Moraga council endorses traffic-safety priorities, advances several funded projects

Public works staff gave the Town of Moraga a comprehensive traffic safety briefing Wednesday that set priorities for the town’s 2026–27 capital‑improvement budgeting and identified several projects already funded or actively seeking grants.

The presentation, led by Sean Knapp, public works director and town engineer, and staff member Nate, reviewed the town’s approach to “complete streets,” Vision Zero policy adoption, and grant‑driven funding for traffic safety. Knapp told the council the town has leveraged a Local Road Safety Plan (LRSP) to secure about $2 million in grants and positioned Moraga to compete successfully for Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) awards.

Knapp and Nate recommended near‑term moves that include: completing buffered bike lanes on Moraga Road; installing a HAWK (high‑visibility) pedestrian beacon at Moraga Road and Woodford Drive; completing Phase 2 of the Corliss Drive Safe Routes to School sidewalks; townwide sign replacements and curb‑ramp upgrades through HSIP funding; Camino Pablo pedestrian improvements near JM Middle School; and advancing the La Mirinda smart‑signal project led by the county transportation agency. The staff also recommended pursuing grants for the La Mirinda Regional Trail, a corridor concept that staff said could serve as a first‑responder evacuation corridor as well as an active‑transportation connection between Moraga and Orinda/BART.

Nate described the project selection method used by engineers: identify systemic safety patterns, choose proven countermeasures, and then scale treatments to similar locations rather than performing a separate study for every site. He said the town has phased and packaged projects so it is ready to apply quickly when grant windows open; he gave the recent HSIP cycle as an example of that approach.

Council members expressed broad support for the priorities. Vice Mayor Carrie Hillis said the La Mirinda trail and evacuation aspects merited continued pursuit; Council Member Terry called the set of projects “phenomenal” and said many would help children walk or bike safely to school. Knapp and Nate warned that some trail uses are intended primarily for first responders and that adapting a trail for resident contraflow evacuation would require additional design work and funding.

Staff identified funding sources and rough shares: Caltrans and state grants (including HSIP) as the largest single pool, CCTA and county grants, MTC/federal grants, Measure J, and local development fees/LFFAs. Knapp noted the Saint Mary’s Road intersection project already has a large state funding allocation (about $10.5 million) with a local contribution of roughly $536,000 anticipated in later years.

Council did not take a formal governing‑body roll‑call vote on individual projects but confirmed the staff priorities and directed staff to include the recommendations in the upcoming CIP and 2026–27 budget work. Several projects are already partially funded and in design; others will require grant applications or developer funding to move into construction.

Staff said next steps include completing preliminary engineering on funded items, packaging projects for future HSIP and other grant cycles, updating the LRSP where needed, and returning to council with project‑level budgets and timelines as design advances.

The presentation and council discussion emphasized grant reliance, the systemic‑countermeasure approach and a focus on safe routes to schools and pedestrian crossings that qualify for available programs.