City of Walnut Creek — SS4A & HSIP Cycle 13 Grant Strategy Brief

Safety case & program alignment

+72.0% KSI rate post-COVID — Walnut Creek's severity crisis requires urgent intervention

Walnut Creek’s KSI rate shifted from 4.47% (2015–19) to 7.69% (2021–25) — a +72.0% increase. Volume fell but each crash is significantly more likely to kill or severely injure — a severity crisis, not a volume crisis. 70 post-COVID KSI across 77 HIN corridors demand immediate targeted investment.

CCTSAP 2024 countywide action plan — Walnut Creek-specific appendix available for adoption

CCTA adopted the Countywide Comprehensive Transportation Safety Action Plan (CCTSAP 2024) — a USDOT-eligible action plan covering all Contra Costa cities including Walnut Creek. The CCTSAP includes a city-specific appendix for Walnut Creek. Upon local adoption resolution and completion of the USDOT Self-Certification Worksheet, Walnut Creek can apply for a FY2026 SS4A Implementation Grant targeting $5–12M federal.

Fatalities
city streets

HIN corridors
identified

CCTSAP 2024

Countywide
action plan

Project breakdown by category (2021–2025 crash data)

Category	Projects	Cost Est.	Focus locations
HIN Intersections	4	$2.2M	YGNACIO VALLEY RD & OAK G, YGNACIO VALLEY RD & WALNU — ranked by 2021–25 KSI
Corridor Programs	3	$6.7M	YGNACIO VALLEY RD, TREAT BL, N MAIN ST — LPI + lighting + raised median
Citywide Programs	4	$1.9M	LPI+APS rollout, LED intersection lighting, speed feedback DUI enforcement

⚡ Two-step path: Adopt CCTSAP appendix + complete Self-Certification Worksheet

Step 1: City Council adopts Walnut Creek-specific CCTSAP appendix (available from CCTA). Step 2: Complete USDOT Self-Certification Worksheet confirming CCTSAP satisfies all required action plan components. If confirmed → submit FY2026 Implementation Grant by May 26, 2026. Contact CCTA for the Walnut Creek appendix and eligibility guidance. Recommend pre-application USDOT review (due April 24, 2026).

Priority SS4A projects — 2021–2025 crash data

Tier 1 — Fatal & high-KSI corridors (2021–2025)

Location	KSI	Fatal	Countermeasures
YGNACIO VALLEY RD COR #1 477 crashes · 27 KSI · 7 fatal · 📈 Worsening: era B 17 KSI	27	7	HAWK beacon, Raised median, LPI+APS all signals, LED lighting, HV crosswalks, Ped countdown signals
TREAT BL COR #2 111 crashes · 9 KSI · 2 fatal · 📈 Worsening: era B 6 KSI	9	2	HAWK beacon, Protected LT, LPI+APS, LED lighting, Ped refuge islands, RRFBs, Speed calming
N MAIN ST COR #3 198 crashes · 6 KSI · 1 fatal · 📈 Worsening: era B 4 KSI	6	1	HAWK beacon, Class IV bike lanes, RRFB crossings, Ped refuge islands, LED lighting, LPI at signals
NORTH CALIFORNIA BL COR #4 52 crashes · 4 KSI · 1 fatal · 📈 Worsening: era B 3 KSI	4	1	HAWK beacon, LPI, Bulb-outs, HV crosswalk, APS, Signal upgrade, Speed feedback signs
YGNACIO VALLEY RD & OAK GROVE RD INT #1 23 crashes · 3 KSI · 1 fatal	3	1	Protected LT, LPI, LED intersection lighting, HV crosswalk, APS
YGNACIO VALLEY RD & WALNUT BL INT #2 12 crashes · 2 KSI · 0 fatal	2	0	LPI, Bulb-outs, HV crosswalk, APS, Signal upgrade, Ped countdown

