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Gilroy council approves Safe Streets and Roads for All plan funding; members split over traffic impacts
Summary
After questions about traffic calming and mandated implementation, the council approved participation in the federal Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) program by a 5-2 vote. Staff said the grant would fund planning and priority-setting, not automatic street narrowing.
The Gilroy City Council voted 5-2 on Feb. 3 to accept the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant application and related plan work intended to identify and prioritize projects to improve pedestrian and bicycle safety.
Council Member Ramirez led public concerns before the item was considered, warning that the plan could be a step toward lane reductions and increased congestion tied to regional land-use plans. Ramirez urged the council to take the matter “offline” for deeper review. Several council members then questioned staff about how SS4A differs from existing Safe Routes to School work.
City Engineer Daniel Padilla explained SS4A’s purpose: it funds an evaluation and a safety plan that prioritizes projects and supports future grant applications. Padilla said the plan would rely on traffic data, police reports and incident records — not subjective criticism — and would generate a list larger than the city can fund so staff would later recommend discrete projects. “You are not being locked into anything,” Padilla told the council when asked whether the city would be required to implement every plan item.
Council debate focused on traffic calming examples from Plan Bay Area 2050 and whether narrowing lanes on corridors could worsen congestion. Council Member Marks (also referenced as Marx in the transcript) and others pressed staff for clarity about how lane reductions and sidewalk widening might affect adjacent property access and driveway impacts. Padilla cited local projects where painted lines and new stop signs preceded physical improvements and emphasized that SS4A is a safety-focused program.
After discussion, Council Member Klein moved and Council Member Bracco seconded approval of the consent item. The roll-call vote was: yes — Bracco, Hilton, Ramirez, Klein, Mayor Bozzo; no — Fugazi, Marks. Motion passed 5-2.
Staff said SS4A would help the city compile data and apply for specific federal grants but would not obligate the city to implement all projects in the plan. Council asked staff to be explicit in future materials about funding sources and implementation steps.
