — stronger per-project KSI evidence but less corridor breadth. Recommended only if Action Plan adoption timeline favors a narrower scope with faster delivery timelines on all projects.
SS4A NOFO FY2026
⚡ Due May 26, 2026
+45% KSI Surge
SWITRS 2015–2025
34 HIN Intersections
Action Plan: Confirm Status
Why this application portfolio can win
Proven track record — 5 projects, $3.59M funded, 100% success rate
Union City won UC10-04-001 in C10 ($774,900 BCR) — Protected LT at Whipple/Huntwood and LPI at Alvarado Niles/Central — and 4 projects in C12 ($2.81M): UC12-04-001 BCR ($537K), UC12-04-002 BCR ($1.58M), UC12-04-003 SA-Bike ($346K), UC12-04-004 SA-Ped ($350K). Returning applicants with proven delivery history score well. C13 should scale up from the C12 foundation.
Collision profile maps directly to C13's highest-scoring categories
Signal violations: 162 crashes → BCR+VRU: LPI+APS citywide
Dark crashes: 289 (38% KSI) → BCR: Intersection LED lighting
Speed #1 PCF: 250 crashes → BCR: Speed management + feedback signs
Ped: 156 crashes (19.5% KSI rate) → VRU Special Rule bonus + SA-Ped
Bike: 112 crashes (14% of KSI) → SA-Bike set-aside (C12 precedent)
HSIP award history & statewide comparables
Union City C12
$2.81M
4 projects: BCR×2, SA-Bike, SA-Ped. Direct scale-up template for C13.
Long Beach C12
$9.7M
Speed + sign upgrade — comparable scope; Union City speed data supports similar BCR.
Glendale C12
$8.25M
Signal+LPI+APS citywide — direct model for Union City BCR+VRU application.
C10 BCR at Whipple/Huntwood creates C13 scale-up narrative
UC10-04-001 funded Protected LT + LPI at Whipple/Huntwood — the city's #1 KSI intersection (3 post-COVID KSI, 1 fatal). C13 should scale this treatment to all 12 Whipple Rd HIN nodes using post-COVID evidence. C12 UC12-04-002 ($1.58M) proved signal hardware upgrade capability — C13 expands citywide. Reviewers reward applicants who demonstrate project delivery then propose programmatic scale-up.
Recommended C13 portfolio (2021–2025 crash data)
| Application | Countermeasures | Category | Est. range |
|---|
Signal Modernization + VRU #1 162 signal (KSI↑) + 156 ped (19.5% KSI) |
LPI+APS at 20+ HIN intersections; Retroreflective backplates; Countdown signal heads. Builds on UC12-04-001 + UC12-04-002. |
BCR VRU+ |
$5–9M |
Intersection Lighting #2 289 dark crashes, 38% of KSI in dark, 5 fatal KSI |
LED at 25+ HIN intersections; Corridor lighting on Whipple Rd, Dyer St, Alvarado Niles Rd; Edge delineators on Decoto Rd unlighted segments. |
BCR |
$2.5–5.5M |
Raised Median + Access Mgmt #3 Whipple: 14 KSI · Alvarado Niles: 13 KSI |
Raised median channelization on Whipple Rd & Alvarado Niles Rd; restrict LT conflicts at top 5 KSI nodes; Ped refuge islands at median breaks. |
BCR |
$3.5–8M |
SA-PedCrossing ×2 156 ped (19.5% KSI rate); 31% in dark |
RRFBs at Decoto Rd unsignalized crossings; Curb extensions + bulb-outs on Dyer St; Ped refuge islands on Alvarado Niles Rd. Builds on UC12-04-004. |
SA-Ped |
2 × $400K |
SA-Bike Safety ×2 112 bike crashes; Alvarado Niles 27 bike |
Class IV bike lanes on Dyer St (industrial segment); Bike-friendly signal timing on Alvarado Niles Rd; Bike detection at 10 signalized intersections. Builds on UC12-04-003. |
SA-Bike |
2 × $375K |
Speed Management #6 250 speed crashes (#1 PCF); 14 KSI Whipple |
Dynamic speed feedback signs at 15+ locations; Raised crosswalks / speed tables at Whipple Rd ped conflict zones; Speed limit review. |
BCR |
$0.8–2.5M |
C13 Winning Portfolio Formula
App 1 — BCR+VRU: Signal+LPI+APS citywide
$5–9M
App 2 — BCR: Intersection LED Lighting
$2.5–5.5M
App 3 — BCR: Raised Median (Whipple + Alvarado)
$3.5–8M
Apps 4–5 — SA-Ped ×2 (Decoto + Dyer)
2 × $400K
Apps 6–7 — SA-Bike ×2 (Dyer + Alvarado Niles)
2 × $375K
Total C13 target: $11.1M–$33.1M · 0% local match · VRU Special Rule qualifies (ped+bike = 268 crashes, 53+ KSI across 10 years)
What we bring to this application
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5 funded projects prove Union City delivery — 100% win rate. C10 BCR ($774,900) and 4 C12 projects across BCR×2, SA-Bike, SA-Ped ($2.81M total). Reviewers prioritize agencies with demonstrated project completion. Union City's track record is the C13 application's strongest differentiator.
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FHWA Safe System HIN analysis complete. Weighted scoring across all 34 Union City HIN nodes. Score components and coordinate data ready for BCR narrative and application workbook. Post-COVID (2021–2025) crash pools quantified for all HSIP project categories.
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Post-COVID crash pools fully quantified for BCR calculation. 289 dark (38% KSI), 250 speed (#1 PCF), 162 signal violations, 156 ped (19.5% KSI rate), 112 bike (14% KSI rate), 118 alcohol (17.8% KSI rate). All data validated against TIMS. Ready for BCR and application forms.
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C12 projects create direct C13 scale-up narrative. UC12-04-001 (signal BCR $537K) + UC12-04-002 (signal hardware $1.58M) scale to city-wide LPI+APS across all 20 HIN corridors. UC12-04-003 (SA-Bike $346K) expands to Alvarado Niles Rd. UC12-04-004 (SA-Ped $350K) replicates at Decoto Rd and Dyer St.
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Set-aside applications are low-risk, high-return — submit both corridors. SA-PedCrossing ($350–400K) and SA-Bike ($350–400K) have lower reviewer scrutiny and high historical win rates (73 SA-Ped, 30 SA-Bike funded in C12). Union City already has one of each. Submit two of each targeting different corridors to maximize funding.
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Rising countermeasures align with Union City priorities. LPI grew 0→33 projects (C8→C12), RRFB/Beacons +46, Bike Lanes/Buffered +17, Bulb-outs +16, HAWK +7. Avoid standalone Protected Left Turn (declining: 36→17) and Ped Countdown (saturated: 26→13). Bundle declining treatments within larger BCR applications only.
SWITRS/TIMS 2021–2025
Caltrans District 4
5 prior HSIP wins
82 KSI · 12 fatals
BCR · SA-Ped · SA-Bike · VRU
+45% KSI surge