Citywide programs

Program	Type	Justification (2021–2025)
LPI + APS Rollout (~22 HIN intersections)	SYS	1232 signal/ROW crashes (70 post-COVID KSI); LPI CMF=0.13–0.30 ped fatality reduction
LED Intersection Lighting (462 dark crashes, 51 KSI)	LIGHT	Dark KSI rate 9.4%→12.7%; 28.4% of ped KSI in dark; CMF=0.72 for dark crashes
Speed Feedback Signs + Road Diet Eval	SPEED	Unsafe Speed = #1 PCF with 485 crashes; KSI rate 3.0%→3.8%; 25 radar signs on HIN corridors
DUI Enforcement + Safe Routes Outreach	BEH	159 alcohol crashes (30 KSI, 18.9% rate); 3.9× multiplier; Fri–Sun 9PM+ highest risk window

What we bring & recommended ask

CCTSAP 2024 provides the action plan foundation — Walnut Creek-specific appendix available. CCTA's adopted countywide CCTSAP covers all CC cities. Walnut Creek should adopt the city-specific appendix by Council resolution and complete the USDOT Self-Certification Worksheet to confirm implementation grant eligibility by May 26, 2026.
+72.0% KSI rate shift — compelling post-COVID safety narrative. Walnut Creek’s severity shift (4.47%→7.69%) over equal 5-year windows demonstrates the precise data-backed deterioration SS4A reviewers prioritize. SWITRS analysis is complete across all 2,029 city-street collisions (2015–2025).
FHWA Safe System HIN analysis complete. FHWA-weighted Safe System scoring across all 77 HIN corridors and 162 intersections. YGNACIO VALLEY RD (27 KSI) and TREAT BL (9 KSI) are the top-tier anchors for the application narrative and project location workbook.
2,029 crashes analyzed with full multivariate breakdown. Pre/post-COVID KSI trends, 22 fatalities documented, ped/bike/alcohol/dark-condition patterns quantified. 243 ped (42 KSI), 462 dark (51 KSI), 159 alcohol (30 KSI) pools are pre-validated for grant narratives.
HIN-to-countermeasure mapping complete — project identification is done. Every HIN corridor matched to FHWA-eligible countermeasures with cost ranges. Remaining work: formal application narrative, project workbook, and self-certification documentation.

Analysis basis: SWITRS/TIMS 2015–2025 (excl. 2020) · FHWA Safe System HIN methodology · SS4A NOFO FY2026 · CCTSAP 2024 (CCTA) · Deadline: May 26, 2026

SS4A FY2026 — Recommended Implementation Grant

Multi-Corridor HIN Implementation Package

$5.4M – $16.3M federal · 80% federal / 20% local

4 HIN intersections + 3 corridor programs + 4 citywide programs. Balanced portfolio: infrastructure (LPI, LED lighting, raised median, RRFB), speed management, and behavioral programs. YGNACIO VALLEY RD + TREAT BL anchor projects with 36 combined KSI provide the core safety case.

CCTSAP 2024 Countywide City adoption recommended ⚡ Due May 26, 2026 SWITRS 2015–2025 +72% KSI rate

Why this application portfolio can win

C12 track record: 3 projects, $2.46M funded — proven delivery

Walnut Creek won 3 HSIP projects in C12 ($2.46M) — H12-04-062, H12-04-063.... Returning applicants with delivery history score higher. Each prior award provides a direct C13 scale-up template.

Collision profile maps precisely to highest-scoring C13 categories

Dark crashes: 462 (51 KSI) → BCR Lighting (avg C12 grant $1.84M)
Speed #1 PCF: 485 crashes — KSI rate 3.0%→3.8% → BCR Speed calming
Ped: 243 (42 KSI, 17.3% rate) → VRU Special Rule bonus
Bike: 183 (14 KSI) → SA-Bike set-aside
Signal/Broadside: 1232 crashes → BCR Signal+LPI

HSIP award history & statewide comparables

Walnut Creek C12

$2.46M

3 prior projects — direct C13 scale-up templates.

Long Beach C12

$9.7M

Retroreflective sign upgrade — comparable BCR scope for speed management application.

Glendale C12

$8.25M

Signal+LPI+APS citywide — model for BCR+VRU hybrid application.

