Subject:
Title
Federal Emergency Management Agency Region IV Hazard Mitigation Grant Program application with the Florida Division of Emergency Management for replacement of span wire supported traffic signals with mast arm traffic signals.
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Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approval of submission of a Federal Emergency Management Agency Region IV (FEMA) Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) application with the Florida Division of Emergency Management (Division) for replacement of span wire supported traffic signals with mast arm traffic signals.
Grant amount is $3,906,317; local County match is $2,093,683 (35%); grant application submission deadline is August 6, 2018.
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Strategic Plan:
Ensure Public Health, Safety and Welfare
2.1 Provide planning, coordination, prevention and protective services to ensure a safe and secure community.
Foster Continual Economic Growth and Vitality
4.4 Invest in infrastructure to meet current and future needs.
4.5 Provide safe and effective transportation systems to support the efficient flow of motorists, commerce and regional connectivity.
Summary:
The purpose of this FEMA grant application is to provide funding for hardening of traffic signal infrastructure in order to reduce risk from future hazards. Sixteen (16) existing span wire supported traffic signals will be replaced with mast arm traffic signals on hurricane evacuation routes. The mast arms will provide a stronger infrastructure that is less likely to go out of service from future storm events, thereby reducing risk to public safety. New mast arms will also help ensure that hurricane evacuation routes remain open post-storm to emergency personnel, as well as reduce future maintenance and repair cost.
Following Board approval, the Public Works Department Transportation Division (PWTD) will electronically submit the application for FEMA HMGP funding in the amount of $3,906,317. The County is providing a local match of $2,093,683. The total cost of the project is approximately $6 million.
Background Information:
During Hurricane Irma in September 2017, numerous span wire traffic signals fell or became damaged from storm-force winds. The fall of span wire resulted in traffic signals becoming inoperable, blocking access on the roadway and creating dangerous situations. As a result of the Presidential Disaster Declaration for Hurricane Irma, FEMA allocated $354,066,081 in HMGP funding to the State of Florida. The Division administering those funds on FEMA’s behalf divided the state’s allocation to all counties in Florida, proportional to the damage each incurred by the storm. The entire County, including Pinellas County Government, received $12,536,000 of the total allocated to the state.
Per state statute, the HMGP funds must be distributed through the County’s Local Mitigation Strategy (LMS) Working Group, which is comprised of representatives from the County, participating municipalities, other governmental agencies and non-profit partners. The LMS is a plan that identifies the natural and manmade hazards a community is most prone to, and establishes actions that can be implemented over the long term. The actions are intended to reduce risk and future loss resulting from those hazards. The LMS Working Group established an intent to apply process to distribute the $12,536,000 of HMGP funds by ranking projects based on the ability to mitigate the impact of future disasters. The process also incorporated population-based considerations to ensure equitable distribution of total funds available.
Through this process, the County was allocated $3,906,317 of the $12,536,000. The intent to apply process required submittal of a project scoring sheet. The PWTD’s mast arm project scored the highest among all Pinellas County Government projects that submitted an intent to apply through the LMS Working Group.
Fiscal Impact:
There is no fiscal impact to the County for submission of this grant application. Should funding be approved, the County must provide a local match of 25%. Due to the total cost of the project, the County is providing a 35% local match or $2,093,683, and the Division will provide the federal share of 65% or $3,906,317, for a total project cost of $6 million. The local match is budgeted in the Capital Improvement Program and is funded by the Local Infrastructure Sales Tax (Penny for Pinellas): FY19 - FY22 Intersection Improvement Projects program allocation.
Staff Member Responsible:
Rahim Harji, Assistant County Administrator
Partners:
FEMA Region IV
Pinellas County LMS Working Group
Attachments:
HMGP Application
Mast Arm List
Mast Arm Map
Endorsement Letter
Notice of Funding Availability
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