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Cedar Park council backs joint SS4A application with Williamson County to add reflective signal backplates at intersections
Summary
The council authorized a letter of support for a joint Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) application with Williamson County to add reflective backplates to signal heads at more than 700 locations, a project staff said could reduce crashes by up to 15%.
Cedar Park staff told the council on June 12 that the city should participate in a joint application with Williamson County for the federal Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant program, and the council approved the requested authorization.
Randy Skinner, assistant director of engineering capital projects, said SS4A originates from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and provides federal funds for projects that "prevent or eliminate deaths and serious injuries on our roadways." He said the program requires participating jurisdictions to adopt a safety action plan. Williamson County has adopted a county safety plan and invited member cities, including Cedar Park, to join a joint application.
Skinner described the proposed Cedar Park contribution to the joint application: installing reflective traffic-signal backplates with borders on signal heads at an estimated 700+ locations to improve signal visibility. "Studies have shown that when we implement these, we can reduce crashes by up to 15%," Skinner said. He estimated the project's total cost to the city at about $106,000, with a required 20% local match of roughly $21,000; staff noted some or all of the match could be provided in-kind by city crews.
Council members and a local transportation advocate supported seeking the grant. Resident and active-transportation speaker Darren Wright called the proposal "low-hanging fruit" and urged the city to pursue federal funding opportunities aggressively. Council discussion touched on the program deadline: Skinner said the application deadline was June 26, 2025.
Councilmember Melga moved to approve the staff recommendation; the motion was seconded and carried. The council's action authorized staff to prepare a letter of support and to participate in the joint SS4A application with Williamson County.
Ending: Staff will prepare the letter of support and participate in the joint application; final award decisions and federal funding timing will be set by the U.S. Department of Transportation if the application is selected.