Recommended C13 portfolio (2021–2025 crash data)

Application	Countermeasures	Category	Est. range
Signal Modernization + VRU #1 608 broadside + 243 ped (42 KSI)	LPI+APS at 22 HIN intersections, Retroreflective backplates, Protected LT, Countdown signals. Builds on H12-04-062.	BCR VRU+	$3–7M
Intersection LED Lighting #2 462 dark crashes (51 KSI); dark rate 9.4%→12.7%	LED at 28 HIN intersections; corridor lighting on top 3 HIN corridors; retroreflective backplates	BCR	$1.5–4.5M
Raised Median — YGNACIO VALLEY RD #3 YGNACIO VALLEY RD: 27 KSI + TREAT BL: 9 KSI	Raised median channelization; restrict LT conflicts; ped refuge islands; Protected-permissive LT phasing	BCR	$4–9M
SA-PedCrossing × 2 243 ped (42 KSI); 28.4% dark KSI rate	RRFBs at unsignalized crossings on YGNACIO VALLEY + TREAT BL; curb extensions; ped refuge.	SA-Ped	2 × $400K
SA-Bike Safety × 2 183 bike crashes (14 KSI); top HIN corridors	Class IV separated bike lanes on YGNACIO VALLEY ; bike detection at signals; green conflict zone markings. Builds on H12-04-064.	SA-Bike	2 × $360K
Speed + Retroreflective Signs 485 speed crashes (#1 PCF); KSI rate 3.0%→3.8%	Dynamic speed feedback signs (25+); raised crosswalks; retroreflective sign upgrade citywide; automated enforcement study	BCR	$2–6M

C13 Winning Portfolio Formula

App 1 — BCR+VRU: Signal+LPI+APS+Backplates$3–7M

App 2 — BCR: Intersection LED Lighting$1.5–4.5M

App 3 — BCR: Raised Median (YGNACIO VALLEY RD)$4–9M

Apps 4–5 — SA-PedCrossing × 2 (different corridors)2 × $400K

Apps 6–7 — SA-Bike Safety × 2 (different corridors)2 × $360K

App 8 — BCR: Speed Mgmt + Retroreflective Signs$1.5–4M

Total C13 target: $5M – $18M · 0% local match · VRU Special Rule qualifies (426 VRU crashes, 56 KSI)

Walnut Creek HSIP application history

Project ID	Category	Award	Description
H12-04-062	BCR	$1.58M	Signal modernization+LPI+APS: Ygnacio Valley Rd
H12-04-063	BCR	$537K	LT phase conversion + mast arm upgrades
H12-04-064	SA-Bike	$346K	Class IV bike lane: N Main St

What we bring to this application

3 prior HSIP projects prove Walnut Creek delivery. H12-04-062 (BCR, $1.58M), H12-04-063 (BCR, $537K), H12-04-064 (SA-Bike, $346K). Each provides a direct template for C13 scale-up. Returning applicants with completion history are scored higher.
+72.0% KSI rate change — powerful post-COVID safety narrative. Walnut Creek's severity shift (4.47%→7.69%) demonstrates the precise safety deterioration HSIP C13 prioritizes. SWITRS 2021–2025 data is fully analyzed: 462 dark (51 KSI), 485 speed (16 KSI), 243 ped (42 KSI), 183 bike (14 KSI).
Post-COVID (2021–2025) crash pools pre-validated for BCR calculation. All HSIP project recommendations based on 5-year post-COVID data only. Crash pools are quantified by countermeasure category — each application has a pre-validated data foundation for BCR submission.
SA-Ped and SA-Bike set-asides are low-risk, high-return. Both SA-Ped and SA-Bike have 80%+ win rates in C12. 73 SA-Ped and 30 SA-Bike projects funded C12 statewide. Submit 2 applications per category on different corridors (YGNACIO VALLEY RD + TREAT BL).
C13 portfolio extends every prior HSIP investment in Walnut Creek. Signal/LPI from H12-04-062 scales to citywide LPI+APS at 22 HIN intersections. Each C13 application directly extends proven C12 work.

SWITRS/TIMS 2021–2025 3 prior HSIP wins (C12) 120 KSI · 22 fatals BCR · SA-Ped · SA-Bike · VRU